I dont have good news to report yet. My pain as of now is even worse than it was before. It is excruciating and I dont know how I am going to make it through this. Neither my MRI or my MRA tests done showed any type of compression but after the surgery the surgeon told my mother that I had a large blood vessel that was on the trigeminal nerve that had it extremely inflamed. His recovery time prediction changed from 4 weeks to more than 2-3 months because of the severity of the inflamation. I’m taking steriods right now, usually that gives me very termporary relief, but relief none the less.
The pain medications are not getting me through the 6 hours it states to take them on. plus i am on the time release fentanyl patches. Not sure what I am going to do or how this is going to work. The neurosurgeon told me the other day that worst case scenerio if the surgery didnt work I would have to go through Pain Management to try and deal with the pain. I dont even want to think that way. i dont even have my staples out yet I wished he wouldnt have even put that doubt in my mind about the success of the mvd surgery.
Did any of you experience your pain worsening after the surgery? More intense pain?
Oh, you poor baby. Don’t give up on the surgery working! It will get better. It will, it will, it will! He said at least four weeks, right? It’s in the process of healing now. It probably has to get worse before it gets better because of how inflamed it is. YOU ARE GOING TO HEAL!!! I wish I could take your pain away…My surgery was a week ago Friday. I am still having pain but they said that is to be expected for some time. I worry too but try to tell myself “It will all be fine. It is all good. Heal me God, heal me, heal me, heal me, send your healing grace…” My love and prayers are with you Vicki.
Jamie
Vickie,
I’m so sorry your pain is worse. I also had to take steroids because of the inflammation of the nerve. The surgeon said that it may take time or the surgery may not have worked and he told me that the next day. I hated hearing that also. Also, about 8 weeks later I still had quite a bit of pain but it was not as severe as pre-surgery. The doctor wanted to do surgery again but he also said that I may continue to have relief for up to 6 months. And I did. So you may be going through the same. I did have improvement but I had significant improvement about 3 months after and continued to get relief for a total of about 9 months. There hasn’t been any improvement since that time. Although I wanted complete relief and no medicine, I am happy with the relief I have even though I am taking a lot of medicine. I would have it again if my pain returned to even half the levels it was pre-surgery.
Liz
I havent given up on the surgery. I just wasnt expecting the recovery to be as difficult and painful as it has been. I imagined what it would be at its worst and it is worse than that. It will be worth it in the long run as long as the surgery works even if it isnt 100% gone close would be good. When I initially met the surgeon he had stated it would be about a 4 week recovery. It wasnt until the surgery itself he realized it would be alot longer. Still hope my job will be patient. FMLA is long gone I am just on Leave at this point. Hang tough Jamie we are going to make it through this. I still have faith it will work; just going to be a longer healing process than I anticipated and hoped for.