3 weeks + 6 days - shitty day

We've had a pretty shitty day today....

1 am. Nick wakes me up. He's in a lot of pain (buttocks), very upset and can't sleep. Desperately worried about this new pain. Took 1 x 30 mg Dihydrocodeine which after a while kicked in and he managed to get to sleep. Before going to bed he couldn't stand up straight which had upset me - he looked like his pre-op days which was depressing.

10 am. Nick wakes up and not looking or feeling too bad. Walks into the kitchen standing properly and walking tall - huge relief. Perhaps last night was just a temporary glitch. Cancel the planned trip to hydro pool for swimming because his tummy button is looking very infected.

11 am. Starts his first mock GCSE. We've planned out the day with basically cycles of sit - walk - sit - walk - exercise - rest. Each sit is doing his exam paper with an expected finish time of 3 ish.

Buttock pain gets steadily worse and he gets stiffer and stiffer. By the third cycle when he gets back from the walk he collapses on the floor by the door. Virtually in tears, unable to lift himself up to sitting and certainly can't stand. Abandon exam paper, another Dihyrocodeine.

Crawls to living room and rests on futon. Can't find a pain-free position at all.

5 pm. Visit to physio. His lower back had shifted a bit and muscles gone into spasm. Strangely can bend forward but can't stand straight. Lots of massage on lower back and calf. Advised that this may just be a flare up, and to rest with a warm pad on back. Revert back to the 1 week post-op stretches only. If no improvement in next 24-48 hours to contact surgeon again.

So, at time of writing (7. 30 pm) feeling pretty miserable and uncertain what is going on.

10.15 pm update. Took a couple of paracetamol and now looking a bit happier. Just praying that he manages to sleep tonight.

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1 day post-op

8.20 am. Arrive at the hospital. Nick awake and fairly chirpy. Didn't have a great night, 'not bad' says Nick. Difficult getting to sleep and had a few painkillers to cope with wound pain. Wound hurts when knocked or pressed against, which is tricky when you are lying all the time! Healthy appetite and has enjoyed breakfast. Taken a couple of ibuprofen. Expecting physio to visit after breakfast.

10.30 am. Spoken to surgeon who is happy with Nick's progress. Also seen physio which has proven really helpful. Have a list of very basic and gentle stretches for him to do 3 times a day and had a good discussion about when to see his normal physio again. Nick's recommended to start gentle, short walks as soon as possible. Nick reporting that he can sit straight without pain :-) and they checked that he can walk upstairs. Having a shower here at the hospital after which they will replace his dressing and then he can go home!

Dressing and steri-strips came off in the shower so we've had our first glance of the wound.

11.30 am and Nick's back home! We have some extra painkillers in case his wound starts to hurt, but he is pain free at the moment :-) He's set up on the futon on the living room floor with his laptop and bag of food to his side. When he stands up he can now stand straight and suddenly seems taller than before.

 

1.30 pm. Managed to sit up at dining table for a quick lunch, although he said it was tiring on his back muscles. Full set of physio stretches followed by ice on back for 20 mins (using an exercise band to hold in place as he is is lying on his side to avoid pressure on the wound).

2.30 pm. Short 10 minute walk (approx 0.5 km) followed by ice-pack and 2 x nurofen. Slight back ache. Measured height - 1.5 cms taller than pre-surgery!

5 pm. Full set of physio stretches followed by Deep Freeze ice-spray. Spray easier to use, but only lasted about 10 minutes so reapplied after 10 mins. Some mild dull back ache around the wound. Nick finds most comfortable position is lying on his side.

We are both learning that you need to use a timer/stopwatch etc to remind us when next activity is, otherwise you just lose track of time.

6.30 pm. More ice spray. A little bit of back pain around the wound but not enough to require any painkillers.

9.30 pm. Had a bit of a set back this evening. All was going well - little pain, managed to sit up for supper and was pretty happy about life until about 8.30 pm. Wound started to hurt so we put an ice pack on and waited 20 mins. But the pain worsened and Nick described the sensation as if the wound was ripping apart. Indeed, it had started to bleed again.

So, took a Diydrocodeine and Nick has been lying face down (lying on back hurts too much) since then. He's feeling very miserable indeed. Shame, cos today had been going so well.

10.20 pm. Diydrocodeine has had desired effect and Nick's pain has greatly reduced. Gone to bed now, hopeful that he will manage a good nights sleep.

I think that today we have been amazed at the impact the surgery has had. We expected a reduction in sciatic pain, but there has been a huge impact on his 'structural' or biomechanics as well. He can now stand properly, he looks as flexible as you would expect a teenager to be and he walks normally. I hadn't realised the impact that the hernia had had on these. He says that he feels 'freed'. The pain this evening is surgery pain and I am sure it will disapate over the next few days.

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