CP from autograft..anyone else???

[slipnslide]

I know this has to do with a Spinal disorder but it's become a chronic pain. I had my ACDF surgery at the end of June 2006 and then herniographies a couple weeks later in July. Normal post-surgical discomfort and was fine until the morning of Oct. 7th. I remember the date cuz it's my daughter's bday:) and I was sitting watching her soccer game. That's when the hip/abdominal pain started, and slowly built throughout the day. It was a stabbing/burning pain. I went to my GP thinking that I had another hernia and he ordered a CT which showed some tissue swelling in the area of the autograft & and herniography. For some reason, the ilioinguinal nerve and lateral femoral nerves were firing and I was sent for RF's directly in the lower left abdomen and at L2/3. Those procedures pretty much took away about 70% of the pain I was having for the past 2-3 months, until this morning:( . When I got up and started to walk, I noticed a little discomfort with my hip but when I got to the stairs and went to step down, I got a stronger pain. Out of instinct, I immediately went to grab my hip and that is when I just about hit the roof. I felt like I had just taken a hammer and smashed an exposed nerve. The very tip of the iliac crest, just above where you can see the horseshoe shape peice of bone missing is so tender to touch. Has anyone else experienced this where the pain is lessened for a short time by RF's and then comes back with a vengeance? What works for this type of pain? I was thinking about how they do Ulnar transposition surgery and thought "why can't they do that with the nerves that run along the iliac crest?"

I'm open to comments and suggestions!:D

[Mark N]

I had pain from my graft site following surgery and it was more intense than the recovery pain. I was fortunate that mine went away and I have heard of the pain staying with people but not as intense as your's sounds. Just like your spinal surgery push your doctors to find a solution for the pain. If you accept it they will accept it too. You have to make them understand that something needs to be done and you are willing to try different solutions to try and take care of the pain.

[slipnslide]

Mark,

Today was the first time that I was able to just place my hand on my hip where the graft was taken and illicit such pain. By gently pressing along the tip of the hip bone at the donor graft location I can feel that pain intensifying. The nerve must be right there running along that ridge. My PM said that it probably has something to do with me not having much "padding" (fat...lol). I am scheduled to see my PM next tuesday and will address the return of the pain at that time.

[Kathi49]

Then get out there and eat some cheeseburgers girl! :)

Just kidding Kim. I know it has to hurt. :eek: But I agree with Mark, press for some answers. Or, maybe, it just could be that the nerves are regenerating. But that seems so soon. :confused:

[slipnslide]

Kathi,

LOL...I love food, I just have a very high metabolism where weight has never been a concern of mine...smart butt!....LOL:D I'm planning on going into this more in depth next week with my PM, but in the meantime, I was hoping others who have been thru this might have more experience with it and know the best course of action. You and I have both asked if they could just kill the nerves all together to get rid of the pain, but then we'd be flopping around like rag dolls!!:rolleyes: :D Needless to say, there's got to be a better way....LOL:)

[Kathi49]

Kim,

I am just teasing you LOL! And I was reflecting back to when I dropped to 90lbs. way back in the day. The GP I had then said, "Get out there and eat cheeseburgers and milkshakes, put the weight back on, and then we will work on this other."

And here's another one; years back:

Me to PM - "Can't you just go into the back of my head and neck and just destroy all of those nerves?"

PM to Me - (laughing) "If we do that Mrs. ________, you will come to and we will have to say, sorry Mrs. _______ your arms no longer work. Sorry 'bout that!"

No, I get your point! There has to be a better way. Short of RF's the only things I can think of are TENs Units and meds. I will shut up now because someone else may have some better ideas. :)