I'm still pain free since GPN surgery on November 19th and I've been off all medications for over one month. Going back to work on February 9th after a little Mexico trip (I deserve it!).
No I don't get a kickback :-) I just like promoting my hometown, although I live a ferry ride and about 80miles north of there now. I think we'll take advantage of it before the end of spring. It's nice for us to go to Vancouver once in a while and not tell any family or friends we're in town so please keep it on the down low.
Ron, Please tell me more about your surgery. Was it a neurologist who performed it? Where do you live? Did you get a second opinion? How much meds were you on before surgery? Thanks in advance for your answers. Sally
The surgery was performed by a neuro surgeon. I didn't really get a second opinion as far as the surgery. I felt very confident when I met Dr. Honey. I should say though that I went through 4 ENT's, two neurologists and a pain management specialist before I saw Dr. Honey. As for medications, I was on oxcarbazepine, topirimate and lyrica prior to surgery and of course many others over the last seven years, but that last cocktail of the three together was brutal. It did work for the pain, but I felt pretty non-existent.
Anyway, I'm still 100% pain free from Novemeber 19th to now. And I think I've noticed a lot of changes in me in the last month. I'm actually caring about what I wear and how I look. I didn't even realize I hadn't cared for a long time. I'm also excited and passionate about things. I think the chronic pain had impacted all that for a long time but I didn't realize that the general anesthetic during surgery and the withdrawal from all the medications would result in such a delay in returning to being fully functional emotionally and mentally.
Just mention that as something to be aware of for anyone that goes for surgery and expects everything to change overnight just cause the pain is gone. Who knows, it might for some, but I would hunch that there would be quite a few who would experience a similiar delay in returning to full functioning as before GPN.