29 May, 2009
No one likes to be pinched!
I saw the chiro on Wednesday at lunch. The massage and stretching I went through was v. painful, they were trying to loosen up the muscles in the trapezius and neck. Next day still in as much pain though. Went again yesterday at lunch. Went through the same beating up - it was like being on the rack. Still in agony. Icing every hour or more per chiro. Last night went to acupuncturist. He definitely thinks it's the muscles putting pressure on the nerves and my stenosis. He did a lot of needling and hit some majorly tender trigger points and released them. He said not to ice last night but can today. Also suggested Naproxen and as I magically had some lying around I took one last night and another this am. I am feeling very mildly better today but it still hurts a lot and walking is still one of the most unpleasant things I can think of at the moment. I am going back to the chiro in about an hour. The acupuncturist said it would be a good idea as he is hoping after loosening up the muscles last night, the chiro will be able to realign my spine and get the pressure off the nerves. Here's praying it works as it's Friday and I will be s.o.l. until Monday. Also on Monday a friend will be in town for her first visit here and I really don't want to be a misery when she's over. Fingers crossed I am greatly improved in the next few hours!
26 May, 2009
Continuing on that "never a dull moment" theme
(The return of the pinched nerve and cervical stenosis)
Last week my neck was starting to bother me again. Mildly, nothing major. I went to the acupuncturist on Thursday night and mentioned it, along w/ catching him up on all the other fun I've had. We were going to do the neck but the jaw and tmj and intestines and the fact that my circulation was off and I was grayish, distracted both of us and we forgot the neck thing. Friday my neck was less happy. By Saturday morning I could barely move my neck. The pain was horrible, stabbing sharp pain in my neck and right shoulder that travels down my arm and lower back. I tried stretching it to no avail. Then I tried the pool, just floating w/ a floatation belt to try to loosen up my spine. It was nice when I was in the water but unfortunately couldn't stay there all day. Then I even tried the sauna (I hate the sauna) to get some heat into the muscles to loosen them up. I was great until I started walking home again. Just my feet hitting the pavement sent stabbing pains throughout my body with my neck as the epicenter.
I spent all Sunday on the bed or the couch, resting my head and neck. I tried heat. That didn't work. I tried ice. No results there either. I tried more stretching. By Sunday at least I was able to move my neck down to the side. Pain definitely not gone though. In fact the pain is just as bad. I've been popping NSAIDS like they're candy - again no help. Never fails for a long weekend to be the time my body wants attention. It is quite spoiled and likes to throw tempertantrums at the worst times possible.
Yesterday I had to get out of the house for want of not going stir crazy. My parents came in and we went out for a bit. I was ok for part of it, but then too much walking and I was shot again. Rested and then went to dinner, where I barely made it sitting upright.
I tried to reach the acupuncturist today, hoping somehow he could see me, but when I did hear from him no appointments until Thursday night. I don't know if I'll make it till then. I caved and rang my chiropractor, whom I've not seen since November or December. Thankfully they were able to get me in tomorrow at noon. So now have to get through the next 19 hours. Wish me luck. I sure as hell am going to need it!
Last week my neck was starting to bother me again. Mildly, nothing major. I went to the acupuncturist on Thursday night and mentioned it, along w/ catching him up on all the other fun I've had. We were going to do the neck but the jaw and tmj and intestines and the fact that my circulation was off and I was grayish, distracted both of us and we forgot the neck thing. Friday my neck was less happy. By Saturday morning I could barely move my neck. The pain was horrible, stabbing sharp pain in my neck and right shoulder that travels down my arm and lower back. I tried stretching it to no avail. Then I tried the pool, just floating w/ a floatation belt to try to loosen up my spine. It was nice when I was in the water but unfortunately couldn't stay there all day. Then I even tried the sauna (I hate the sauna) to get some heat into the muscles to loosen them up. I was great until I started walking home again. Just my feet hitting the pavement sent stabbing pains throughout my body with my neck as the epicenter.
