Results from a pain management specialist after post-surgical nerve damage?
October 31st, 2009 | by Michael |
Stuck in the Middle Ages asked:
If anyone has seen a pain management specialist (probably an anesthesiologist) after having nerve damage that wouldn’t go away, did it work or not? Either way, what types of treatment did you go through?
If anyone has seen a pain management specialist (probably an anesthesiologist) after having nerve damage that wouldn’t go away, did it work or not? Either way, what types of treatment did you go through?
Fourteen weeks after hernia surgery, I’ve been advised that I should be fine by now but that I’m one of those rare hernia patients who ends up with nerve complications.
GROVER
4 Responses to “Results from a pain management specialist after post-surgical nerve damage?”
By mysticduder on Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
Pain doctors are not anasthesiologists. If you have a referral to a chronic pain specialist, it’s also called “behavioral medicine”. It’s about learning through medication, exercise, diet, attitude etc. how to deal with your pain.
Have you had a “nerve conduction study” done, to determine if there is indeed nerve damage? Sometimes this can’t be done on sensory nerves- but I’d look into it.
Is the pain deep inside, or jsut at the incision site? maybe you need plastic/ revision surgery.
Did it get infected? Is it red, hot, and inflamed?
By Wendy V on Nov 4, 2009 | Reply
I am one of those rare hernia patients too.
I had an Anti- Reflux and hernia op done 6 years ago. They damaged the nerves that control my oesphagus.
I am in pain every single time I eat, drink or swallow saliva.
My days are filled or were filled with pain and hospital admissions. One was for 9 weeks. I used to be in the ER every 3 days for pain relief.
Got to the point wehere I couldn’t eat so starved to avoid pain. Ended up with a PEG tube for permnant feeding. Lost 55kg’s or 110 pounds.
I was at the point of ******* after trying so many pain meds and procedures.
Was seeing a Pain Specialist who was a Specialist Aneasthetist. Absolutly hopeless Doctor and incompitant. But did suggest a Neurostimulation implant. But knowing of this Doctors ‘accidents’ I said no.
Found a Neurologist who specialises in pain.
He is the most wonderful man. He placed the Neurostimulator and I havn’t looked back.
I still can not eat like everyone else but my pain is now controlled.
I am off all the Morphine and other pain pills and use the stimulator for total pain control.
It works by sending out mild electrical currents across the spinal cord to block the pain signals from getting to your brain. So no pain feeling. Instead you just feel this pleasant tingling sensation. It is very comforting and miss it when it is off. I can turn it up down and off. I control it.
I was at the point of *******. But now I am so glad I am alive.
My full story is on
Wendy’s Story
I would be so glad to talk to you.
You can e-mail me from the Tame the Pain site or through here.
But am in hospital again tomorrow for 5 days. So can answer after that.
Good luck with it.
By Marc T on Nov 7, 2009 | Reply
Just to let someone on here know that there are Pain Dr.s that are Anesthesiologist……These Dr.s can perform a number of things… Nerve blocks, epidurals,Mylo-grams ect.ect.. I see one and I go to the University of Michigan Hospital….I have nerve damage in my L5/S1 region….. I also have 4 screws and 2 rods and a cage in that section…MY pain Dr. is an anesthesiologist…… I also am getting a electronic stimulator put in next month…. I hope it works so I can feel my (R) leg once again…..
Some treatment methods could start with steroid shots to cortisone shots to nerve shots…. It’s all on what the Dr. finds and what the real issue is…
Oh by the way the nerve test the guy mentioned up above is called an EMG (”Electromyogaphy”)test…. It’s a simple procedure they will stick you with needles and they have lead wire on them and they check to see if your muscles are responding and ir your nerves are reacting or not….
I had one done it wasn’t bad at all….
Well I wish you the best with your walk in life…
By luvthesmokies on Nov 10, 2009 | Reply
Sounds like you may have developed RSD/CRPS from the surgery. There are many web sites that describe this painful condition. It can be caused by an injury, surgery or even something as simple as stubbing your toe, but once you have it, it never goes away. All you can do is find a pain management doctor that can find the right combination of meds,therapy,etc that will help you cope with the pain.
Good luck & hope you are soon as pain free as possible.