Another Pain Block

I went to my PMD (Pain Management Doctor) on Tuesday. Due to the new damage to my right foot he's seeking authorization to do another Lumbar Sympathetic Nerve Block to try to keep damage where it is.

I'm not sure if I already mentioned it but I biffed it about 3 weeks ago. Lost balance from my leg giving out and fell to the side slamming that same foot into the side of the bed post near the ground. Ouch! The bruising is just now beginning to ease up.

I spent 8 hours in the ER last weekend when our daughter was hit by a car, actually drug by it. We left out of here in a hurry and all I thought about was getting to her. We didn't know yet the extent of her injuries. I didn't have my wheelchair which is usually in the van. It had been removed to move furniture and we didn't realize it wasn't there in the commotion. I used my feet. It was complicated. But she was worth it.

Thank God there was no broken bones, just severe contusions and road rash from the vehicle pulling our daughter.

Our son may be able to return to school next week. He's doing much better on the Adderall.

I have mixed thoughts about the pain block. Of course I'm praying it will ease my pain, but I'm not looking forward to the needles. They do put me to sleep for the procedure and I'm usually home within 4 hours.

I got a letter today from the insurance company who's trying to get me to do a compromise and release of my future medical. I know it would get a lot of money. At least a quarter mil. But I'm not signing it away. I need the future medical and I know their game from before. They want me to see dollar signs. I mean ... most would jump at that offer.
Especially now... the economy, shortage... and so forth. We could definitely use it. But that's just it...

And soon enough we wouldn't be able to afford my medical.

So no deal. $250.000 would only pay for 2 years of medical at most. My SCS alone to maintain would eat that right up, not counting meds or procedures.

Just can't do it. My Master said so.

If this next block works... I'll get a couple of weeks of ease. If it doesn't... ugh. Been there done that too. The second to last one that I had caused more pain and I couldn't weight bare at all for 3 days. I couldn't put any pressure on my leg.

Hopefully things will get back to a more normal living soon. Home schooling a child isn't as easy as it seems. Haven't had time for anything... not even my groups.

I did assist an attorney with a claim for his client to present in court. I felt good about that.

Until next time...

3rd and Last Block Completed

Yesterday morning I finished my last block in this series. I went in with some back discomfort, spasm, I suppose it was. And came out worse. I was diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease a couple of years ago, so maybe something it my back is rubbing against another part, or the disk is slipping, I don't know. I can barely walk. I can't bring myself to my feet without either help, or as I've done a couple of times now, forcing myself in utter agony. I need the walls and furniture to assist me. My doc blocked my right foot and my right hip this time. I doubt the pain I'm in now has anything to do with the injections themselves. At most was irritated further by them.

I'm waiting on the surgery centers day after follow up call to let them know what's going on with me. Last night I thought I was going to need to go to the ER because I was getting feverish on top the pain. Fever or extra redness at the injection sites are suppose to be reported immediately.

And while it may seem like I get whiny from time to time, I don't rush off to the ER, or the docs just because of extra discomfort. I push myself to tolerate it and get past the moment, minutes, hours, or days sometimes. My life is pain, other than short fixes at best, it's all it's ever going to be. I've accepted that. They made me.

It's not like the hospital can really do anything for me, anyhow. Give me a shot of pain med, morphine or whatnot. I have enough meds at home including morphine, so going out to get more just isn't worth it for me. The only difference is that 10mgs of morphine injected is much stronger and works much faster than my daily intake at home. 30mgs in the A.M and 15mgs in the P.M. It's actually called MS Contin, each 15mgs is a 12 hour time release. The generic term is morphine.

I'm about to have a few Lidocaine (Lidoderme 5%) patches put on my back and legs. Those aren't going to help me stand or walk though. Sheesh. Get relief in one place, or two, and get screwed harder despite being stabbed with big needles approximately 15 times in the last 3 weeks.

This disease hasn't stolen my spirit yet, oh it's tried numerous times and I've fallen victim to the depression that comes along with it, it's taken nearly all the rest of me, but one things is for certain.....it will never have my soul.

Until next time...

Be good...
... Or be good at it!

2nd Block Down 1 to Go

I had my second of a series of 3 blocks at 7:30 a.m this morning. Next Tuesday is the last. I came home and rested for awhile, even napped for a bit and may try do so again soon. It's working forme again. Out of at least 10 others, only 2 others worked like this one is doing. I'll really be able to tell in the late evening and middle of the night whether it's doing me significantly better since my pain is usually always at it's very worse then. I'm having trouble with my right leg, lifting it like last time, but it should be okay in 2 days, it was last time.

I think I may try to rest again, I actually was able to nap when he got me home.

I'm still loopy from the combo knock out and relaxation med they gave me and had to knock me out twice, I dunno they just couldn't put me to sleep with the first set of injection to the IV.

I should have been counting cock instead sheep and whatnot.

2 down, 1 to go

Sleeping In

Today is the first day that I've slept in since my block. I've been up by 8 nearly every morning since. I've been keeping myself busy updating CRPSA, publicizing and promoting. My pain is coming back and seems rougher in some areas. It probably isn't. It's probably just the fact that because I've experience decreased pain it only "seems" worse.

On top of it the menstual beast showed up. Dang you Eve. Am gonna getcha when we meet inside them pearly gates. Infact I'm sure God will let me, maybe even encourage me to sock you in your trachea. It's all you're fault you know. You've made all us females suffer all because you just had to disobey and bite that apple. Damn you, slut! Ugh, see you soon enough.

I still haven't gone for my xray. I have until March before the authorization runs out.

Dobbie (nickname) is coming over today, a girl I used to take care of when she was younger, she never had food or things one needs to survive. She slept over all the time.

