So what about surgery during sobriety?

[wildeyed]

I sprained my ankle badly about 10 years ago. I had no health insurance and no money, so I never got it looked at. Big mistake. The ankle healed improperly and has been prone to re-injury since. In then past year it has gotten really bad. I wear special orthodics in my shoes and try to be very careful, but it is still painful a lot of the time. In addition, I am a serious athlete and I can't pursue many of my athletic interests.

I am going to see the orthopedist in a couple of weeks to find out what my options are. I suspect he will suggest surgery. If I wasn't an addict, I would jump at it, but because of my addition past, I am afraid of the painkillers and anesthetic that might be involved.

Does anyone have experience with this? I was thinking that since it wasn't a hugely invasive surgery, maybe I could do an epidural for the surgery (numbs you from the waist down, not addictive, what they give women in labor) and then just gut it out with ibuprofen and acupuncture for the initial recovery period? I know I should just ask the doctor, but not all Dr.s are understanding or knowledgeable about addiction.

[NMDemDist2]

1. I'm sorry wild

:hug:

you should be fine with surgery

tell the anesthesiologist about your concerns (maybe Valium?) and give your meds to your Hubby or sponsor or sponsee to dole out

if you have to do 90/90 again when you are done with the pain so what? as long as you are honest with your Doc so he doesn't keep giving you refills and you are aware of your actions you'll be fine

I injured my back at about 3 years sober and my Doc said I had to stay flat on my back for a week and gave me heavy muscle relaxers and sedatives to keep me down. Mr K doled them out and after the second day I begged him no more and promised I'd stay still

I hated the feeling of being High again. I loved narcotics too but after those years of sobriety I truly did recoil as from a hot flame.

I have had a couple bouts of horrible Respiratory infections too and when I was that sick a little codeine in my cough syrup didn't trigger the cravings at all

you'll be fine, definitely try Tylenol first, but don't be a martyr

go do what you have to do and sorry it hurts :hug:

[wildeyed]

2. Thanks AZ, that helps.

It would be *great* to do 90/90 anyway, just to get really in touch with the program again. :hug:

I am scared. I want the ankle to feel better, but I have so much to lose and so many people depending on my. Don't want to screw it up after all these years. I would rather limp around on a sore ankle for all eternity than drink again.

[NMDemDist2]

3. it'll be OK wild

lots of sober folk have had surgeries and did fine

you may hear that little voice talking shit, but you have tools today to smack it down :evilgrin:

[wildeyed]

4. True, that.

But we all know a few who went back out after a surgery, too. I just want to be careful. :pals:

[Kajsa]

5. Hi wildeye,

Stay close to the program, follow what AZ Dem said re: your meds
and you'll be fine.

My sponsor have a tumor removed from her abdomen when she was
7 years sober. The tumor was huge ( but benign, TG) the surgery was
very invasive and the recovery tough and painful. Post surgery she was given morphine
to keep her from going into shock. When she was sent home, the doctor gave her
pain meds for one week, on her request( he was going to prescribe more).

She told me after three days she weaned herself down to one pain pill a day and stopped taking
them before the week was up.

As long as you follow the directions, have someone dole them out to you, you should be OK.

What you don't want to do is suffer excruciating pain with no relief.
That could pose a much bigger threat to your sobriety!

Keep us posted on your surgery!

:hug:

[wildeyed]

6. The pain is more nagging than excruciating.

But it is chronic and can be fixed without too much hassle.

Thanks for the kind words. :hug:

[sandnsea]

7. My husband had 2nd, 3rd degree burns

Here's what we learned about meds. It's time to reduce the pain med when the person begins acting visibly loopy. When the med = the pain, there isn't too much 'high' involved. As others said, be sure others are involved, and watch the meds together. We had one doctor who was insane about prescribing meds, to the point he left my husband in pain. So be careful of that too. You can be free from pain, generally, and watch out for your addiction at the same time. I tend to think it's better to keep yourself in as good a mental place as possible, which means pain free for most of us. Would be sad to 'gut it out' without pain meds, only to lapse into self pity and relapse. Good luck!