I spent all Sunday on the bed or the couch, resting my head and neck. I tried heat. That didn't work. I tried ice. No results there either. I tried more stretching. By Sunday at least I was able to move my neck down to the side. Pain definitely not gone though. In fact the pain is just as bad. I've been popping NSAIDS like they're candy - again no help. Never fails for a long weekend to be the time my body wants attention. It is quite spoiled and likes to throw tempertantrums at the worst times possible.
Yesterday I had to get out of the house for want of not going stir crazy. My parents came in and we went out for a bit. I was ok for part of it, but then too much walking and I was shot again. Rested and then went to dinner, where I barely made it sitting upright.
I tried to reach the acupuncturist today, hoping somehow he could see me, but when I did hear from him no appointments until Thursday night. I don't know if I'll make it till then. I caved and rang my chiropractor, whom I've not seen since November or December. Thankfully they were able to get me in tomorrow at noon. So now have to get through the next 19 hours. Wish me luck. I sure as hell am going to need it!
19 May, 2009
And I was right again, unfortunately...
I didn't have a chance to write more after the last update because when I went to see the doctor he told me I had to have surgery again for yet another peri rectal abscess! He was in shock and couldn't suss it out, which made me feel even more worried. Two in one week is a bit bizarre. He asked if I had eaten when I was at his office and I said yes, so he said he could do it with local anesthetic. Anyone who has read my ER visit last year will know that there was NO WAY IN HELL that I would let anyone ever cut me without being unconscious again. I was quite happy to wait one more day with some pain than to have that happen again. So, that night my mother came in so she could go to the doctors with me. This time they had the demerol ready afterwards. Last time even though I told them I would need it they tried to fob me off with some percaset - which makes me puke my brains out.
I was out from work the day of surgery and the next day. I saw the doctor the day after and he was still perplexed, though happily this time he said that there was a lot of puss and not just blood. Of course I was told that I have to have a colonoscopy for sure, no getting out of this time. It's probably for the best as I've been so bloated the last few months and my insides are schizophrenic. The dr still doesn't think it's Crohn's, and I've done a bit of research myself. I suppose it could be but I don't think so. Not that I'm hoping for any one of these, but for all the symptoms I have I've narrowed it down to a few possibilities. Hopefully (touch wood) it's just IBS, and we shall find out in a few weeks when I have the colonoscopy.
The main problem was with timing as I was off to London on the 1st of May, just four days after the second surgery! I rang the airlines and asked if I could upgrade one way, and they kept saying nope, because you used miles for the ticket, but to ask at the airport. You'd think they'd be nicer to loyal customers! When I got to the airport I asked the check-in man, and he said he couldn't, but was at least nice enough to block the seat next to me. Only problem was that it was a bulkhead which was good, but not when you want to spread out as you can't lift the armrest. Oh well. When I got to the gate I asked again, and I have to say the woman working there was such a nasty cow! No sympathy let alone any assistance and such a bitch! I hope she has to have this surgery and then sit on her arse for 8 hours and see how she likes it! I normally wouldn't say that but she truly was an horrible person! So I get on the plane and ask one of the flight attendants if they could help me, and of course, she checks w/ her head person and no result. At this point I'm getting beyond desperate. I try to get myself sorted in the seat and have my legs over the arm rest onto the other seat, but of course I'm leaning on my right hip at this point and well, that hip was not happy even w/ the lido patch on it. After we took off I couldn't sit anymore so I made a little spot on the floor with blankets and pillows and curled up. Of course then another flight attendant comes over and tells me I can't do that in case we hit turbulence, blah blah blah. I looked at him and was about to cry. I told him the situation and he was kind, and said he'd see if he could get someone in the back w/ extra seats to switch. I didn't think he could because if I had three seats to lay down on I wouldn't switch either to a bulkhead. He came back to collect the rubbish from everyone and said he was still working on it. Fair enough - I held out as much as possible. Then he ran up to the front, leaving his cart just sitting there, and came back a few mins later saying he'd sorted out something and would be back when he was done. Miracle of miracles, he had told the first class purser my situation and that I didn't need any extra attention, just a place to lay down and the bloke had agreed. Thank G-d! This very nice man took me up front, showed me how to recline the seat into a bed and for the remaining few hours I was able to lie on my stomach. I would not have made it otherwise, that's for sure.
