For the past two years I've had big trouble with my back. It's been off and on. More "on" than I'd like, but I've always tried to have a tough "make-do" attitude and I'll put up with a lot and try not to dwell on it...
I've been in and out of physical therapy three times. (Gym is physical therapy. But I do work hard and I do break a sweat.) I seem to get somewhat better and then do a slow progressive backslide to horrible. The past few months have been really tough; I can barely walk... I don't even know how to answer the question "How are you?" "I'm fine" is too much of a lie. (My husband helped me with this tonight. From now on it will be "Hangin' in there!" : )
I finally have some daytime pain pills that take the pain away enough so I can be more efficient at work. It's like Tylenol would be, if it actually worked for me. I am almost caught up at work, in spite of being down one staff accountant. (I'm kind of conflicted about that... In order to go really fast I have to use every trick in my book. Which is contrary to delegating... I hope someday I'm caught up enough to port my methods from SQL and Excel VLOOKUP's and pivot tables to reports that are sleek and simple to run for everyone.)
My sciatica's been so strong the past few weeks, now I have night time pills I can take in the evening and so I can sleep. But they don't make me smart or creative... That's why I've been so dead to the internet lately. Sorry!
My doctor was somewhat anti-surgery/pro-physical therapy until recently...
I had an MRI last night and saw the pictures. It was much worse than I'd imagined. I can't even find a herniated disc picture on the internet as bad as my disc looks. It's like a jelly donut smashed flat and all squished out. Crushing my spinal cord flat on one side and the sciatic nerve on another side. Apparently it's a miracle I'm not peeing my pants (and can walk at all).
I have my first appointment with the surgeon next Monday. I'm scared. But I'm hopeful for my future life.
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Funniest thing I heard today: My son went to the carryout to help me get a gallon of milk. He wanted to get Slurpees. He had a little assembly line going, filling the cups with cherry flavor, then coke flavor then putting the lids on carefully, then filling them up to the top of the lid, then slurping off the excess. I said "You're very efficient. Just think, in a couple of years you could be doing that at the drive thru." He said "No. They wouldn't let me slurp the tops off!"
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(New Category!)
Made-Up Stats: 90% of the things people buy inside carryouts are just stupid.
8 years ago
5 comments:
Susan
Don't be scared. We'll be watching out for you . . .
Good luck with the back surgeon.
One pain reduction technique I use -- get your doctor to prescribe lidoderm lidocaine patches, they aren't expensive and come in thirty patch boxes. You can use up to three a one time. Being a topical pain reliever they don't get into your blood system and mess with your brain (all that fog). I'm lucky, my disc's aren't herniated, but they are degenerating. On the occasional really bad night when nothing else seems to work, I slap on two patches on my lower back and it tends to ease the pain enough to fall asleep.
Thank you, Nick. I really appreciate that.
Thank you, Sue. Great tip about the patches. I will ask my doctor about them.
Oh yes, I forgot to tell you something my husband (who like me teaches statistics) likes to say:
"47 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot."
Thinking of you today (monday) and your appointment with the surgeon--good thoughts!
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