So, here's the word on where I stand, after my visit with a Pain Management specialist yesterday.
Considering the fact that there are two ruptured discs in my neck and several others bulging throughout my spine, he said everything looked pretty good. I was thinking "Well, everything doesn't FEEL pretty good!"
He wants to do an EMG/NCV test on June 26th. He isn't convinced that there isn't nerve damage along C-8. He wants to see where the nerve damage is, what nerve is being damaged, and determine how bad the damage is. Something is causing my elbow pain.
He also wants to send me to physical therapy. I went through at least 3 different 6-week rounds of P.T. years ago and it was awful. Everything they had me do made me feel worse. The doctor told me that if anything I do makes the pain worse to stop. So at least that left me with some comfort.
Additionally, he prescribed a muscle relaxer for me to take twice a day.
Once he determines what is going on with the nerve in my arm and my elbow, he will know whether or not an epidural block in my neck would be necessary. He was starting to dismiss me and I said "What about my lower back?"
He said "I thought it was just your neck."
I said "No. I can't do daily activities without extreme pain in my lower back. Standing to cook or wash dishes, load the the dishwasher, switch laundry. These are all things that make my back hurt and the more I do them, the worse the pain gets; and the longer it lasts.
Thank God he listened to me. He sent me across the hall and had them x-ray my back and pelvis to see if anything shows up on the x-ray that will explain what is going on with my lower back. He said we'll discuss the results when I go back on the 26th.
He also showed me how my neck should be held at all times, my new posture. It's REALLY hard to hold my neck the right way. It is uncomfortable. But apparently, nothing he does for me will help if I don't learn to hold my head/neck right. I'll just have to keep practicing. I'm seriously considering one of the hard neck braces when I'm at home! Then I'd be forced to hold my neck the right way. At least, that's the theory...
I didn't leave as frustrated as I did last time. But at the same time, I'm skeptical of physical therapy and hate the way it always makes me feel really self-conscious. I guess we'll see.
oh my.... that's some piece of hardware you're a lookin' at. My Mom has fractured vertebrae in her back from deterioration from arthritis. They had her wear a brace for a few months. It helped... some... and she said it was painful. She now has an Inversion Table. She gets GREAT relief from it. She tips herself upside down a couple times a day. It realigns her spine and redistributes the spinal fluid more evenly. She's 83 and she'll announce... "I'm gonna go hang myself for a few minutes." Cracks me up every time. :-D I've had 3 back surgeries myself. 2 colon surgeries. rotator cuff and carple tunnel and gall bladder. I now have chronic extreme pain in both knees from arthritis and a left torn rotator cuff. And both sacro Iliac joints constantly pop in and out of place and pinch nerves that put my feet to sleep. DON'T PITY ME. That's not why I'm telling you all this. I just wanted you to know that I can relate to people that suffer with chronic pain... with what apparently looks like no hope for ANY releif in the near or far future. I do what I can, when I can and can afford as far as professional pain management is concerned but mostly...? I hurt! I do what I enjoy doing for a few days and then I have to rest for a few days till it quits hurting. And just keep pressing on and praising God for giving me this oppurtunity to praise Him in no matter what condition I'm in. Easier said than done. But God is faithful to me. When I allow Him and when I am obedient to His commands. God is REALLY working in my heart this year. It's been very humbling and a daily constant of giving things and myself over and over to God. Maybe my thick head and hard heart will soften over time? That is my prayer. I've become SO cynical. And I DON'T like it. It makes for a horrible testimony for the Lord. It just means a TOTAL makeover!! And I mean the Lord has His work cut out to do a makeover on me!! And I do my part to resist His urgings, which doesn't give Him a lot to work with. But, I keep realizing my mistakes... slowly.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel like pinocchio. Like I'm just a hard hearted wooden girl and it's gonna take God to make me a "real girl".
OK. You've inspired me Jamie. Thank you.
Only people who have chronic pain really understand how frustrating and debilitating it can be. I'll be praying for you. If God can do a complete overhaul on my cynical heart, convinced there was no hope left for me, He can and will do the same for you. That's what I love so much about ther passage from Ezekiel. He takes our stony, stubborn hearts and gives us tender, responsive hearts!
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