Surgery again
 

I haven't posted on here for a while, but I check it every once in a while. Here's a quote from my first post on this site back in July 2007:

Quote:

I broke my left scaphoid bone (wrist bone) in half in October 2006. Three weeks later I had surgery to fix it. I was in a cast for about six weeks after surgery then started PT where they treated me with heat and ice, along with exercises. The pain and swelling were horrible, and the PT was concerned...even suggested that I could have RSD. Finally, after feeling my doctor was not being truthful with me, I went to a hand specialist in March. To make a long story a little shorter, the first doc had put the screw in at the wrong angle and it was stabbing through the bone and grinding into another bone. I finaaly had surgery June 22 to remove the screw, which miraculously he was able to remove without removing the bone. My wrist had been immobilized from March 6 to July 6...plus the two months before and after the original surgery that messed everything up. The screw did a lot of damage. I started hand rehabilitation therapy last week, and the PT told me I have RSD. I think my doc may have mentioned it, too, the day the bandages came off. They used ice on my wrist at the end of therapy last Wednesday, and the swelling and stiffness have been really bad ever since...no matter how much I do the exercises and stretches. My family doc told me a little over a year ago that I have fibromyalgia.

Well, I just had to have surgery again two days ago cuz my scaphoid bone died and my body was trying to reject it. They had to remove three wrist bones and some damaged nerve, and attached the ligaments and stuff to the radius and ulna (arm bones). Pain is major right now...so is swelling...and the vicodin isn't touching it. It's in a half-cast splint with huge bandages. They tell me to ice it, but I'm wondering if that's causing more problems. I know that I couldn't handle ice if the bandages weren't in the way. Any thoughts?

Hi Phyllis!
I believe I was one of the first to greet you, whe you came on!! Anyway, good to see you!! Boy oh boy have you went through the wringer and then some!! I am so sorry to hear about this. Phyllis, first rule of thumb.. NEVER, NEVER use ice on RSD. This is a huge no, no and can cause more and more damage to the tissues, skin. I'm surprised your pt put this on you, since she said you have RSD. Use epsome salts in warm water, That's always good. If your still feeling pain, call and tell your doc thaat the vicodin is just not "cutting it anymore" get on something else, since this vicodin does no good at all! Also, looks like you have a law suit with them putting that screw in the wrong way!! What idiot's. Phyllis, I'm so sorry that your scaphoid bone died!! How awful for you!! All I can say, you find you a good RSD doc. they are around, just keep looking. I wish you all the best my dear. Please, let us know what happens,~Love, Desi.. oh, and again, please do not be afraid to ask for something stronger for the pain, your allowed. ~Love Desi(Diane)

Yep, Desi, I believe you were one of the first to greet me. I'm probably going to call the dr office in a little bit...I think even though the ice pack they gave at the hospital didn't actually touch my skin it was causing more problems...I didn't even think about it after surgery. I'm using ibuprofen for the swelling, but that doesn't always work either. I just hope and pray this absolutely necessary surgery won't cause more rsd issues.

Hi
 

If I were in your shoes I would speak to an anesthesiologist who knows a lot about RSD before doing any surgery or procedures= Not to scare you but after having a hip replacement my RSD spread to all limbs- BE CAREFUL

Debbie

Well, I already had the surgery, so I'm not sure if the anesthesiologist knew about RSD or not. My doctor who did the surgery was the one who told me I had RSD.

I am sooo sorry to hear that you had to have surgery and that you are in a lot of pain right now:hug:, I hope you feel better real soon!!

Heres a couple of links about ice application and RSD:

http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...8&PGCT_ID=1775

http://rsdrx.com/rsdpuz4.0/puz_102.htm

Hope this helps
Thanks and best wishes

Alison

Thanks...I read those articles when I was first diagnosed with RSD. I called my doc's office and he wants to see me tomorrow and is planning to give me something stronger for the pain. For right now they told me to take 2 of the vicodin every 6 hours instead of one. It doesn't help with the swelling, but is starting to take a little of the edge off the pain...will probably knock me out soon. Apparently Keflex is one antibiotic I can't take...I knew there was something about it when they told me what the meds were going to be at the hospital...now I remember...yeast infection...like I need that. Doc's office told me to stop that one now!

Anyway...enough of my whining for now. I'll let you guys know what I find out at the doc's tomorrow.

Well, I went to the dr yesterday and he put a looser bandage on cuz it's really swollen. I didn't take ANYTHING for the pain that morning cuz I wasn't sure what he was going to prescribe. Well, guess what...that vicodin really IS kicking quite a bit of the pain...I just didn't think it was cuz there was so much pain still there. He prescribed oxycontin, but after reading all the major things that can go wrong with that stuff, I decided not to chance it and just stick with the vicodin...I'd rather deal with some pain than chance getting too much in my bloodstream. Anyway...just wanted to give you an update. I go back to the dr on the 16th for a cast.

Hi Phyllis,
 

Welcome back to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear what you have been through. One thing I have learned from my surgeries that I didn't have blocks for is to now ask for blocks. If you need anymore surgeries now this gives you the knowledge to ask for them. I have noticed that when I get blocks before surgeries the RSD doesn't spread, if I don't, it does spread. I hope you don't ever have surgery again but at least the blocks might help if you do.

Also I have noticed that the Anestheologist are pretty up on RSD and a lot of them now have offices where they do blocks. None have questioned me before surgery when I have ask for them. The last one had one planned before I got in the operating room. He did a bier block.

You might ask your Dr. for Lidocaine patches. They help a lot with pain. Some people can't use them but some can and it seems to help them.

I'm glad the Vicodin is working and maybe as you get more in your system, it will do more for you.

I do hope you start seeing more relief soon.

Ada

Thanks, Ada...I'm hoping and praying for some relief soon, too. The pain takes a toll on the body that never seems to be easily explained to those who don't or haven't dealt with that kind of constant pain.

You guys are a big help on here...thanks.