My husband, Larry, had Deep Vein thrombosis a couple times over a ten year period and was left with some discomfort and swelling after standing for 1.5 hours or so. In 2010 we met our 5000. annual deductible and were referred to a specialist, a couple hours away who thought he could remove the clot and improve the quality of life. The resulting surgery clotted, the angiojet to remove the new clot lacerated the vein and they took him back for a complete re-do.

He woke from the re-do surgery in incredible pain - having the leg hang over the side of the bed was enough pain he broke out in a sweat and started passing out. (This man has a high pain tolerance.) He developed foot drop over the next week and started physical therapy with a walker to learn to take a few steps at a time against the pain. Dr. blamed pain on degenerative disc disease and wanted to send him home. He was transferred to another hospital at my insistence, as at this point he couldn't walk and couldn't even sit up in a chair with his legs down, and was on morphine and other pain meds. now. (He was standing and working the day before the first surgery, two weeks prior to this.) He was hospitalized for an additional two weeks, including a week of rehab. At the six week mark from the original surgery an exploratory surgery was done that found sutures through the peroneal, sural and tibial nerves and that a couple of the veins had clearly ruptured and were just hanging there oozing but no real blood flow. The nerves were freed, the veins were closed off, and it was hoped he would recover and be out of pain and able to walk without a brace.

That hasn't happened. It will be two years in October and the pain is still severe if he stands for more a few minutes or sits without elevating his leg. He is on Lyrica, Morphine (i.e. Kadian 10mg), Elavil, cymbalta, Tramadol ER 300, losartan (he did not have high blood pressure before the pain), Vistaril, symbicort, proair pletal, and 3 Liters of oxygen bled into a autopap machine. (He had no history of breathing issues before this.)

We are looking for ideas for other ways to deal with the nerve pain, we are planning on a return visit to the Cleveland Clinic. When we saw them last year they said wait and see if he continues to recover.

How frustrating for all that to have happened.

[Dr. blamed pain on degenerative disc disease ]
Does he have DDD, or was the Dr just passing the blame on that as an excuse...?

We have many forums where nerve pain & meds are mentioned and we also have a Medications & Treatments forum
For discussion about medications and treatments for any disease or health condition, including issues of medication toxicity.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html

and also a Sub-Forum: SCS & Pain Pumps
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum118.html

If there is nothing more surgery wise that can be done, perhaps a SCS or pain pump would be something to look into.

There is the search link in my siggy too.

Just wanted to add my "welcome" to the community!

ejackson,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Here are a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

There are some signs of degenerative disc disease on the back mri but just what would be considered within normal limits for a man in his 50's. For the most part it was just an excuse.

I will start looking in those forums as we are once again pressing forward looking for help with dealing with the pain.

They are reluctant to do any spinal or nerve invasive treatments due to his coumadin snd clotting issues.

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[Dr. blamed pain on degenerative disc disease ]
Does he have DDD, or was the Dr just passing the blame on that as an excuse...?

Welcome to Neuro talk. I am so sorry your husband has had to endure so much. Cleveland clinic has a very good reputation. However it sounds like more help is needed for him to have some quality of life. Pain can just ruin a person, and it is "so" difficult to live with. Please keep posting here, there may be some people who could help direct you to another facility for evaluation. There is more help than what he is currently recieving. You have to seek it very agressively sometimes, but I believe you can find more help for him. Please Ask Mark56 for some ideas. He has had alot of pain in his life as well, and may be able to offer you some hope and advice. Don't give up. Neruo Talk will be here for you for support. I will keep you and your husband in my prayers, and hope you find a better method to contol that pain. You will find compassion here too, and friends to help you along this most difficult time for both of you. ginnie