momz- I don't like the sound of the color changes from white to bluish purple, and not being able to move your arms is also not good...you should be able to do gentle range of motion exercises with yourself. Your pain medication should be making you confortable enough to gently move your arm. If it is not, you can end up freezing the shoulder joint and causing other problems.

Is Dr Togut anywhere in the same vicinity as you? Can you go and see him? he doesn't do surgery anymore but should be able to help you sort out what is going on. To me, the answers about numbness and skin irritation from your surgeon just do not sound right. Also, they shoudl be concerned with the white to blue color changes. You should expect pain, and you do need to take it easy, but you should not be in serious pain every day while you are basically at rest- your medication should address that so that you can be comfortable when you are not active.

as for breathing pain into your neck- are you belly breathing? chest breathing will aggravate your surgical area at this point.

are you traking anything to specifically address inflammation? inflammation in the surgical area will cause as much pain and compression as the original muscles did- it needs to be controlled somehow. If you can't take advil, read up on some of the anti inflammatory diets that are out there now, maybe something will help. Mangosteen juice, omega 3 supplements, etc, many natural foods are supposed to be helpful.

lastly, find something to get yourself out of the house. Even if you just go to the local starbucks for coffee or nail parlorfor a pedicure...it might really help your feelings of frustration

headaches: I went for several cranio-sacral massages to relieve horrible headaches that came after surgery. I felt as though my head was holding on for dear life at the top of my neck. Your surgeon really messed around with all the muscles in your neck, pushing them in several directions that they don't normallygo. The ones that are inserted into the bottom of your head are aggravated and tense!!! The massages really really helped me. I know it doesn't work for everyone, but it was the best solution i found. I had my first one a week after surgery the second time because i was expecting the headaches so i went for the massage at teh first sign. ....

I know you are frustrated with financial matters and your kids and yourself...if you remain so, you will hinder your recovery. If you do not get yourself better, your kids will suffer, and your long term financial picture will suffer!!! PLEASE PLEASE try to find some time for yourself to be quiet and relax. A massage might be just the thing for you..or do you have the hypnosis dvd that gibbrn was sending out? You could also just try to work on focused relaxation- lay in a dark room, a candle, some soft relaxing music... you must take time to help yourself relax as much as possible.

As for whether or not the surgery was a success, it will probably take 2 years to know for sure. Scar tissue takes that long to completely form. All you can focus on today is how to make yourself better in the here and now. You will have good days and bad days. Over time, hopefully the good will outweigh the bad, however, EVEN IF THEY DON"T....you can only control what is happening to you in this moment of time and make the best of it. The better you can concentrate on feeling today, the more likely you will continue to feel good tomorrow and the next day.



keep up the good fight

Johanna

To me, the answers about numbness and skin irritation from your surgeon just do not sound right. Also, they shoudl be concerned with the white to blue color changes. You should expect pain, and you do need to take it easy, but you should not be in serious pain every day while you are basically at rest- your medication should address that so that you can be comfortable when you are not active.

I went through these very symptoms after my surgery to the letter. They did have to put me on Neurontin and Avinza a stronger pain medicine and diagnosed me as having RSD after the surgery. He said it happens in some cases and could go away or stay. My pain and numbness took just about 2yrs to go away. Just thought I would share this as hope for you Momz. I was there and know what your going through.

Well it's now officially been five weeks since my surgery. I haven't been on here in a while because over the weekend my brother and his wife and my two year old niece were here visiting from Italy. I hadn't seen my brother in eight years and never seen the other two. It was an exciting visit but really it was too much for me to handle. I was already in pain before they came and now it's just worse. Every night I was in tears and could barely open my eyes because the pain was so bad. It was horrible and I really didn't do all that much.

I took a shower this morning and kind of slipped and boy did that hurt. I still have all the same symptoms as I've mentioned before... bumpiness, tightness, burning, extreme pain,etc... it just truly sucks!

I am truly tired and not sure how much more I can take of this. I can't even begin to describe the pain to other people. It is worse than what it was before the surgery so now I'm regretting having surgery. I have worse pain and more pain in places that I didn't have pain before. I can move my arm a little bit which I have been trying to do because we noticed my shoulder getting locked up. But I can't move my arm forward or to decide or up much at all. A little bit of motion is all I can do and then pain shoots all the way into my neck!

I still have the numbness but also I have a turning pain around the incision when I touch it or when the water touches it. It's a horrible.

I am seeing the surgeon on Friday and my pain management doctor. I surely have lots of questions at this point and want some answers. The medication isn't working as well either and I still on in pain while taking 900 mg a day of Neurontin and also avinza once a day. Also taking 400 mg ibuprofen two to three times a day and still have pain! It makes no sense to me.

I still am not driving or going anywhere so my life stinks. I am looking at taking online courses to try for a degree which I've always wanted to do in my life so when I get a little bit better that might be something to keep me busy

Well I am out of here for now... talk with you soon.

Momz