Posted on: Tue, 08/19/2008 - 21:19
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Bandage question?????
Hello ! I need some advice from you guys! I still have my bandages on....when can i take them off? I had surgery August 12. I didnt get to see my Doctor on discharge day so I didnt get my papers.
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Cervical spinal fusion April 8, 2008
Heart attack 2004,Ostearthritis,Posterior Spinal fusion August 2008, Mitral valve prolapse
Prescriptions:Neurontin,Vicodon 750,Flexeril
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My bandages and drain line came off the day after surgery and I never had another one. I'd put a call in to your Dr. for what he wants you to do.
Kelly Jo age 37 from Eastern NC
Years of back issues. Spondylolisthesis grade 1-2 w/ bilateral pars defect at L4/L5. Next door issues had started at L5/S1. peripheral neuropathy/radiopathy/Sciatica
NS performed a Discectomy/Laminectomy at both levels and fused L4/L5 with my removed bone. Installed Dynesys at both L/4-L5 and L5/S1 on 07/10/08.
Meds down to 7.5-15mg Percocet every 6 hours (which I usually only take in the evening usually) Flexeril 10mg PRN up to 3x/day.
Watching bulging disk at C6-7 mildly symptomatic but, no plans to repair at this time, my choice. Latest X-rays indicate spondylosis at multi-levels above fusion.
"I think I can, I think I can... I KNOW I can......
Matthew 19:26 "With God ALL things are possible"
Did they forget? My bandage was removed with my drain on post-op day 3, then my incision was left open to air. I am a nurse and it is unusual in my opinion for you to still have your bandage on. Call your surgeon and ask if you can remove it. I had steri-stips on my incision on d/c only, and was instructed to remove them on post-op day 10. Do you have written d/c instructions from the hospital that the nurse should have reviewed with you? Check there as well for instructions on your bandage. If you still need one, seems it should be getting changed on a regular basis. Are you allowed to shower? This would be a problem with a bandage on. I was allowed to shower without covering my incision from day of discharge. Good Luck, let us know what you find out. Sue
20+ years of back pain, Grade I spondylolisthesis L4 on L5 secondary to bilateral spondylolysis (pars defects, unstable), L4-5 disc desiccation, facet arthrosis L4-5, L5-S1. LESI's X 4, facet injections, chiropractic, massage, Bowen therapy, aquatherapy, Left L4-5 Polar (posterior oblique lumbar arthrodesis) with posterolateral fusion and instrumention on August 5,2008(BAK Vista PEEK cage, BMP, Connexus, autograph, ST360 Spinal Stabilization System) Norco, Soma, (NO MORE MOTRIN
), Bone-growth Stimulator
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I did not get to see my Doctor for Discharge, I asked them to call and ask him if I could go home. He said yes but I wouldnt not get discharge papers unless we waited to the follo0wing morning. We opted to come home!
Cervical spinal fusion April 8, 2008
Heart attack 2004,Ostearthritis,Posterior Spinal fusion August 2008, Mitral valve prolapse
Prescriptions:Neurontin,Vicodon 750,Flexeril
Do you know if you have staples or steri-strips under there? I would think it is not good to keep the bandage on so long it might breed bacteria, sorry gross I know but please call your doctor's office tomorrow and see if you can take it off. Like Cali, I was allowed to shower and everything with my staples exposed as long as the water didn't directly hit my incision line. I let mine get plenty of air anytime I was out of the turtle shell.
just my thoughts. oh I am glad to hear the percocet is working better for you! I'm still having the tightness issue but it is bearable, it must be normal.
Kelly Jo age 37 from Eastern NC
Years of back issues. Spondylolisthesis grade 1-2 w/ bilateral pars defect at L4/L5. Next door issues had started at L5/S1. peripheral neuropathy/radiopathy/Sciatica
NS performed a Discectomy/Laminectomy at both levels and fused L4/L5 with my removed bone. Installed Dynesys at both L/4-L5 and L5/S1 on 07/10/08.
Meds down to 7.5-15mg Percocet every 6 hours (which I usually only take in the evening usually) Flexeril 10mg PRN up to 3x/day.
Watching bulging disk at C6-7 mildly symptomatic but, no plans to repair at this time, my choice. Latest X-rays indicate spondylosis at multi-levels above fusion.
