FB#1
Hi everyone. Some of you know I have been dealing with some lower back issues. As of right now I have had an MRI and I have a disk protruding between my L5 and S1 section pushing on my nerves affecting mainly my right leg/hip. Physically I'm hit or miss depending on that disk. Last week I couldn't sit upright for more than a couple minutes but the disk moved a bit and now sitting is ok to an extent... Laying is still best since it takes most pressure off. I'm trying to keep a positive attitude and I'm trying to still move around as recommended. Yesterday I got out with Michele and we did some flower shopping, well I walked, she shopped. I tried to work a half day on Tuesday and that went ok but I was pretty sore afterwords. So it's day by day. I have my first spinal specialist appointment on Monday. I'm guessing that at that appointment they will decide if we are moving towards direct injections into my spine or surgery. As soon as I know more I will let you know. Just thought I would fill everyone in.
FB #2
Hey Everyone. Had my appointment yesterday with the spinal specialist. Saw the MRI... not pretty. The disk ruptured and the gooey center has moved into the nerve area which is causing me quite a bit of pain. The Dr. said that between the MRI, what he saw of my movement and the physical tests he had me do I am a candidate for surgery. We are going to try injections first though. Today I will go in and they will do a direct injection into my nerve area to try and calm down stuff. I will have 2 injections (one today and one in two weeks) and if that doesn't work we go to surgery. It was a rough morning physically between the doc moving me around to see how severe the pain was and just being on my feet for so long (also had no pain meds so that didn't help). They gave me a tens machine also which basically hooks to my back and sends an electrical pulse that scrambles the nerves and eases the pain down my leg. So today they will have me hooked up to an x-ray and will put a needle right to the spot and inject the stuff. There you go gang, thats the update so far.
FB #3
Yesterday afternoon I went in to have my first injection. They use an X-ray to guide the needle in and inject the cortisone shot directly to the spot. Let's just say it wasn't the most pleasant thing I have ever had done to me and I was pretty drained physically and emotionally after the whole event. I find that being up and moving around for more than an hour is the big breaking point (sweats, major discomfort down the leg, and shaking). So after a comment from my Dr, talking to several close friends who have either been through this or are in the medical field, I decided to schedule a surgery consult. This process will take a bit of time so I wanted to do it while going through the shots instead of waiting till after and having it take even longer if necessary. If I have the procedure done its called a microdiscectimy and the simplest of all options I could have had. So that's where I'm at. Not sure when the next update will be since it may be a week or so before there are any more visits. So that's what's up. In the meantime I'm laying low and trying to move around here and there and trying to not go crazy. That's the scoop. Talk to you all soon.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment