pain seems worse now after epidural

Hi All.

When I was in hospital in January I was told that over the previous few weeks I had had a potassium deficiency which was getting worse. Apparently the body needs potassium for cell and nerve renewal. It sort of made sense at the time because of the neurosurgery (x2) and the spinal fluid leak that my body would need extra potassium. However I was reading up on it this week and apparently two of the symptoms of potassium deficiency are excessive tiredness and cramp. Both of which I have been plagued with over the last few weeks. I just assumed that my body levels would have adjusted themselves in time and the deficiency would have passed, but now I'm not so sure and I haven't had a blood test done since January. Has anybody else been told they have/had a potassium deficiency?? I'm taking some potassium tablets now I got from the pharmacist so I'll see how I get on with those, but I was curious if this is 'normal' post neurosurgery.

TFU

Hi Angela,

If it helps I don't think I'll get a holiday this year too. I didn't get to go anywhere at all in 2007 either. Two reasons, partly because I am skint from having to take so much unpaid sick leave from work and secondly because I have used virtually all of my annual leave for sickness purposes. However, it is still only April and there is still 8 months to go!! I am determined to go SOMEWHERE by the end of the year!! I have 8 months to work on it and so do you!! I'll race you. I have to tell you though that day trips don't count it has to be a least two nights away to a proper break and family members' homes don't count either!!! I bet you do it before me!!!

And my girl, be thankful you are 41. I am going to be 49 next week. Yep, that is a huge horrible number!! Worse still, 50 next year!! At least you are closer to 40 than 50!! You may feel more like 60 some days, the same as me, but I would gladly swap places!!! Lucky you!!! And remember old girl, moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!!!

TFU

TFU :D :D ...You are still a wise bird in my eyes :peace:

Take care,

Jules xx :winkeye: :winkeye:

Hi Truly,

OMG when is all this bad luck going to end for you hun? I wasn't told I had a potassium deficiencey, so I'm guessing it was within normal limits..I dont think it has been tested since I had the pre-op assessment (it's one of the routine blood tests they take). Interesting about the link low potassium has with cramp though, as this is something we both have in common at the mo...I think I'll have a look in my nutrition book and see if there's anything else that's potassium rich that could be added to the diet.

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

Hi Jules,

As I understand it, potassium is in so many food groups it is really hard to not ingest enough. The problem seems to be the rate at which I am expending it!! I too thought maybe I wasn't getting enough at first, but from what I've read the problem almost always lies at the other end of the cycle. I have to go back to the hospital next week to see this muscularskeletal (?) Consultant, I'll ask him to do a blood test, to check.

I was supposed to get my MRI results back today, but that was cancelled as I'm going to see another neurosurgeon now. God knows when that will be. But if there is an ongoing problem with my discs/nerve compression/spinal fluid leak than that would explain why the potassium problem hasn't corrected itself. Hopefully it is not an omen of what is to come!!!

Best wishes

TFU

Hi Edd

I'm sorry you feel scared reading our posts, but like Jules and TFU have said we are all really friendly on here and help each other with their problems. Some of us have had surgery, some a re waiting for it, and others are like you, at the start of disc problems wondering what to do.

When I was 19 I had my first slipped disc after an accident at work and That healed fine after physio and pain relief. Most people find physio and Ibuprofen tablets do the trick. If not, there are many other things that can be done before surgery is thpught about.

At the moment I am one of those unlucky few that have serious disc problems, and the people on this site are keeping me going through it all. I see this as a form of councelling, and it helps me sooooooo much. :D :D :D :D . When you read things on here, just try to remember that what happens for one person, dosen't neccasarily mean it will happen to you.

Hope you keep posting. Dont be scared. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Poor you TFU!!!!

Strange how the two symptoms of potassium deficancy are what you are suffering from hun. Sounds to me like another blood test is needed for definate.

Hope too that your new appointment isn't long off. That would be a worry off your mind eh?

I had a blood test after my 1st, 2nd and 3rd surgerys. Only thing it showed up was low white blood cell count. Dont know what that means do you? They never told me. In fact, every blood test for the las 2 years has showed that.

Anyway, take those tablets you bought and see how things go, and make sure you ask that muscularskeletal ? doc person for a blood test.

Jessica

xxx

Hello folks

I feel very worn out. I dont really know why. I am tired all the time especially walking up and down my stairs. I am very very white and keep getting rashes that come and go. I have had 4 panick attacks in the last 2 days and there is watery stuff that stinks coming out of both of my ears.

Plus a small cut I had on my finger has turned into a hole that is swollen and filled with gunk

Whats happening to me?

I keep shaking for no reason too. I dont want to ring my doctor as I seam to be having to call him evry few days for one thing or an other but I dont know what the hells happening to my body!!

What should I do?

