Getting Surgery For Anxiety Producing Pain

[James B.]

This has been a challenging six months.

In five days I am getting surgery for lumbar arthritis, which has been giving me severe sciatica for about one year. I did a search for terms like: arthritis anxiety, and, chronic pain anxiety, and chronic pain cognitive function. From reading these search results I learned that arthrits itself (there are 171 known kinds) is known to produce anxiety, even before it becomes a source of chronic pain. Sciatica is nerve pain, and beats the brain up pretty bad too. Then there is the impaired mobility (can barely walk) and no doubt makes me feel more vulnerable, thus in my case probably a big anxiety producer.

My lumbar condition is texbook degenarative stuff, no old broken bones or anything and my chances are better than 95% of getting the sciatica monkey off my back. Since I already have a major anxiety disorder, the sciatica has probably been more like King Kong on my back than just some little monkey; what an ordeal.

I am near in tears of excitement about getting relief from this horrific pain. The new Lo-Invasive methods, the new tools etc, are very good now; this type of surgery is not the Voodoo it sorta used to be. And I have total confidence in my Neurosurgeon, an amazing person - gifted it seems.

Wanted to start this thread now, so I can remember how hammered I am, and how much suffering I've been through from this; when my sciatica takes over my autoimmune system can freak out, and my iris (left eye) will get inflamed. Out of control pain. This has put me in the ER twice, the third time I had the correct eye medicine, took it and simply went to bed, sort of floating on a wave of total pain.

BTW, my first inflamed iris (iritis) hit (1993) as I had been bicycling and doing abnominal crunches - both very bad for degenerative lumbar stuff, as confirmed by my highly respected Neurosurgeon. Funny huh, ya know you have a weak lumbar, and strong abs really help - so, one goes out and diligently strengthens the abs, but crunches are the wrong way to do it.

Anyway, it seems my six months of dilligence and hard work may pay off. And I am very greatful for the resources to get this done. Hey, may post up after surgery and share my impressions...

Thanks again everyone,
James B.

 

[Jubilation4Me]

Hello James,

I'm wishing the very best with the surgery. I'm hoping everything will improve and you'll feel better soon. Take care and let us know how you're doing.

J4M

 

[Terrapin]

James, I hope that the surgery goes well for you and that it will help improve your situation and improve your life. I am very interested in how it goes for you as I have been wondering if some of these low invasive methods would help me with the pain in my neck. Please post an update to tell us how it all turned out. I really do hope this will be a major success as it would give me some hope.

Terrapin

 

[nie]

Thinking of you James, and wishing you the best.

 

[James B.]

Thank you for the warm thoughts everyone. :-)

Been out of surgery a few hours, looks like my Neurosurgeon has kicked King Kong's ass. What a freakin' relief. I will be operating in 'safe mode' a couple weeks, then 'booting up' for the road to a realistic fitness level. The challenge will be to keep the training fun, varied and interesting, along with setting an attainable fitness/recreational goal to 'pull me through'.

Yep, got a nifty little titanium doo-dad added to me, base of the spine. Way cool. Guess that makes me technologically 'enhanced'. Not quite 'Replicant' status, not a full Cyborg...just uh, 'tricked out'.

Taking this opportunity to say thanks again, to Anthony for this site, to the editors, moderators and all those who contribute; words have power.

sincerely,
James B.

 

[Jubilation4Me]

Glad to hear you are fairing well James! Keep us posted on your progress!

 

[James B.]

There was an event I would like to relate, at the Rehab facility I was sent to after being released from the hospital. In retrospect, it was really no one's fault. No one realized that the "rehab facility" was primarily extended care geriatric/hospice. A busy, noisy and dense place filled with the elderly clearly on their last bed.

I was put in a room with two others, and began to be effected by serious triggers all around me as the afternoon progressed. They were not going to give me my Seroquel (found this out later, the pharmacy was closed) and so I took my own from my hospital bag about 7:30 pm. This is one day after neurosurgery.

About 10pm, I bolted upright out of sleep. I stood and knew I had to get outside.
The huge panic attack descended. I moved toward the door, didn't make it, passed out and hit the deck. Came to, started vomiting. They put me in a chair, got me outside. Full effect: covered with sweat, felt like electricity running thru my hands - they were visibly vibrating. The attack tapered off into sobbing, a particular kind of sobbing. One that I know from other 'events'. They had to rush me to the ER to be checked, was ok, back to the 'rehab place', got .5 mg of xanex, went to bed.

Next day I dressed, took a cab to my vehicle and, after testing my ability to drive, hit the road and drove the 2 hours home. Next day emailed my neurosurgeon. It was an error, they admitted it. Even a healthy person with no surgery and no anxiety disorder, after looking around inside that place would, I contend, have a tough time spending the night - beeping noises, vacume cleaners, phones ringing, flourescent lights, dead looking people in beds, everywhere. Nurses showing up to give me vaccinations I didn't need, didn't ask for...ugh.

I did in fact learn something from the panic attack. And am home, recovering from the surgery, doing pretty well.

:-)

 

[Michel]

So glad you're home! I wish you a very smooth recovery.

 

[James B.]

