The Broken Soldier

My neurosurgeon said the surgery went well.  For that given procedure, all that could be accomplished was.  It’s been a few days, and I do notice some differences in the kind of pain I have in my lower back.  The usual pain is achy.  The pain you’d expect with a chronic injury I suppose.  The replacement pain is sharper, and I assume it has more to do with the surgery than the injury.  But honestly, I’m so doped up right now I can’t really be sure what I’m feeling in terms of pain.

The neurological symptoms are the same.  Right foot drop gait, trouble with lateral toe and right foot dorsiflexion, sensory disturbances in both feet and moving up to my right calf.  The physical therapist said there’s not a lot to be done about these things, but there are shoe inserts and other devices to minimize the discomfort associated with these deficits.

Adjusting to medication has been the greatest challenge so far, the only major difference I’ve noticed.  I’m back on Fentanyl Transdermal Patches (75 mcg/hr), along with Percocet and Robaxin.  I’m so high that I pass out several times an hour.  And I’m itching like crazy - not unusual with opiates/opioids.  The drugs seem also to have strange effects on my breathing.  I’m having something like apnea, though I’m awake when it happens.  Weird.  Anyway, I’m sure this is only the beginning.  More to come.