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Dealing with side effects after 3 retinal detachment surgeries.
I’ve had 3 retinal detachment surgeries in the last 6 months. Now I’ve developed burning sensations in my arms and neck and severe anxiety and depression. My primary care doctor put me on Gabapentin to relieve the burning, but now I sleep most of the day. I don’t leave my home, and I can’t go back to my teaching job like this. Has anyone else dealt with this?
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@rileygracie851, I’m sorry to hear how much you’re suffering after your surgeries, having 3 times in such a short period of time is shocking, it’s not a wonder that you’re feeling depressed. I had this surgery on two separate occasions but there was a couple of years in between, I don’t recall having any symptoms afterwards other than a lot of vision disturbances, when I had the first episode I was misdiagnosed by an overly confident optometrist who was allowed to be called a doctor, this is permissible in Canada but I don’t agree with it, after following my instincts and getting the right care I was told by a retina specialist that I was moments away from losing my vision permanently. I learned that if you have this issue it will likely happen again but honestly, 3 times in six months just doesn’t seem right and then you have ongoing pain in your eyes. I suggest that you should seek more advice from another specialist to see if there’s anything else happening with your health to cause this problem, I wish that there is more information to give you but I feel that another expert evaluation would be in your best interest, best wishes for you.
@rileygracie851 , I’m sorry that I misread your message, your pain was in your body not your eyes, I will say a prayer for your healing.
...I had some minor laser "surgery" in Optom. office he never explained what he was doing just the "zaps" in eyes...he never said hello or goodbye either but our only specialist in this City: so I did look up laser surgery on Internet after reading your exprience and sore arms etc.... rather than repeat it here you may wish to look it up and it explains how the head, neck even arms are in a fixed position while having surgery (so mine was not at all the same so not as serious )..and the resulting pain !! Says it should be documented on your operation notes etc.... hope I am helping because it does appear to be from the surgery and body position! Maybe there is some more information on Internet that can help you? No wonder you are depressed I would be too! Hope you get some help and recover! J
I used to work in a group retina specialists. I would say try to get referred to a specialist center like Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. They see more special cases like yours and may be able to help.