Hi,
I went into the hospital on Tues Oct 23
07 for elective Microvascular
Decompression Surgery to eliminated facial
nerve pain. I was prep-ed, anesthestized
and the last thing prior to calling in the
surgeon was establishing the lumbar tap.
After upwards of 15 attempts the surgery
was aborted. I was taken to recovery.
After about an hour in recovery I needed
to use the bathroom. The nurse asked if I
could walk. I said sure. (I walked
perfectly fine when I came into the
hospital). I tried to stand 3 times and
could not do it without help. I finally
asked the nurse to help me and we would
get through it. It seemed like the
bathroom was a mile away. I was
experiencing grabbing pain in my buttocks
and down the sides/back of both legs. We
had to stop several times to and from the
bathroom. I never saw a doctor while in
recovery to tell me what was wrong with
me. I have never ever had back pain. The
neuro resident signed my discharge papers
without even evaluating me. My family
managed to have me spend the night in the
hospitals 24hr care unit. The next
morning my surgeon came in and said they
could not establish the line because of
possible stinosis, but he doubted it. He
ordered an MRI of my back. A little while
after I got back from the MRI the
residents (the team) who were in the OR
for my surgery came to see me and said the
reason for my back pain is I have stenosis
of two vertebrae. I said again I have
never had back pain in my life. I was
sent home. On Fri Oct 26 I had a lower
sensation with my bladder and bowel
functions. We called a doctor friend at
the hospital and he said I should come
into the emergency room immediately. When
I go the the ER, the team came in and
asked me several questions, ordered an
really strong narcotic, said the stenosis
was causing my baldder and bowel problems,
did a rectal exam to determine sphincter
muscle strenght , said I may need
emergency back surgery and sent me for
another MRI. When I got back from the
MRI, the on call doc came in while The
Team was there. He had already reviewed
the MRI and talked to the radiologist. He
asked to see my back, was not please,
asked a few of the same questions said I
did not need emergency surgery. He said
we should watch and wait. He ordered
steroids to reduce inflamation. I was
admitted to the hospital. Needless to say
my husband, family and I were very upset.
My surgeon, who was not present during the
lumbar puncture, agreed that my back,
bladder and bowel problems were not a
result of stenosis which the radiologist
had said was unimpressive. He said is was
a result of the procedure. I spend 5 days
in the hospital and returned home on 800mg
ibuprofen and a muscle relaxer. My
surgeon said there is a small sac of fluid
which at first they thought was just a
tiny droplet of blood, but he thinks it is
a little more blood than a tiny droplet.
He said nerves were irriated and it could
take a few weeks to several months to
heal. I am so upset, I can hardly walk.
I need to use a walker or a cane. The
pain is horrible and again, I have never
ever had back pain. Will this indeed go
away? Will it not and will I need back
surgery? Will I have back problems for
the rest of my life? I am soooo scared? I
don't know what to do. And, I still need
the facial nerve pain surgery. Any
advise?
