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Blog entry :

Blog By wildcard

title : Freedom from Pain

dated : 3:43pm Oct 17, 2008

private blog, for fav users only.

mojo responded : on 5:17pm Oct 17, 2008	So glad . . . . . . that you are (tentatively!) pain free. Take care of yourself, and DON'T OVERDO! ALL the best . . .
UncleRandy responded : on 5:48pm Oct 17, 2008	Last time I spoke to you about my back... Was a few months ago. Let me catch you up to date. The seat in my truck was hurting me so bad that I went to see a Chiropractor for some relief. It was the easiest thing on my Co-Pay. But I kept on complaining at work about the seat in the truck and my back. Not that they kept blowing me off, but they kept blowing me off. Then I was called into the office with the bosses saying that 'my attitude' with bad. I shouted a little louder about the seat in the truck and my back. They told me that they could not modify the seat because if the truck was ever in an accident and if was found out the seat was modified, they could be sued. I said that, that accident could put me in a wheel-chair with the way my back feels. And I betcha' the my lawyer will sue. The next day I have a notice that I had to see a 'company doctor' within the next three days or I would not be able to work. I went to one of the Doctors on their list. They took an X-Ray and found my L-3 was protruding. They gave me some pain pills, and muscle relaxers to take. The set up an MRI and showed the nerves the are on both sides of the spine go from round to just tiny slits in the L-3 to L-5 area. That Doctor then referred me to that OSS place I mentioned to you. I saw a spine specialist there and he said that the protrusion was going down (he had another X-ray done). The spine specialist referred me to a pain specialist. And to Physical Therapy (which I have to go to 3 times a week for 2 -21/2 hrs a day). The pain specialist recommended a steroid epidural injection in my lumbar area. Well it's been over two weeks since the injection and I feel much better. I can actually work all day with minimal discomfort. Well enough about me. I glad tom see you are doing better.
RunsWithScissors responded : on 3:36am Oct 18, 2008	I do appreciate my mobility. Especially when I see someone in a wheelchair. I feel so bad for them, and at the same time, I say a thank-you prayer to God for my health and my mobility. I'm happy to hear that you're doing a little better. You're very brave for having the back surgery. I don't know if I could've gone through with it.
wildcard responded : on 2:15pm Oct 18, 2008	Hi mojo I am still taking things easy - have already had one scare. I learned from it and know my limitations for now. UncleRandy: I'm sorry to hear your back is still giving you grief, I fully sympathize with your situation. It was my L5-S1 nerve root being compressed by the prolapse, causing all my problems. I know your pain, believe me. It put me in hospital confined to a wheelchair for a time. I could barely get out of bed, and this was while taking strong narcotic painkillers. I tried two injections first before resorting to surgery. The first was an ultrasound guided injection of anesthetic around the nerve root, which had no effect at all. The second was a caudal epidural steroid injection into the lowest part of my spine. (Similar to what you had done). This one worked very well for about a month and gave me tremendous relief. I was actually able to walk around almost normally and do a few things at home. However as soon as it began to lose effect it was a slow return back to full level of pain. Let me know how long your epidural lasts for? RunsWithScissors: I was quite concerned about taking the surgery, but really there was just nothing left for me, I had exhausted all other options and the pain was excruciating. I chose a highly skilled Orthopedic surgeon with more than 20+ years of experience and whose specialty is performing spinal surgeries. He assured me that he always tended to be cautious, if he didn't like the look of what he found then he would not carry out the procedure. As it turned out the operation turned to be fairly straightforward, which was great news for me.
UncleRandy responded : on 2:59pm Oct 19, 2008	The Pain Specialist said... That Surgery would not be necessary. I guess that was the good news. Rehab (Physical Therapy) is though. Three times a week at 2 1/2 hours a shot (and after 10 hours of work). But I it's probably better than the alternative.
wildcard responded : on 2:46pm Oct 20, 2008	Let me know... how long the injection lasts for OK? Will be interesting to see. :)
wildcard responded : on 2:56pm Oct 20, 2008	interesting to KNOW, I mean. : )