I'm so happy that your surgery went well.

Take it easy if you can and rest the arms.

Martha

Dear Annie, by now you are safe and sound at your parents' home in MD - bless them for taking care of you at this important time in your recovery. How wonderful! Is there a yenta involved? How lucky are we, anyway!

I totally knew you were going to have surgery in Denver with the good Dr. S. Yes, I will admit I did try to slow you down a bit and give you some other names and numbers to call, make it an "if-come" trip and blah blah blah...but please. This is a very personal thing. I just wanted it to be a thoughtful decision for you - and for you to feel as right as rain about it.

Amazing that he was able to resect a c-rib that didn't even show up on any of the sophisticated tests that any of the high-priced LA docs ran or read, isn't it? Was it pressing against a neurovascular bundle, would be my question I guess. Or does Dr. Sanders still think those pesky scalene muscles, along with the pec minor, were the major source of your high high pain levels?

Don't even feel like you have to answer that - it's a rhetorical question, Annie, unless and until you feel up to posting and letting us know how you're doing and other fun-filled facts!

I know Dr. S. likes Feldenkrais but I was thinking maybe find a Hellerworker near where you just to keep the blood moving until you can get back to SuperJoyce (if I am not mistaken, Joyce prefers the latter school? could be wrong though; I so often am...sigh). If it wasn't so hard to find a good PT it would make sense to look for one there in MD, but...well, you'll follow Richard's order's here, not mine so I will shut up now!

Love to you, kid. You have courage in spades. I know you'll do well and I can't wait to meet you when you do come back home. Call me anytime now, you hear - and have some crab cakes on me.

Alison

Annie- Talked briefly to Dr S about you on tuesday...said he did find the small rib when he went back and looked at the Xray, but you probably already knew that!



Johanna

The doctors did not see the 1 cm long extra cervical rib in any of my neck x-rays or MRIs. It was not found until Dr. Sanders felt it while performing a scalenctomy. However, I did have three abnormal EMGs showing abnormal C7 nerve activity. The doctors could not figure out why. It turns out that the very small extra rib was pressing on my C7 nerve. This was causing my muscles to spasm and hit other nerves. Thus, if you have EMGs showing C7 abnormalities with no explanation, tell your doctors about my case. By the way, the pain had nothing to do with the size of the extra rib, but rather with the fact that it was pressing on the C7 nerve root in my spine.

dr. s. says no pt for 3 more weeks. instead he gives a series of stretches to do at home.

Post operatively, I am half delighted and half worried. I'm delighted because it appears that my neck and rib pain are so much better. However, I have a very acute burning pain in my chest that I am really worried about. Ice helps somewhat, however, the pain gets so bad at night that I think I may end up in the emergency room this weekend. If anyone has any other suggestions about what to do or what shots to get for this kind of pain. I would really appreciate it.

My thanks and my love, Annie

I'm sorry to hear that your Post op recovery is kind of tough... Is there a Dr that you have been to see while you are recovering at your parent’s house...? If so maybe they can prescribe something for you to take or will you be able to see Dr S anymore or are you done with him now? Are you taking any type of anti-inflamatories... Inflamation is a big thing Post op also I had been told when the nerves wake up they burn... It sounds like you had alot of work done in the chest area so that may be the cause of the burning... Also is the Burning you experience on the skin itself? If so, as Di said ask for a prescription for Lidoderm patches.. They are a Godsend when it comes to the burning on the skin... Also take your pain meds on a routine basis and keep that ice going...
Is there a possibility of an infection? You may need antibiotics... If it gets bad or you feel you should get it checked out, Go to the ER...
Oh, Have you called Dr S and ran all this by him?? If so is it concerning to him or is it a normal post op recovery that you are experiencing. I'm just trying to think of things that might be going on... Hope not to worry you..
But when in doubt get it Checked Out!!!!
Best of Luck
And Big Hugs
Dawn

Hey You,

Gosh I sure hope you can avoid the ER and I'm so sorry about the burning pain. I know you've been talking to Dr. S about this - that is the really cool thing about him, reputation-wise anyways he is real good with follow-up.

The sx you describe sure sound like hypersensitivity to me, too. I do remember Dr. Ahn telling me way back when that this can happen after the decompression surgery - the nerves are not happy right now, that is for sure, and letting you know it bigtime.

If the soft brush is too much, maybe try backing it up to a very, very soft flannel, Annie. My limited understanding is that you want to keep the awakening process happening by providing tactile stimulation - but it is a delicate balancing act, and you definitely don't want to make those little suckers any angrier than they already are!

(I guess the good news is that after all that you have been through, you still have nerves, right?)

Try the flannel for a little bit and if your upper extremity/bp area can tolerate that, then you can very gradually start switching to different fabrics and textures. I'm sure the good doc told you the same thing; same w/the stretches - nothing should hurt or flare you.

My personal theory is that we are so used to being in chronic pain it is hard for us to recognize acute distress for what it is sometimes, or can be - a sign of healing. Believe it or don't! But I do agree that the fact that you can relieve it, even just a little, by using coldpacks, is a good indicator that it is a side-effect of the trauma of surgery - and not reflex sympathetic dystrophy - that is rearing its ugly head here.

I am so sorry about these sx, Annie. I know how hard it must be to rest or just find a comfortable position, let alone get any sleep when you feel this raw. My hope for you is that each day will find you improved, by leaps and by bounds.

In addition to your rx regime, some thoughts (well ok, Steve Annest's thoughts if I'm being honest here!): B-12 1000 mcg 2x day (sublingual); B-6 25 mg 2x day; folic acid 800 mcg 2x day; vitamin C 1000 mg 2x day; zinc 30 mg 2x day, and your mom's chicken soup which I am sure is fabulous.

Should fix you right up!

Hope you feel better very soon. Thanks for posting about the C-rib; that makes total sense. Bodes well for your recovery, methinks!

Alison