Re: Adhesions and inflammatory processes - is there a link?
From: Deborah (dbacken100@aol.com)
Mon Aug 19 16:54:24 2002
At Wed, 14 Aug 2002, clare wrote:
>
>Hi everyone:
>
>Okay, so now I'm wondering...(oh, oh, I know...) :o).
>
>This is probably a question for that someone who's done lots more
>research than I have, like Helen D or Bev, or perhaps one of you gals
>(Sally?) has asked this question of your Dr.
>
>I read somewhere (I read way too much, LOL) that some Drs believe that
>adhesions that become problematic could be avoided by the use of strong
>anti-inflammatory meds immediately after surgery, with a continued use
>for a short period of time afterwards. My memory isn't too great on
>this one, but I think it said two weeks or so, with full patient
>compliance. The simplified version of this theory is that problematic
>adhesions may be aggravated by an inflammatory process. I noticed this
>article because out of three surgeries I had performed by the same
>surgeon, he only prescribed an anti-inflammatory med after one of them,
>with instructions to "only take when necessary for pain".
>
>Before my laparotomy in 2000, I had slight arthritis pain. Immediatly
>following the surgery, I had numbness, tingling and more arthritic pain
>mainly on the right side of my body. Now the arthritis is fairly bad,
>enough that I'm to see a rheumatologist soon, and I'm attempting to
>learn to write with my left hand, as some days I can only use my thumb
>and next finger and can't hold a pen let alone anything else. The
>arthitis meds helped the left side of my body but not the right, which I
>know makes no sense.
>
>So, does anyone know if there is a link between adhesions and
>inflammatory processes? Or, could there be nerve dammage that presents
>as arthritis with swelling of joints etc? Sally, I saw your post that
>you are having trouble with your hands, and I wondered was it arthritis
>or nerve damage and if you've discussed this with your Dr? I know a lot
>of you gals have problems with your legs, so I'm hoping someone has
>answers to my questions.
>
>Wishing you all pain free moments, hours and days.
>
>--
>Clare
>
--
Funny you should bring it up as I have been wondering the same thing lately.
I started having arthritic type pain in both hands and a knee out of the blue. Never had it before and it all started at the same time.
When I first had surgery 5 years ago to remove necrotic bowel, they asked if I had ever had pain in my joints then. I have no idea what the link could be, but anyone else out there? Maybe we are on to something.
By the way, my name is Deb, Ive been reading the message board since I found it 8 months ago. From all of your stories and experiences, I was able to tell my Dr. what was wrong with me and get the pain meds I needed to return to life. Thanks to all of you. I put my story on the quilt also. Big hello to my new friends.
Gentle hugs, Deb