"I think I can, I think I can... I KNOW I can......
Matthew 19:26 "With God ALL things are possible"
even at home- the staples were not very comfortable with out some padding. When my staples were removed is when mine came off. I had no drain tube and no oozing.
Julie
MRI 12/07 L4-5 Herniated w/Nerve Impingment. L5/S1 Posterior Central Protrusions- indents @Thecal Sac. L4/S1 Moderate Facet Anthropy. 6/08 MRI and Flexion Extension Xrays- revealed grade 3 Retrolisthesis L5/S1, Spondy L4
Constant LBP and Bilateral Radiculopathy going on 17 months. PT, MT, Chiro, Traction, Selective Nerve Root Injections........ You name it I probably did it.
*****L4-S1 PLIF 7/28/08******* Feeling great so far!
In my discovery of information I found out I have T11/T12/L1/L2/L3 bulges with anterior osteophytes and anterior limbus on L1 vertebral body- these are not causing pain at this time.
That is bizarre. If the nurses can get a phone order for d/c, they could also have gotten a phone order for instructions, in fact that would be standard of practice. We would never send anyone home without discharge instructions. Did you leave AMA- against medical advice. That is the only situation in which I can see that happening, and even then, we usually give d/c instructions even though the doctor does not agree to the patient leaving. Odd
20+ years of back pain, Grade I spondylolisthesis L4 on L5 secondary to bilateral spondylolysis (pars defects, unstable), L4-5 disc desiccation, facet arthrosis L4-5, L5-S1. LESI's X 4, facet injections, chiropractic, massage, Bowen therapy, aquatherapy, Left L4-5 Polar (posterior oblique lumbar arthrodesis) with posterolateral fusion and instrumention on August 5,2008(BAK Vista PEEK cage, BMP, Connexus, autograph, ST360 Spinal Stabilization System) Norco, Soma, (NO MORE MOTRIN
), Bone-growth Stimulator
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
i decided to remove them this morning(the bandage)There are steri strips i left those alone.
Cervical spinal fusion April 8, 2008
Heart attack 2004,Ostearthritis,Posterior Spinal fusion August 2008, Mitral valve prolapse
Prescriptions:Neurontin,Vicodon 750,Flexeril
I had my bandages changed daily for the first 5 days then a rubber bandage put on that I could shower with and to keep that on for 2 weeks.
I had disolvable stiches so nothing to be taken off or out but I was gong to rehab so had to get a bandage put on each day before getting in the hydrotherapy pool.
Sara
Aussie girl from Sydney
Work related injury 2001, Bulging discs L2-S1 had Laminectomy/discectomy L4-5 2001. Semi-success.
Since developed DDD, Stenosis, scoliosis & more. Had PT, Hydrotherapy, Deep tissue massage, facet block injections (no change) light gym work.
PLIF L3-S1 with BMP, & decompression, hardware, & correction to scoliosis May 7th 2008. 10 days hospital 2 weeks in rehabilitation hospital.
Started PT day 1, aquatherapy (heaven)day 14.
Finished PT and aquatherapy and waitng to start at gym.
Doing really well with only the occassional hiccup. Still on Oxycontin 5mg x 1, Endone 5mg X 2, Valium 5mg x 1, Lyrica 75mg.
Our minds are more powerful then our bodies so watch your thoughts and be careful what you wish for.
can be now left off at this point. The steri strips will fall off eventually on their own. If not, the doctor will take them off at your next appontment.
Christina
39 year old happily married mother of two children ages 19 and 17.
Muscle spasms started after getting up from sitting position in '07, cervical herniation, stenosis and bone spurs showed up on MRI resulting in emergency cervical fusion of C5-C6(sept. 07).
Pain continued in middle/lower back. MRIs showed herniated disc in lumbar area, stenosis, and fatty tissue in the spinal canal causing spinal cord to be pushed to the left.
Tried heat/cold therapy, PT, facet joint injection,as well as facet joint injection, epidurals/injections, steriods, Tens Unit, Ultrasound therapy, Nerve blocks and Various pain meds.
After exhausting all other treatments and having a discography had a spinal fusion L5-S1 with instrumentation (cage, 2 rods, screws, plastic spacer, bone grafts (made from my own bone ) on June 24th, 2008.