-
Cauda Equina Syndrome - compression injury of spinal cord-- evulsion into the canal crushing cord at L4L5 (and the surgery to help- laminectomy and fusion). A few years ago, those pesky B cells decided that the squishy bits aren't enough, and have destroyed three disks already. Spinal cortizone is what is keeping me off the OR table for a second laminectomy and pin for now, but even having a needle jammed into your spine isn't exactly a wonderful feeling! I had to be hospitalized for several days before the first surgery simply for pain mangement. Once the need for Demerol and more-fine gets past a certain point, they need to keep an eye on you to make you don't stop breathing. PCA (a morphine button) and a demerol IV, and the pain in my legs was still horrific. Crushing the cord sends all sorts of nonsense pain signals- the pain felt in the legs reflects no actual injury to the legs at all. The crushed cord had also impacted motor impulses also, with transient paralysis on the left. Three very painful months of PT after the surgery, I could walk almost normally again.
-
Peritonitis - infection of body cavity - my initial diagnosis happened after my large intestine split down the side, dumping gut contents into the abdominal cavity.. and again, the meatball surgery done that saved me at the time, where they removed sigmoid and most of transverse colon...
Kidney stones are a side effect of the disease, I throw 2-3 a year, 4-7mm. Actually, next week after things settle down, I have to call nephrologist and schedule ESWL (ultrasonic shock wave lithotripsy) on the right because I have a 17mm staghorn that's never going come out as it is. ESWL breaks that monster down to a couple of ones that are under 7mm that can make their way out. Kidney stones sucketh with a great might, but they generally can be managed at home with prescribable painkillers. EWSL itself is pretty bad-- they create a shock wave that shatters the stone inside the kidney. Last one, the bruise on my back was huge and uglier than sin- never mind that standard kidney stone fun of peeing out razor blades. I'm so used to kidney stones that I can kick out a 2-3mm one without much in the way of meds.
Right now as I post this at 4am, it is because I am waiting for painkillers to kick in actually! I haven't been eating on weekends for the past two months so I could work.. but I broke down last night and had some McDonalds, and the partial obstruction that is giving me hell currently is bitching mercilessly. Intestinal stricture caused by inflammation at the ileum..
Pain and I are well acquainted.. as I have mentioned in the past, my hobbies (including arduino) are frequently ways I am trying to draw my attention away from things that the meds don't reasonably touch. Pain as an experience (as you are taught in pain clinic) is complex, and managing things without being doped to high heaven 24/7 is a skill that must be learned... staying on opiates at all times simply cannot be done. You need to pick and choose- tolerating the arthritis in the back is a good idea if you know that you're going to be fighting something worse that really does require the heavy stuff.. I often reserve the more powerful painkillers for when I need to work. I can avoid the tolerance building of continuous use, which then leaves plenty of upside. I can dose up enough to manage almost normally when I need it, if I avoid building tolerance..