Shoulder pain

[NanaFifi]

Sorry but I need to have a moan 😢 feeling sorry for myself.

Saw my GP this morning and I’m being referred to Orthopaedic consultant re my right shoulder, he suspects I may need a replacement. Up until recently I’ve been able to deal with the prospect of surgery quite well (have had many, surgeries) but a very bad post op experience last year has left me terrified! Long story cut short - I was left overnight without anything like adequate pain relief, I was beside myself with the pain. The young doctor on duty was very unhelpful and I was told there was no-one senior for him to contact for advice. It was like a living nightmare and has left me really scared to have more surgery. (I made a formal complaint to NHS Grampian)

Has anyone been in the same situation and if so what measures did you take to ensure adequate post op pain relief? Thanks 🙏

[Stormpetrel]

Hi NanaFifi

Sounds like a complete nightmare

To avoid I would suggest you speak to your Consultant Surgeon (his team) and most importantly your Anaesthetist, as far as I am aware he is responsible for writing up your post op analgesia.

All the best

[NanaFifi in reply to Stormpetrel]

Thanks Stormpetrel, That’s what I thought, I think it may be the same surgeon so he will be aware of what happened previously. Ideally I would like something in writing from Anaesthetist.

[Stormpetrel in reply to NanaFifi]

All the best

Absolutely make sure you air all your concerns in both departments

As previous experience was wholly unacceptable

[Hidden in reply to NanaFifi]

Totally agree with Stormprtrel. No anaesthetic until assured analgesia written up. Doctors can be a bit forgetful sometimes and need serious prompting. Anaesthetist is the best bet.

[dippyd09]

Hello, I really sympathise, I too am waiting to see an Orthopaedic surgeon regarding both my shoulders. I too have had many surgeries and exactly the same thing happened to me after the last one, my knee. I was in agony until the next day when it got sorted. I would agree strongly with Stormpetrel. I am going to speak to both the consultant and anaesthetist. This has never happened before, I have always been given adequate pain relief so I think we have to trust this one time was a mistake. I wish you all the best and hope both our surgeries go well although I think it will be some time before I have mine as shoulder surgeons are few and far between.

[NanaFifi in reply to dippyd09]

Hi dippyd09,

Sorry to hear that you had to go through that too. Morphine just does nothing for me post op and it doesn’t help that I’m on slow release morphine on a daily basis.

I hope you don’t have to wait too long before you get your surgery and that all goes well regarding anaesthesia. Let me know how you get on, good luck xx

[oldtimer]

That's awful! The last two times I have had surgery the anaesthetist has seen me before the operation and discussed post-operative pain relief. And assured me that I would not be in pain - in fact those times were the only times that I haven't had constant pain, so very grateful (despite being a bit emotional and woozy at the time!)