My chronic pain update

[Red931]

Well everyone, I have not been as active around here for the past week or so. The update is not good for me. I received a second opinion yesterday on my present condition.

I was told that I will have to undergo two more surgeries for sure and may end up with a shoulder replacement in the end. I was also told that the doctor that did my prior surgeries on my shoulder made me worse off and that is the reason I may need the shoulder replacement, but this surgeon will make a last attempt to save what is left of it.

I will have my first surgery on June 17th to repair the damage to my Ulnar Nerve as it has progressed quickly and I am losing some use of my hand so I have to have that done right away. The nerve has to be transferred somewhere else in my arm.

After the nerve surgery is done, I will have to wait about four months and undergo my fouth shoulder reconstruction surgery to my right shoulder and as I said the surgeon is not very optomistic about this being a successful surgery as there is nothing left in there to work with. He will know more once inside. The shoulder is currently subluxed to the rear and he said that is what is causing most of my pain. It can not be put back at this time because the other doctor anchored it in that way during the last surgery. The surgeon I saw yesterday also told me that the other doctor never should have done two procedures on my shoulder so close together. (The other surgeon did two reconstructions on the shoulder in a four month time period)

After all of this is done there is no guarantee that my pain will decrease much. At this point is about being able to have use of the arm without any further damage being done from normal day to day activites.

I decided to post this information in the forum rather than in my journal because there are many people that come through here everyday with shoulder problems. I want these people to be aware of what can happen when doctors are not being straight with you about what is going on. You can end up in really bad shape. I will NEVER get surgery again without getting a second or even third opinion unless it is an emergency situation.

[opus88]

I also blame my back problems on my occupation my legs could be neuropathy related to same or FM.
Does is really matter in the end what label we put on it..pain is pain, it only matters when things get beyond painkillers and into surgery as in your case.
Ur to young a man to be in such a condition...hard not to be resentful in the long run itsn't it.
I sure believe ur in no hurry for yet another surgery especially when theres no guarantee of improvement for you.....heres me too afraid to even have go thru freezing nerves in my back, and its not that I am afraid of needles, just afraid of the possibility that pain could be worse as opposed to better....I sure wish all the best for you!

[Red931]

Just about all of my injuries are related to my occupation as a police officer. Some have progressed futher than they should have because I didn't get treatment when I should have and manifested over the years.

My left ankle is an example of this as I broke it and tore the ligaments during a foot pursuit of an armed suspect back in 1990. I was put in a cast for eight weeks and when the cast came off I went right back to work instead of getting the proper rehab and having the ligaments addressed the right way. As a result the ligaments and tendons broke down over the years and caused me to have two more surgeries on it since, one in 2004 and the most recent this past February. The grafts that were required during this last procedure is what has brought an end to my career as a police officer and forced an early retirement.

I am unable to walk for more than 100 yards without having pain and difficulty and also have a limp, so I certainly would never be able to run on it again. The surgery made the ankle stable enough to walk on without damaging the other two ligaments that were not affected.

If the ankle didn't put me out than my shoulders would have anyway. The story behind those injuries is more of the same except for a fall down the stairs at home that caused a dislocation to the left one.

I am not going for more surgery until June 17th which is a little more than two weeks away and I am in no rush to get there at this point. LOL

I thank you for your thoughts and concern.

[opus88]

hi RED you are sure having more than your share of difficulties! I am so sorry 4 everyone of us that has 2 live with the aftermath of a doctors incompetence and there is so much of it out there.
May I ask Red were your surgeries and all this pain caused by an accident? sorry I think if I read back I would know the answer,.
I hope and pray 4u  and 4 successful results next week...ur under a tremendous amount of stress in your life and I feel 4 your pain....
Pat

[Red931]

I am sorry you had to go through this also. I am very angry with myself that I let this happen.

The kicker to the whole thing is that the surgeon that is going to try to fix my shoulder now did my first one. When I started to experience problems again other people convinced me to see this other guy who told me that the first surgeon didn't do the right thing by me and I trusted him. Three surgeries later, I gave all of my medical information to my cousin who is an MD and he took it all to three shoulder surgeons for their opinions. (All three of these surgeons just deal with the shoulder and have great reputations) They are not in my insurance plan of course. All three of them told my cousin that the first surgeon was on the right track and treating me conservatively and that the second one did work that was not necessary that would later cause me more problems.

Well the jury is in and all of the other doctors were right. That is why I returned to the first doctor.

I am in a very similar situation as you are in. There is no guarentee that I will get improvement with the use of my hand after this nerve surgery as whatever damage is done is done. The surgery will just stop the progression of the nerve damage. A graft is not recommended for the same reason and I would end up with numbness and pain in another part of my body where the graft would have to come from.

With the shoulder, if this next reconstruction is unsuccessful I will require a shoulder replacement before the age of 50. The surgeon told me that he would hate to have to do that because he usually only does it for patients that are in their 70's.

[kiddthekatt]

I understand completely about incompetent surgeons. Two years ago this past Feb. I had a partial knee replacement, 8 weeks later I had to go back into surgery for a revision. 5 days after the revision, the component broke again, and I had to have a total knee replacement in Oct. Exactly seven months to the day I had 3 major surgeries. The first surgeon did the fist 2 surgeries, I lost total trust in him and another surgeon had to try and repair the damage. Until I received all of my paperwork from the hospital and doctor's office, I had no idea that the 1st surgeon had cut too much away from my femur resulting in a dang mess.

Now almost 2 years later I still have problems with that knee, but unless it breaks completely, I will never have another knee replacement. If I have to have anything else done to that knee, I have 2 options open to me, fusion or amputation. Some option huh? Take care.

gentle hugs
Angel

[sandee1818]

Hi Red,
Thank you for the update. I am so sorry you had a surgeon that was not really straight with you and caused you more harm. As Tuck says it does happen.
I too have been thinking about you wondering where you were. I hope you can check in more often to let us know how your doing;)

[Tuckamore]

I've been concerned about you and had thought about you every day. I am very glad that you have posted your update. You know that we are here for you.

I'm sorry that the first surgeon was not a competent one. Unfortunately they are out there and it is difficult to determine who they are until it is too late. You are so correct. We all should obtain a second opinion before any extensive surgery.

It sounds like you have a competent surgeon now. I am hopeful that he will be able to restructure your shoulder and it will not be as painful as it currently is now. I do know ppl that have had very successful shoulder replacements. One of them is my friends husband. He plays golf most every day, weather permitting and has chronic discomfort but does not take narcotics.

Thank you for posting. Please continue to keep us informed of your progress. It's great to have you back.
Peace,
Tuck