[Why Syzygy]

8. I admire your bravery.

Hate to tell you this, but I did have a surgery relapse. I had been sober three years and had to have emergency appendectomy. The doctor put me on morphine, even though I objected due to my addiction. He said it wouldn't bother me. I've never been a drug user. I did try to abuse pain meds once and they made me so sick (throwing up), that it wasn't appealing. Of course alcohol makes me sick as dog, and I don't seem to mind.

However, I relapsed a few weeks after leaving the hospital. But there were contributing factors, such as I had become involved with my future husband, who used. I drifted away from the AA community and hung out with people who didn't understand addiction. We went to an anniversary party, and I had four drinks. Even my new friends were a bit concerned about that, but I assured them, oh no, it's FINE! I drank for five years. It wasn't terrible the whole time, but of course ended up in the same place it always does.

As other posters have mentioned, if you keep your support network in place, aren't seeking 'high', deal honestly with yourself and others, definitely tell your doctors what's going on and hope they have a bit of understanding, then you should be fine. I really appreciate your honesty and bravery to face this. And there's this great forum for support, also.

Best wishes for a healing.

[KitchenWitch]

9. I am the major surgery poster child

And almost all of my major surgeries have been done since I have been in recovery.

There are situations, and I suspect your ankle may be one of them, for which strong painkillers are necessary to facilitate the actual physical healing process.

The important things to do if you do have to have the surgery is to be honest with your physician, and be clear about what your concerns are, be in touch with your sobriety support system (meetings, sponsor, etc), and to have your significant other be responsible for the meds.

I live with chronic pain, and there are times that I am in such agony that it is necessary to take strong painkillers. I literally cannot stand the feeling they give me now, even though during the height of my active addiction, they gave me the kind of high I sought. I simply do not enjoy it anymore. YMMV.

I sure hope all goes well with your ankle!

[SPKrazy]

10. You'll Be Fine

stick with your recovery group, you might even find someone you trust to help you with your meds if you have trouble. (I had my wife several years ago give me my pain meds when I had surgery on my jaw and got an infection- I could have 2 during the day, so she left me two. I could take them both, or take them as prescribed. But I couldn't take 2 and then take some more)

Go to meetings, read your literature, I suspect you won't like the feeling you get from the pain meds. You may even find that you don't need them as long as you imagine.

Good luck, and certainly communicate with your doc about it.

:hug:

[wildeyed]

11. Good news about this.

I have the surgery scheduled and they will be able to control most of the pain, both during and after the operation, with something called an ankle block. Basically they just numb the bejesus out of the foot and ankle with lidocain or something similar. After the operation, a pump infuses the nerves with the same local anesthetics for several days, significantly decreasing the amount of pain medication needed. The nurse I talked to thought I could get away with just ibuprofen :)

[NMDemDist2]

12. excellent news wild! just goes to prove what my first grndsponser

used to pound into my head on a weekly basis...

"Get the FACTS! You can't make any decisions until you know the FACTS!!"

she was a crusty old broad :rofl:

[KitchenWitch]

13. Aren't all grandsponsors?

The crustier the better I say!

:rofl:

[wildeyed]

14. Too bad our elected officials don't follow her advice.

Maybe she should run?

It is still going to be an extremely unpleasant recovery, but at the end I will have a functioning ankle, and I am so pleased that it is unlikely that I will have to take the drugs. There may be some sort of sedative during the surgery itself, but we don't decide that until the day of.

[NMDemDist2]

15. can your family come down to help with the kids while you recover?

or maybe hubby can take some time off?

as for Dottie B, she woulda given Ann Richards a run for her money LOL

[wildeyed]

16. My MIL will come down for a few days.

She can help my husband with the kids so he can get a little work done. My in-laws are elderly and not able to deal with my high-energy, strong-willed son for long periods of time.

On the plus side, my injured ankle is the left so I will be able to drive soon after the surgery.