This is supposed to be excruciatingly painful surgery/recovery and I know that they won't give him enough morphine or whatever pain killers after the first few days. People who have had this surgery say the horrible pain lasts for weeks.
What are some methods or natural things that will really help with the severe pain he is going to have? Thanks in advance.
2007-12-10 09:09:54 · 11 answers · asked by mamacedar 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
get him nusic...music is a known cure to take your mind off pain....see Mozart's theory or something in the health book section....certain music helps relax the mind and get it off the pain....not current bands but "real music" or classics....I used it for some surgery I had and it worked so I rarely had to use a pain pill....I'm sorry I can't think of what the book is titled...
Mozart's mircle of music???? Borders bookstore had it.
2007-12-10 09:16:51 · answer #1 · answered by gr8ful_one 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've had spine surgery twice, once in 1996 and the other in 2002. Hospitals are very aware of pain management needs after surgeries.
When in the hospital, your grandson will probably have a machine that will dispense morphine (or something just as good) when he hits the button. It has circuitry to keep him from overdosing so if he hits the button too often, it won't give him anything. He will be weaned off of whatever's in the machine and given meds in pill form...maybe Percocet and/or Oxycontin.
He will have prescriptions for Oxycontin the day he's leaving the hospital. He'll need major pain relief especially during the first two weeks but his pain management needs will continue for a couple of months. He'll be taking Oxycontin (or Oxycodone) during this time. He'll be weaned off of the narcotics, maybe starting after a month or two.
Even though he will be in pain, by taking these meds he won't stay in pain. They will do the job.
I've also read (urban legend?) about some teen that was able to get along with just tylenol. If true, this is a very rare situation. No doctor will ever expect your grandson to use only tylenol. On the other hand, no one will force your grandson to take narcotics if he doesn't need them.
If you haven't discussed this, there's a couple of things, off-topic, that will make life easier for him.
o Make sure he has a robe in case he gets up in the middle of the night when the house is colder. The surgery may mess up his body's temperature control.
o Get a toilet seat extender so that he doesn't have to squat as far. These also have handles and certainly made my life a lot easier. Since his chest muscles are fine, he'll be able to use them to raise and lower himself.
o It might be nice to get a "grabber" which will help him pick things up from the floor.
o He may or may not have a walker when he gets home from the hospital (probably not, but...). I did and discovered that I had to meneuver through the bathroom door sideways because the walker was too wide. This works, but it may be a bit more difficult.
o He will be sleeping an awful lot. This is a combination of his body needing rest and the pain meds knocking him out. Expect it.
o When I was in my bed, my wife made kind of a "nest" with pillows so I wouldn't roll out. I don't normally roll but I think it made both of us feel better. You might want to do the same for him.
o It will be helpful for him to sit in a chair with arms when he's having his meals and is sitting at the dining room table. Since his chest muscles are fine, he'll be able to use them to raise and lower himself.
Feel free to email me if you or he as any additional questions.
2007-12-10 15:45:27 · answer #2 · answered by Scott B 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know someone who had this surgery and he will indeed be in a lot of pain. He will also have access to the most powerful pain medications known to mankind. There's nothing else you can get for him that will help any further.
2007-12-10 10:44:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure the doctor will give him what he needs for pain, try and not suffer, let the doctor know when there's pain so he can take care of it.
Sometimes home remedies are worse then the disease.
2007-12-11 07:07:02 · answer #4 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a pediatric PA in the PICU at a pediatric hospital and we post-opted alot of scoliosis patients. All ours were on morphine or fentanyl drips--they had no pain. Pediatric specialists are more likely to appropriately pain medicate peds than adult practitioners. Talk to your pediatrician & orthopedist early (they will be caring for him) & voice your concerns & ask what his take-home meds will be.
2007-12-10 09:29:38 · answer #5 · answered by Diane A 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i don't know i have got scoliosis but im refusing to do the operation...im scared.
Im 15...and like i said i refused to do the operation but my friend has the same roblem and did the operation and she said i didn't hurt...but i don't believe her she has a big scar on her back and should be gone in the next 6 months i can't wait that long. it does make you stay out of school for a while though..butif there is any medication required it should be provided by the hospital. Good luck in the operation...come and tell me if he's okay after the operation. bye
2007-12-10 09:16:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
u need 2 be specific with what he's tried previously. No good therapist will prescribe without a list of previous meds and their reasons. Wish ur gson good healing; listen to his anaesthiologist and feed him well. This is a time his parents should b responsible 4 his care. They chose to bring him into this world and they must accept their responsibility; support them.
2007-12-10 09:18:59 · answer #7 · answered by Tigger 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i broke my back in a helicopter crash back in 91 and i can honestly say this kid is going to be in hell... the pain was fenominal and i was on copious amounts of morphine and demerol.. a good doctor will send him home with demerol for a least 10 days...this is something that must be discussed with the doctor before he heads home.. i used hot water bottles to lessen the pain, it helps some days and some days there was nothing i could do but scream and *****..
2007-12-10 10:46:05 · answer #8 · answered by hello kitty 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
pills and more pills. that is about the only thing. i had my wisdom teeth out and i thought that hurt. i cant imagine having a bar in my back. get some pills with codine in them. i dont think anything natural will help him, maybe alot of beer or pot. those are both natural. he needs something un natural. or he will be in excruciating pain.
2007-12-10 09:14:05 · answer #9 · answered by bigfrank1255 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Tylenol.
2007-12-10 09:12:50 · answer #10 · answered by Jeremy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