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Post by qhcrazy on Apr 2, 2008 19:35:35 GMT -6
I am really confused as to why I am STILL buzzing after 6 mos. post surgery. Will it ever go away? Why do my feet hurt when I walk and why are they "delayed" and slower to move?! When I ask my Dr. these questions, he just says "it's all part of the recovery process and it may get better or stay the same as it is now." Anybody else's buzzing and asleep feet go away? My feet and legs feel like they are constantly asleep and then it gets worse the faster I move?!
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Post by ScrapHeap on Apr 2, 2008 23:20:47 GMT -6
6 months is really a short time w/respect to the recovery process. It's a spinal cord injury. This isn't a broken wrist, leg or even a slipped disc. The spinal cord is the major highway for all messages sent from the brain to all parts of the body and back again. With it injured, the signals either can't get through correctly or at all. What is the brain to do w/those signals since they're all mixed up?
Canned answer for expected recovery time is 2 to 3 years. Basically we hear something of this sort... "It will take up to 6 months before bowel/bladder clears up or begins to show strong signs of improvement. It could take longer or it could take less. You should have a good idea about what your long-term situation is going to be at the 2 year mark. It could be up to 3 years before you hit the wall on improvements."
Truth is they can't tell you for sure. It's not an exact science and it's dicey at best. We're all different and there are many variables. Lyrica helps me cope w/the feet thing. I technically have "no feeling" in either. But they (my feet) "see pink elephants." The pain signal is massive and relentless. Lyrica takes more than the edge off. With it I can cope and sometimes get comfy (well, you know). A fluffy recliner, not to soft, plenty of padding, low back support, feet elevated, pillow under my lower legs. Aside from that, I cope w/the pain and/or discomfort as best as I can.
Keep doing what you're doing. As painful as it is now, in time the pain will probably lessen. I learned from the medical staff on day one after surgery that I had to teach my brain that the pain I feel is OK. Weird but it works over time. They started off by putting socks on my feet, later removing them. Once a day, then twice a day, eventually 3 times a day. It HURTS! But it WORKED. Socks no longer hurt to put on/take off. But my feet do still hurt, period. Though less now than then.
I'm approaching the 2 year mark and I have come a long way from where I was. But I feel your pain. LITERALLY! I feel it somewhat less now than 6 months ago. Quite a bit less than a year ago. Far less than 6 months after surgery. Hang in there. It should get better over time.
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Post by Joel on Apr 3, 2008 12:48:51 GMT -6
Scrappy is right. The buzzing and electric shock waves will most likely die down and in some respects you get used to it and don't notice it much. But the foot pain, numb feelings, tiredness, and lack of balance may stay with you at some level forever. If you keep exercising and going to PT, and take Lyrica or neurontin, then you give yourself the best shot at minimizing these feelings. Keep fighting!
Joel
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Post by ScrapHeap on Apr 3, 2008 21:19:48 GMT -6
It is frustrating. A lot of the frustration seems to come initially due to us not being more informed. By that I mean we don't seem to get enough info from our docs or medical assistants. It's frustrating for them as well. There really is only so much they can tell us w/o going out on a limb. So though they tell us a lot, it's the canned info for the most part. It's necessary for us to have, for them to give, but it's not enough to satisfy our many other questions. Questions that I guess only time has the answers to.
I probably sound like I'm complaining about the medical field. I promise, I'm not. I received the best of care in the hospital, the best of care in in-patient rehab, excellent care in out patient rehab, etc. I had to attend educational classes (one hour sessions) while in in-patient rehab. Books, lectures, discussions, Q&A's on subjects sci related. But it wasn't enough during the first 12 months. It's only over the past few months I am beginning to get more answers. Time has provided those..... just like the medical professionals told me to begin with.
Patience and persistence seems to be the best path to follow. So hang in there GH. It can be very trying.
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Post by chickiet on Apr 7, 2008 4:42:37 GMT -6
I too am 6 months post-op (after the 2nd surgery) - and I concur with all of you. The buzzing and shocks are still about what they were in the hospital, and the pain is somewhat better with Lyrica - but not totally at the level I'd like to accept. My docs say the same thing about the recovery process. It is little consolation being told that you may get better over time - but they can't say when/if or how much. I sometimes feel like we're just a medical experiment.
But of course, when you think about other major diseases like diabetes and heart disease, everyone responds differently there too. So we have no choice but to try to hang in and wait to see if there will ultimately be some degree of improvement.
Some folks on the site have indicated that the 2-year mark is a good barometer of where you will ultimately be. Not sure of the truth in that - it probably all depends also...
Chris
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Post by Linda51 on Apr 7, 2008 6:30:24 GMT -6
QH,
You are still early in your recovery. When it comes to the spinal cord surgery you don't get over that in 2 or 3 months it takes time and years in most cases. Your 2 year mark will be a time frame for you but I can honestly say in my recovery I saw improvements up to 5 years with my walking and some of the things I use to experience I either got use to it and don't pay any attention to it now or they subside. Having a sense of humor about the whole thing help me alots through the years. Even though it hard for you now hang in there and keep your chin up it does get better with time. Take this time to appreciate the small things in life and remember there is life after these sct but sometimes it take awhile to see that but you are a survivor and you are just like the rest of us you can get through it and be stronger because you did go through it.
~Linda
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Post by qhcrazy on Apr 9, 2008 15:09:39 GMT -6
Thanks all of you, it sure does help knowing that I can get an honest and EXPERIENCED answer here!!!!  |
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Post by gatorshime on Apr 16, 2008 7:15:04 GMT -6
I'm on 7 yrs. since my first surgery and I've had 4 total. I'd agree that 18 months to 2 yrs. is the time frame to see what your recovery will be. I say that SAFE P.T. or exercise is the best thing you can do to make you feel better physically and mentally. SAFE is the key word.
Scott
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Post by qhcrazy on Apr 17, 2008 19:43:34 GMT -6
Gatorshime: You mentioned cord re-tethering, what is that? I noticed on my 6 mos. transcribed MRI report that it mentioned I have post surgery significant cord tethering. Now I'm nervous!
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Post by Charity R. on Apr 21, 2008 11:26:38 GMT -6
It took close to two years before the buzzing sensations went away when I walked. I still have the tingles in one of my legs and both feet, but the constant buzzing is gone.
Our bodies are all different so while others may have had this sensation go away really fast, others may never have it go away.
Charity
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