Jessica

Hi Jess,

Maybe this could be something to do with your 'man flu'. It is easy to get run down, not so easy to build yourself up again. The stuff coming out of your ears could be due to an infection. But if it was you would probably be in a lot of pain. And there lies the problem, the meds you are taking is going to distort any clinical picture. I think you should get it checked out. Dare I mention it, a very, very, very outside chance it could be spinal fluid (CSF). It probably isn't, so don't worry, but under the circumstances.......... I expect you are wondering what else you an get hit with!! But don't worry about bothering your doctor. It is his job!!! They get paid a fortune these days!!! You wouldn't feel guilty about bothering your newsagent to buy a paper everyday, would you??? You need your GP, simple as that!!! He is paid to see you. So what, if you have seen him a lot recently. Some people on his list won't go for years!!! It all balances out in the end!!!!

Has the Consultant got back to you yet after your GP contacted him a few days ago????

Best wishes. Hopefully tomorrow you'll feel a bit better. And rest up!!!!

TFU

Hi Jessica

I don't know what is a normal white cell count in blood. I only know that in my CSF the WCC was very high, indicating infection, and it was made up of 94% lymphocytes, which was very high too. These are the killer cells sent to fight infection!! Like little warriors going off to battle!!!

Ho hum!!!

TFU

hi stacy

sorry to hear of your disc problem and like us all it is the most horrendous thing to have to endure 1, cos the medical profession doesnt count it as serious unless its affecting your bladder/bowels or your ability to walk 2, cos nothing is done quick enough and by the time treatment starts to work you,ve lost time at work, holidays not to mention the pure agony of it all so we do understand, and hopfully you,ll be one of the lucky few that treatment (physio pain meds) seem to work fast on, cos im sure for some it doesnt drag on as long as most of us on the site, i for one endured 2+ years of pure hell before i had surgery and now thankfully all seems to be ok but im always aware that it could happen again. and im very grateful for the support/info/advise i got from this site and know if it wasnt for mates i met on here i wouldnt have been as sane as i am now(eh! am i ???) so best of luck to you and keep pushing the gp etc for help. gail

hi edd

just remeber not all these situations happen to every one MOST people recover well with no further problems, i think that some people that use the site (me for one) if they have long term problems and need some support/advise and sometimes just a shoulder to cry on, be positive , but we,r here if you need us eh. gail

hi there i had an injury at work oct2006 after 5 months of work my ciro got me back to work but have had 4 relaspes since then i had a scan done 2 weeks ago not had my results yet i just want to get back to a normal life i feel i have not had the medical attention i should have had my crio would not touch me when i had my last relapse she said i needed a scan that was in jan i am on gadapentine and morphine for the pain as it it so bad i wonder if anyone else has ever had these tablets for there back :cry:

Hi Morag

And welcome to the Forum :D I'm sorry to hear about your situation....the pain can be pretty unbearable. I \"slipped\" my L5/S1 disc in March 2007 and was on Morphine to manage the pain....After the first month of being on it in which I lost 2 stones in weight and was very constipated, I tolerated it well, and because I have a good relationship with my GP was able to alter the dose as needed. Every month I would also try to reduce it to establish where the pain was at but always needed to increase it back up.

I had surgery in Nov 2007 and was able to discontinue the Morphine 10 days post-op after reducing it gradually on a daily basis. As you know, Morphine is addictive, so coming off it was not pleasant to say the least. I'm glad I was prescribed it as it was the only thing that would come close to managing the pain...but even the Morphine didn't take it away completely. There are some on the Forum who are or have taken Gabepentin so I'm sure you'll hear from them too.

By the way, the op was successful and I'm now back at work :D

Good luck with it and keep us posted with your progress and share any worries or concerns :D

Take care,

Jules xx :D :D

Hi there

I'm so sorry to hear about your suffering, it's been such a long time for you hasn't it.

Yes I'm a fellow gabapentin taker. I was prescribed it by a pain specialist when I was admitted into hospital with my back problems in November 2007. I have a prolapsed disc L5/S1. The pain was excruciating as you no doubt know. I was on morphine in hospital initially, came home on gabapentin (900mg), cocodamol and anti-inflammatories.

The gabapentin was increased to 1200mg a day and I have to say I weaned myself off all other tablets and now I just manage on the G.

Unfortunately, I have to have an operation (micro discectomy) as it appears after months of physio/hydro therapy, the condition of my disc is unchanged. It could get better on its own but statistics show it would take 2 to 5 years. I have 3 children and can't drive so you can imagine.

Anyway, really what I wanted to say is that once Gabapentin really starts to work in your system, you might find you may not need any other medication. I really hope it's the case for you as this tablet is safe as it's taken daily by epileptics. The only side effects that I've suffered is tiredness (which has got better over time) and feeling fuzzy headed.

I really do wish you all the best. I do hope your scan results come through quickly so at least you know what you're dealing with.

Take care and big hugs

Jude x