First Night: I was brought to my room. I immediately ask nurse to bring my laptop bag. I got few things to get done --work related stuff. I worked for an hour or two. To remind you I worked 8 hours on my day of femur surgery and was hoping to repeat same here. However, I felt sleep after few hours. I wake up and asked for food. The nurse did not allow me. She insisted I cannot eat before 2AM which was hour away. I think it was the protocol. Back in St. Mary’s hospital I was given food as soon as I get to my room and I ate but throw up right away. So it did make sense to me.
I was in pain around 3AM. Sensational burning pain never had it before, not even when I broke two femur bone same time last year. I was vehemently worried and paranoid. What’s going on, was there any mistake, something wrong, irreversible mistake of any kind? Dang, I was so worried. Being alone, first time in the country and barely speak the language. It was toughest moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I called the nurse and they may have not fully understand the magnitude of the pain. I specially told them I have done this sort of surgery before and pain is not manageable and tolerable. And I am not a CHILD. If I say I am in pain than I meant it. All hale broke loose that night. I was different person and I might have cursed out. Which is not normal. I was in severe pain from 3-7AM. The nurse tried the tramadol with me but did not buzz. I felt my body is rejecting the narcotic for some reason. The pain killer have zero impact. I felt miserable, devastated and very lonely!!!! To add insult to injury they had forgotten to put catheter at surgery table. They put it on my bed while I am coping pain. It was five minute process but my god the timing. It was like Murphy law!
Finally Dr. Monegal showed up around 7-7:30. I have emailed him I was in severe pain most of the second part of the night and called him around 7AM. Did not want to wake him up early. He picked up the phone and came to hospital right away. He was shocked to see my pain level. He told me he has never experience anyone at that pain level before. Paco1 did the same surgery few days ago second one and he perform exactly same and he is doing just fine. I must be the unlucky patient. Why me?
??
May be almighty was sending me message that one segment lengthening was enough. This was not necessary. Dr. Monegal immediately asked me if I feel pressure on my left and my answer was BIG FAT YES. I had bandage from my femur to ankle wrapped around from the surgery. He cut the bandage out. AND THAT WAS IT. THE PAIN WENT AWAY JUST LIKE THAT. The pain starts subdued in no time. Less than 2 minutes the pain level dropped to manageable. WAS IN BIG RELIEF. I began to feel much better. My muscle has swollen so much the tight bandage was pressurizing and generating sensational burning pain. I wish nurse knew this and helped me. Preventable pain but no one knew except the doctor. Such an unfortunate event.
I have read many diaries especially from India/Russia/China where patient goes through 10/10 pain. I never understood until this moment. The bright side is I get to experience firsthand.
After the bandage removal my experience has been very smooth ride so far. Dr. Monegal told me everything went PERFECT and I believed him. I reviewed the x-ray and looks great. The issue was not with the surgery technique but pain management and a simple issue of bandage removal. Obviously it’s been only 5 days. Time will tell more and promise to update. 4 golden days and 1 very bad one!
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Topic: Fitbone Stage Right Tibia Lenghtening (Dr. Monegal), Barcelona, Spain (Read 68837 times)