Surgery and more surgery!

[MusicalFurbaby]

Hi guys, hope you’re all doing OK.

So I had surgery nearly 5 months ago on my stomach, and since then I’ve had terrible pain in my shoulder. It aches, throbs and burns, and it runs across my shoulder up my neck, and down my arm. I had shoulder and neck MRIs this week, and found out yesterday I have a tear in my shoulder (cartilage) and tendonitis, plus a pinched nerve in my neck.

In all likelihood, I will probably need surgery to mend the shoulder tear and possibly rectify the tendonitis too. Plus I may need to see a neurologist for the nerve pain.

I’ve never had a complication arising from surgery before. I can only assume the surgeon must have put my arm in a funny position during or after the surgery, because my shoulder felt fine right before the surgery, and really painful immediately after. How do I approach the surgeon who did the original surgery? I’m not an aggro kind of person but could he be up for malpractise?

Also, does having lupus make us more susceptible to these kinds of tears and inflammation such as tendonitis?

There’s a slight chance this may be related to a shoulder fracture from 3 years ago. But I doubt it, because as I say, the pain began immediately following the surgery, but it’s conceivable that the two are linked.

Any and all encouragement appreciated. Not looking forward to my second lot of surgery in 6 months. It’s quite depressing. And I have no sick leave to speak of.

[Star13]

Sorry you are going through this. Playing devils advocate, it would not be the surgeon who would have been responsible for what happened to your arm, if that is the cause. It is the anaesthetist and theatre staff that help get you into position before the surgeon even walks into theatre so getting to the bottom of who did what when would be almost impossible. You know the NHS they would close ranks even if there were any notes that said who had done it. I think you will have to let that one go especially as you mention your previous injury which of course would be jumped on.

Good luck with your next surgery.

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to Star13]

Thanks Star, I agree it’s so hard to know, as I was unconscious at the time! We’ll see how it goes with the specialist this week.

[KnitSewPurl]

Hi MF,Sorry to hear you are going through it.

If you have a pinch nerve in your neck I would suggest to see a spinal consultant specialist to deal with the pinch nerve.

I have a miss alignment of my spine this was not detected.by spinal team until I saw a consultant spinal specialist privately. You might need surgery for that depending on the severity of the nerve Pinching first port of call usually is injection to the spine to see if it helps. If it does then the next option will be surgery.

If you can see one privately please do.

My hubby spine was lower back was pinching his nerve. He had surgery for that -Privately.

For me I have both my hip , leg and by back that needs surgery currently. Fortunately my consultant has agreed to offer me another spinal injection so I will have one end of Sept hopefully will try to coincide with my hip surgery , Because I took the option of2nd injections my hip is more of an issue than my back current even though it does give me issues when I stand for certain periods,bend or turn suddenly.

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Thank you! I have chronic neck/back conditions including scoliosis, arthritis, bulging discs and a whiplash injury. I assumed it was only a matter of time before developing something more complex like compressed nerves! What kind of injection did you have, if you don’t mind me asking?

[KnitSewPurl in reply to MusicalFurbaby]

It is a combination of steroids and lidocaine base . The steroids that they use will not absorb into our body as they go into the nerve to try to numb the nerve initially to see it that is the actually problem . You and the consultant will know a) you will feel from day one the pain is gone or B) your body is numb throughout and you will not be able to feel any thing which means they hit the right nerve. Either way they hit it. With mine the numbness on my foot was gone and the pains well done was gone I was able to stand straight. I cannot do that at the moment. So I am waiting for my 2nd injection in Sept then hopefully my hip op then 2months later my leg op to correct the rotation.

[KnitSewPurl in reply to KnitSewPurl]

I have a bad tear in my hip and right hip displysia only with no arthritis when I was told before by gp that I had osteoarthritis before at all. I had the full MRI ,CT and Xray Of my limbs all these were done privately. They were covered by insurance. And yes we have private insurance. We have been paying for it for quite a few years now. After all the problems we had with the NHS. I have total distrust of the NHS really. One for they can't even read the MRI ,2 . Wrong diagnosis of my hip and my back. They kept sending me to physio after physio and kept telling me it is Fibromyalgia. I am in agony unable to lift my leg. Get stabbed by the physio in my hip joint. Then told me it is muscular.

I am currently ice my hip X2 daily. Because it is so painful just can't wait to have it done.

[KnitSewPurl in reply to KnitSewPurl]

I told my hubby what gave them the right to say I have fibromyalgia when the only pain I had was my hip and my spine which was my lower back . Only 2 places . My foot was numb(pain)and pins and needles because of the spine . Just because I had been diagnosed my a rheumatology consultant that said I had fibromyalgia they immediately said and came to a conclusion that it is fibromyalgia. Such a load of rubbish... It has taken me 2 years to get this sorted out . Because of this physio nonsense.. wasted 2 years.

So my advice don't waste time , you want your life back . Get yourself seen asap if you can and if it is possible.

All the best XX and take care

[KnitSewPurl in reply to MusicalFurbaby]

spinesurgeons.ac.uk/

You might want to have a look at this site it gives very good insight into the different types of surgery and types condition. This is the site my consultant suggested he is a registered BASS.

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Thank you for sharing your experience and advice. I’m so sorry of your bad experience with the NHS and misdiagnosis, I agree that fibro is usually widespread pain which doesn’t seem to fit your situation at all. I will definitely get mine seen to, I’m in too much pain to faff about! I’m seeing the specialist tomorrow and he’ll likely refer me to a surgeon and/or neurologist for opinion. They may want to try some nerve meds/injection as well. See how it goes.

[KnitSewPurl]

As for your shoulder it depends on how the shoulder is position during surgery they would have needed one arm for blood pressure and one for fluids. That would be difficult to proof. Due to photographic evidence how you would have been laid on the table Or when they were transferring you over from one trolley to the operating table. A tear and tendonitis in a shoulder can be every easily done even by certain types of exercises. I am just laying all the possibilities out there.

[MusicalFurbaby in reply to KnitSewPurl]

Yep, you’re right, all I know is that they wheeled me into surgery feeling fine, and wheeled me out in a lot of pain. We’ll see what the specialist says this week.

[MusicalFurbaby]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I think I’ll see how the first conversation with the specialist this week goes and take it from there. Sorry to hear about your injuries and bad complaints experience, but glad things have improved for you now.