What to expect after surgery?

[SarahY79]

For the last 23 years I have been on chronic pain medication for managing the pain associated with my Chiari Malformation. I am going into decompression surgery on October 6th. Did anyone find that they no longer needed the chronic pain meds after surgery? I know it will take a long time to get off the medication, but I am ready to live a better quality of life and not have to resolve my life around medication and doctors appointments. If anyone has had experience with this, I would really appreciate your experience. Thank you in advance for your time and help!
God bless,
Sarah

[Elisaandbucky]

Hi Sarah, My experience has been most similar to those of Selma and frankie_rush. The day of my surgery, I was given one of the very strong narcotic pain meds. I remember seeing my husband sitting in the chair in my room, and then I recall little else. He told me that I slept -  without moving for 18 hours. That scared me right into stopping those pills right then. I have an autistic child, around whom I must be alert at all times. He is a sweet child, but I cannot imagine I I were to  fall asleep caring for him. That being said, I have gotten used to ibuprofen for days of pain. Not very often, but some days, I take 3 (600 mg). Then, everyone tolerates pain differently. Most importantly, as Selma says, it can be scary if the pain meds cover up a serious symptom.

[frankie_rush]

Hello Sarah,

I rarely ever took any kind of meds before or after surgery only what I have to. I only take ibuprofen now.  Sop asking if the surgery was worth it, yes it was and would do it again.

[selmaS]

   Hi Sarah, I had surgery but refused to take meds b4 surgery as I felt they might hide any new symptoms I might develop......I had a few surgeries for my knee and ankle and did not see relief from those meds so I felt it would not do much but possibly make me  more foggy....

I was on pain med post op fpr a while and then on TOPAMAX for a yr, but I am no longer on regular pain meds....

Those that have been on meds like you will likely post as well ...I know my situation is not the same, but I am doing better even tho I did not take the meds....