I am getting concerned with Hick's recovery from his back surgery. Ever since he got a fever last Thursday, his pain has intensified. The steroids that worked before for his leg pain have done nothing for his current hip pain. It started with the left hip, then went to both. He also says his muscles/nerves hurt where his legs hook onto his body. Like in the groin area. So I'm guessing it must be about the nerves, since a joint infection wouldn't jump from one hip to the other. Also, the fever is gone or just 99.1.
Hick was lurching and moaning when he got out of bed Tuesday morning. He took a pain pill and muscle relaxer. He's about out of both now. It's been four weeks since his surgery. He plugged in a heating pad and sat on it in his recliner. Within an hour, he said he was feeling better. That his pain was down to about a 1/10. Well. There's the pain pill and muscle relaxer...
Anyhoo... he felt pretty good, and left the house around 9:00. He was going to go in Walmart for his Diet Mountain Dew, but I told him NO, to not push it since he was feeling okay. He ate lunch at the Senior Center. Chicken Ratatouille, Salad, Biscuit, Banana Pudding. Then he took SilverRedO to get a new tire at Mick the Mechanic's.
I'm not sure where else Hick went. He got home around 4:00, hobbling like he hurt a lot. He had put in a call to the surgeon, but nobody ever called him back. He just wants to know if this is to be expected, and what he can do to relieve his pain. They never gave him any exercise plan for muscle strengthening, or for flexibility. I guess maybe after his 6-week appointment he might get one. He had asked about walking, since we have a treadmill, and they told him NO. But I think general walking on level surfaces is probably okay now, assuming he is surefooted, and wears his back brace. In fact, he took his walker out on the porch Monday afternoon and did a little walking. Said it made him feel better at the time.
Here's hoping Hick hears back Wednesday morning. He will call again. He needs therapy or testing or a method to ease his pain. He said that his pain pills had a note to contact the pharmacy. So maybe he can at least get a week's worth of refill on that.
Hick hates to be THAT patient who is always whining, but he had a taste of freedom, and now feels incapacitated.
Val, use your teacher voice. Hick needs to be seen by a doctor. Recovery is no picnic for either the patient or caregiver. I hope he feels better soon and it is nothing serious.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Hick sees his other doctor on Thursday, the one that put the contraption in his back that buzzes him with an electric current. He's going to ask him a couple general questions, and then drive to the surgeon's office (since he will be halfway there) and speak to someone IN PERSON about what to expect, and what to do to manage his pain.
DeleteI hope Hick hears back from the surgeon today. It is strange that Hick was feeling better with his aches and pains before the fever. It would be nice if the surgeon could see Hick earlier than his 6 week appointment just to check things out or give Hick some feedback that this was to be expected.
ReplyDeleteHick did NOT hear back, and did not call again! Which is his own fault, unless maybe his phone was acting up again. He's going to the surgeon's office in person on Thursday, to get an answer to his questions. Hopefully! Surely they won't throw him out on his ear... He doesn't expect to see the surgeon, who will probably be in surgery, but they do have nurse practitioners assigned to answer the phone questions and call in meds.
DeleteThis doesn't sound good at all. I'm pretty sure a little walking exercise doesn't include climbing in and out of cars, he has done too much too soon and needs to ease off. I know it's hard, but full recovery is worth it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hick did too much too soon, but I think this is somehow related to his recent fever. That's when the pain really ramped up.
DeleteI am the one doing the calling and I am insistant when I get someone on the phone. He needs to be seen again by the surgeon. He should not be going backwards with pain! He might have done something and not told you about it. Like maybe, almost falling? Men are awful patients!
ReplyDeleteHick does his own calling. This is the first time the surgeon's office has left him hanging. He's going there in person today. I know one thing he did, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet. That was on Sunday, and his hips were already hurting.
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