Been bouncing foster homes since. She's not quite 18 yet. Her brother was adopted out.

Have more updating to do, I wrote a coping with pain paper, and need to get it up. I'm still working on a video, I'll get it completed at some point.

Until next time...

Decreased Pain

My pain is still decreased in my right foot. It worked! For how long I will not know. I'm having some trouble with my calf and leg. My back at the injection sites is still sore, but otherwise am doing much better.

In the foot itself my pain level is a 2. Combined a 5.

I really needed a pain break and I got it good enough and I still have 2 more chances.

I am grateful.

1 Down 2 To Go

I haven't slept so well through the night for a long time. And even though I woke up a few times, I was able to go right back to sleep.

I went into the surgery center with a pain level of 7, by the time I went to recovery it was 6 and by the time I left recovery it was 4 and within a few hours a 2. I felt very little pain in the foot itself. But when the nurse was helping me get dressed and I went to put my slipper socks on (that's what I wore there) I couldn't lift my right leg at all, so I ask her to slip it on for me after several attempts of doing it myself. It hurt badly to try to lift and caused a painful reaction to my back. Wasn't too worried about it and declined when she said she would call my doc back in. It was more important for me at the time to have my juice they gave me, I didn't want it taken away. Was thirsty. lol. My foots still about a 2-4, my upper ankle and calf a 5 and my thigh a 7. Overall, it did me good enough for now.

Oh they checked my blood sugar for my Diabetes too, 107. Not bad. No danger zones.

I hope the next block is better. And since I can tell my doc what went on, he can better block me. I have 4 marks on my lower back, 2 where they numbed me, and 2 where they injected me. A little sore still, have to move easy, but no biggie.

Until next time...

First LSN Block Rescheduled

Tomorrows block has been rescheduled from 7:00 a.m to 8:30 a.m. Not much of a difference in time. Hopefully I'll sleep through the night, I cannot eat or drink 4 hours prior. I'm always thirsty and always have a bottle of water near. If I cannot sleep or wake too early it's going to be hell on me. While I probably shouldn't, but have once before, I'll swoosh my mouth with water and spit it out. That helps the dry mouth the meds cause.

Anyway,

I remain hopeful that I get some relief.

Today is the 8 year anniversary of the injury that caused all this mess. Blah

Them people can still kiss my calico ass!!!

3 Lumbar Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

I was asleep when the call came in to schedule my blocks. It's at the Sacramento Pain and Diagnostics Treatment Center, also known as Sacramento Surgery Center.

I've been thinking about it since I woke up. I had gone back to sleep after the call.
I admit I am nervous. I am every time. You have to have trust in your doc or who would want someone they didn't trust to shove needles into your spine. I trust him. He's been my Pain Manager since 2004. He's done all my blocks, have had 11 already, 3 sets a year usually, last time I only had one. He also did my trial SCS and then my permanent.

I go in, they start an IV, prep me, the gown and all that. They let me wear panties, but otherwise I'm naked beneath the gown. I wear low cut panties, otherwise they have to roll them down to expose the upper part of my ass. Sometimes there's blood drops on them after.

They wheel me into the operating room and I roll from the one bed onto another and onto my belly. My left arms is placed on a rest board where they inject me with 2 types of med to knock me out. There have been times I have woken up during the procedure.

That hurt! I could feel the long needle pushing and pressure inside me. When that happens, they knock me back out. Thank God! Waking up could cause major complications, one wrong move and that needle could slip and cause paralysis.

Because I'm so desperate to feel better, it's the price I pay, and I'm willing to accept the consequences.

After the doc is finished, they wake me back up. There's usually 4 people in there. The technician that runs the...hm.. well it's like a tv, xray thingy, it's where the doc can see where the needle is going when he's injecting. For example, before they put me to sleep, I can see an xray image of myself on it. Then there's my docs assistant, the anesthesiologist, and someone else as a backup for whatever. Maybe even a student.

When I had my SCS impant, there must have been 10 people in there. Including 2 from Medtronic. That many people saw my bare back and ass. Gosh!

Anyhow then after I go to recovery for a half hour, the doc checks my legs for warmth. The block if it takes will make the flesh extra warm to the touch. If it does get warm like that then I would have to be taken back in and do it all again.

I usually come home with 4 holes in my back. Actually more near by upper butt, slightly to the right. I guess it would be the lower back. Very low.

I'm just praying atleast 1 of the 3 will do me well. It's never happened with any of my blocks, but if the first worked, that would give me 1 full week of decreased pain, if the second worked, another week, if the third worked, another week. I could have a chance at an entire month or more.

I pray for that often.

If they work at all, I only get a couple of days at most. A couple of times, it didn't work for more than 6 hours.

Each time I'm required to fill out a pain diary. I track my pain levels from the time I leave the center (the nurses track the first one) for 36 hours. Then it wants to know how I felt on the 3rd day.

I've posted my pain diary online at my other blog before. Maybe I'll do so here as well.
Will think about that.

Counting down.. less than 5 days for the first.

Surgery Center- Finally

Finally some good news.

I'm scheduled for a series of 3 blocks.

I go to the Surgery Center-

Tues, Jan 27th at 7:00 a.m

Tues, Feb 3rd at 7:30 a.m

Tues, Feb 10th, at 7:30 a.m

Keeping fingers crossed these work. Atleast some or more. Oh God, I really need a break, really need them to work for the hell I have to go through each time to have it done.

He'll probably inject my spine 4 times. That's what he usually does. Either 3 or 4. A day of rest after, I usually come home and go to sleep, and I'm good to go to test it out.

Finally