Thanks very much Michel :-)

There was an amazing nurse on duty that night. When I came to she kneeled in front of me at eye level and reminded me I just had neurosurgery. Very smart. It was amazing how the massive adrenaline hit *completely* blocked any physical pain - hmm, something to think about.

It was with great effort and a significant degree of physical pain that I could roll to my side, let alone stand. Yet, with the panic attack, I bolted out of bed like a colt and felt nothing; "I've got to get out of here", I told her, "I am having a panic attack". :-) Yikes!

She was awesome, stood by me, stayed with me and made sure I was doing ok until the EMT's arrived. It was also remarkable how, once covered with sweat, and the sweat started to evaporate (flash-off, rapid cooling) the shivering seemed to sort of 'propel' the panic attack. One minute too hot, the next feeling actually hypothermic. The wicked 'electro-hand' trick? The nurse felt it too. Wild!

What did I learn from the 'place' I went, where the peculiar sobbing came from?
Think I may have sustained real head injuries and was terrorized before age 5. That's just a thought right now, we'll see what comes up, as am getting ready to address my fears writing "childhood injuries" to be posted in my intro thread. I'll get to that after a couple weeks healing from surgery.

Was very lucky to find such a gifted neurosurgeon. The guys in the ER, who were masters dealing with panic attack, were basically in awe of this guys talent. I expect they had seen some write-offs, ones he'd pretty much brought back from the absoulte edge. Get this: he closed me disolving suture and...glue.
Yep, basically superglue that will flake off like a scab in about 2 weeks.

It is always sobering being in a major metro ER, realizing the risks people take, the accidents that happen...life, like threading the eye of a needle, over and over again.

 

[BeachMaMa]

So how is your pain now? I really appeciated this post as I have arthritis in my neck and severe tension headaches/migraines. These of course increase my anxiety which worstens my headache which worstens my migraines and around and around I go.

On top of this I found out I need a surgery that will last three hours (female issues) require 3-4 days hospitalization and 6-8 weeks recovery. Just the fact I need this surgery has caused my anxiety to soar through the roof. I've never had surgery before and it flips me out.

Both of these things on top of the regular life stressors (kind of extreme financially right now) are putting my stress through the roof. I was wondering if having the surgery has helped your anxiety? I need some hope.

BeachMaMa

 

[James B.]

Hi BeachMaMa - yes, my scaitca is gone, my anxiety dropped way off, and my surgical healing is going well. I was back in the water soaking and floating around the less than a week after the procedure. Now its been over a month and I am feeling pretty close to normal, only better 'cause they fixed the place where my spine attaches to the pelvis (stenosis) *without* fusion.

I may end up getting an xray of my neck too, but its probably, hopefully, just residual tension build up. The steps go, xray to determine the severity of the arthritis, then MRI to look at how disks and whatnot might be pinching nerves and stuff.

Regarding the surgery, these modern lo-invasive methods are really neat, and the top surgeons doing them really know what they're doing: basically, they won't cut you unless one is really disabled from lack of mobility and pain. I was a wreck.

Regarding surgery in general, big phobia here too - I was on the table getting the IV drip and joking around with the staff one minute, then awake with the doc smiling, standing there telling me it all came out "perfect". It did.

I beat the living daylights out of my little body doing outdoor sports my whole adult life, so I got some orthopedic stuff (left leg) that is going to get some attention come July 6th.

Regarding anxiety getting into surgery, well, my meds helped me through, and I was just *way* ready to do it. No big deal.

Am a big believer in getting second and third opinions for major medical stuff like surgery. The first place quoted 4 grand out of pocket, plus air fare and lodging to get to Florida. I found a place here in socal, with a person that beats up the insurance companies - out of pocket: $40 bucks. Travel expense? I drove 1.5 hours. Shopping around saved me big.

Still have arthritis in my hands/wrists and knees, but they don't bother me much at all, though am not going to be pushing it anymore - gotta take a chill-pill and slow down into middle age, am ready to take it easier anyway - its been a frantic ride.

Good luck on all your medical stuff BeachMaMa, I got lucky and my guardian angels pulled me out of homelessness/real poverty, so I am milking the good fortune, and my insurance for all its worth, while I got it.

Just got the news on my financial status, am looking straight down the barrel at possible poverty in 5 to 6 years at best *if* the investment market holds. Can you say anxiety trigger? Lemme tell ya, homelessness was way traumatic, so I gotta get myself in gear, get my SSDI and start planning pronto. I will be honest, homeless or "not here" - tough call, very tough call. Needless to say, I watch every freaking dime.

Take care and thanks for posting.

 

[Dougal]

Prior to my PTSD diagnosis I was an avid trekker and traveler. The last six years have seen a decline in my mobility. My therapy team, including myself, put this down to isolating behaviour and somatic pain. Lo and behold a CT scan and such diagnosed severe arthritis, two protruding dics, etc. Amazes me my tolerance to pain and also the tunnel vision from the medical end of my team who didn't look beyond my mind, although I too was willing to accept their summary of the situation. In any event I discovered that my body can do anything it wants to in water. I have re-discovered swimming and actually look forward to going out. I've met some new people whom I've had coffee with after our swim. None of them have PTSD (at least none have 'fessed up). How pleasant is it to do something typical, not therapy, and very ordinary.
CM