Cervical Disc Replacement Monday Week!

barbara12

Brilliant news rayray..I am so pleased for you, one step at a time has they say there is no rush..the hospital I have just had my THR has had 56 on suite rooms built..I didn't get one but was in a new bay..glad to hear they looked after you..x

rayray

Things continue to go well. I managed two hours with no collar on today to build up to the all day on Monday. It was okay although I was pleased to put it on. I can still feel the nerve but it isn't bad. I can't wait to try out normal things again to see how things really are.

I am feeling very positive at the moment and look forward to going back to work and enjoying life much more again.

Thank you again for all your good wishes.

rayray

I've had a mixed week with lots of nerve pain and now my shoulder is extremely painful, feels on fire and pretty much unusable.

The most frustrating thing I find is my GP practice though. I had to get a sickness certificate for my ESA claim and the dr said 'you could ring up some firms and talk to them about a job'. What? I know I will have no issues getting work as I have a good qualification in a profession which is constantly short of staff. If I could I would.

I am never asked how the shoulder and neck affect me so they cannot grasp that the only way I can use a pc is in an easy chair with my arm fully supported. My job is all pc/admin based and doing it one handed means I am least 50% slower than anyone else plus I really can't sit for very long until the pain is intense. As an employer I wouldn't be happy with this and totally understand why I wouldn't get a job if I applied. On top of this driving is currently impossible as I can't turn my arm to hold the steering wheel - we are looking at a steering wheel adaptor though so I can drive one handed. At least then I could do short distances.

I have worked full time for over thirty years. I am not a shirker and I am really keen to work but have to accept it may not happen.

I am seeing a specialist spinal physio in a few weeks and I really hope that she can throw some light on this shoulder problem. My shoulder has full movement sometimes but gets irritated so easily and then won't budge. It does seem linked to my neck problems. I have been told it is not frozen and there is nothing wrong with the shoulder itself which was confirmed by a scan. It's not inflammatory although hubby and I remain slightly unconvinced. The spinal surgeon doesn't understand it and so my hope is with the physio.

Sorry to moan. I just had to write it down as I am so frustrated.

On a positive note I am successfully out of the collar and my neck movements are really good.

Slosh

Re PC use, I have to use one quite a lot at work and as a result of an Access to work assessment I have Dragon software which means I can dictate into word etc.

stickywicket

Don't worry about 'moaning'. We all do it. It's necessary from time to time. We lead difficult lives and, besides, you are still very much post-op. It is still very early days and there are bound to be blips and things going not quite as well as you'd wish. The shoulder pain could be arthritis, nerve pain or just muscles now being woken up to work in different ways. I think it would be good to ask the physio though, if it's not in his / her remit, you might have to see another specifically about the shoulder.

I'm not sure who 'they' are who never ask how the shoulder and nerve pain affect you. If employers, you do need to tell them. Occy Health might be very useful. If GPs, they can only deal with what they are told about. We have to be pro-active and not wait to be asked. On the other hand there are some things they can't fix no matter how those things affect us.

You say two things which I'm finding it hard to reconcile:
“I know I will have no issues getting work as I have a good qualification in a profession which is constantly short of staff” and “As an employer I wouldn't be happy with this and totally understand why I wouldn't get a job if I applied.“

You seem to be saying, on the one hand, you should have no problem getting a job but, on the other, no-one would employ you because of your disabilities. I'm afraid that's something many of us have had to face and it is tough, no doubt. I wonder if your GP is suggesting you could try something less physically demanding...or part time, maybe?

Anyway, how are things today? Better? Worse? Or just the same?

rayray

Thanks Slosh and Sticky!

I do try and talk to GP. I personally feel, whatever others think, that a GP should try and find out how you are affected, especially when you try and explain, in order to treat you. I don't think that it should be all about handing out painkillers as there could be other solutions but that is my own opinion. Hoping to move soon so hoping we will fair better at a new practice.
I need to look for a job as I haven't been able to work since we sold our business.

Slosh - I am an accountant so I don't think software will help but will look at options. I am going to ask an OT for advice if this doesn't improve in the next few weeks.

The pain is unrelenting so called the spinal physio who says I need to speak to the surgeon and I'm waiting to hear back. It is nerve pain and has come on suddenly and is alarmingly bad. I guess I have irritated the nerve but need some advice.

stickywicket

If this is of any help, rayray, I've just had some physio for a minor nerve problem in my leg. Well, it was minor as these things go but pretty painful all the same. At its worst I had to be either walking, or sitting on a hard chair, all day long. Turning over in bed, and getting out of bed, were nasty.

The physio gave me four lots of exercises to do several times a day and I saw her again about 5 weeks later. It had gone completely. She said that nerve pain can be like that. If you catch it and deal with it quickly enough (Actually, I'd let it develop for weeks if not months :oops: ) you really can get rid of it altogether. I hope you find so too.

As for docs, I do tell them, unbidden, how things affect me because I see that as helping them to decide what the problem is. Mine know that pain relief is rarely the answer for me. Hence the physio, I guess. To be fair, what can a GP do? It either pain relief, physio or referring to a consultant.

I hope your surgeon can help.

Slosh

I'm with you Sticky in regards to GPs, I don't expect mine to be able to tell just by looking at me what's wrong and see it as a sort of partnership, I tell him things that are worrying me and he then asks the right questions to find out more. As a "frequent flyer" he not only knows me by name but also my medical history and me as a person which does mean there are some things he always asks me about to check how they are. I listen to him and take his advice but there are also times when we discuss the options and plan a way forward together.

rayray

:splash: Thanks Sticky. I see the spinal physio in two weeks so hoping for some exercises then.

rayray

A doctor from the hospital has called and they are going to see me sooner rather than later as there is a small concern that the hardware has moved. This is highly unlikely.

I am feeling a lot better today but if the pain builds again today they will see me tomorrow. I can't ask for more than that can I?

rayray

I wish that my relationship with my doctors surgery did work like a partnership. I had an amazing GP before I moved to where I am now and we discussed things. I have never known such a lack of interest with no two way discussion at all. It is impossible and I am far from alone in feeling this. When I have had an acute problem they have been great but for long term conditions there is no discussion or interest, believe me I have tried over the last nine years but I am completely worn down by it.

I know others with arthritis have also said this and note recent surveys of arthritis patients say this - it is almost as if some GP's don't take pain seriously or the perception is that they don't. I can't make any more excuses for them and I know there are limits but they could listen. I don't go 'on' at the surgery and I am not a moaner. I am a positive person who likes to stay very busy. I am happy to adapt but an ounce of support would be nice. It takes just a few moments to ask 'how are you coping' or to listen when you say you aren't.

Sorry, just worn down by the whole GP thing.