The first few days in London were a little rough but I managed okay. By the end of the week I think the cut was healed up for the most part. The flight back wasn't bad for the bum at least. The rest of me was not happy and I am so so glad I now order the wheelchair assistance because there is no way I would have been able to walk off that plane and through the terminal. My whole body was in pain from the pressure on the flight, plus all the walking I had done during my visit.
So now I'm back and have the colonoscopy scheduled in a few weeks. Yesterday I caved and rang my hand/wrist doctor because my right hand has been getting worse and worse and the last week with the camera threw it into pain overdrive. I believe it was over a year ago that I saw Dr. Melone and he gave me an injection. He said if it didn't work I'd need surgery. It lasted maybe a month or so and then, well, I had the whole ER and one surgery after another to deal with on the opposite end, so ignored it as much as possible. Lately though I've taken to rubbing my wrist in with lidocaine cream which seems to be the only way to get through the day. I am still wearing the splint at night, mostly, and it's not doing much of anything. Therefore, I caved and made an appointment to go see him. Trust me, I really don't want to. I don't even have many days off left for this crap, but I don't know if I can wait with the pain for another 7 months to have it sorted. I will hear what he says about the surgery and if it is a quick recovery or not and then will make a decision.
Also because of all that's been going on I've been quite remiss on my PT and the neck and jaw are acting up quite a lot. Started doing some PT last night and will be going to see the acupuncturist this week as well. Praying for some pain relief.
Like I always say, never a dull moment.
I was out from work the day of surgery and the next day. I saw the doctor the day after and he was still perplexed, though happily this time he said that there was a lot of puss and not just blood. Of course I was told that I have to have a colonoscopy for sure, no getting out of this time. It's probably for the best as I've been so bloated the last few months and my insides are schizophrenic. The dr still doesn't think it's Crohn's, and I've done a bit of research myself. I suppose it could be but I don't think so. Not that I'm hoping for any one of these, but for all the symptoms I have I've narrowed it down to a few possibilities. Hopefully (touch wood) it's just IBS, and we shall find out in a few weeks when I have the colonoscopy.
The main problem was with timing as I was off to London on the 1st of May, just four days after the second surgery! I rang the airlines and asked if I could upgrade one way, and they kept saying nope, because you used miles for the ticket, but to ask at the airport. You'd think they'd be nicer to loyal customers! When I got to the airport I asked the check-in man, and he said he couldn't, but was at least nice enough to block the seat next to me. Only problem was that it was a bulkhead which was good, but not when you want to spread out as you can't lift the armrest. Oh well. When I got to the gate I asked again, and I have to say the woman working there was such a nasty cow! No sympathy let alone any assistance and such a bitch! I hope she has to have this surgery and then sit on her arse for 8 hours and see how she likes it! I normally wouldn't say that but she truly was an horrible person! So I get on the plane and ask one of the flight attendants if they could help me, and of course, she checks w/ her head person and no result. At this point I'm getting beyond desperate. I try to get myself sorted in the seat and have my legs over the arm rest onto the other seat, but of course I'm leaning on my right hip at this point and well, that hip was not happy even w/ the lido patch on it. After we took off I couldn't sit anymore so I made a little spot on the floor with blankets and pillows and curled up. Of course then another flight attendant comes over and tells me I can't do that in case we hit turbulence, blah blah blah. I looked at him and was about to cry. I told him the situation and he was kind, and said he'd see if he could get someone in the back w/ extra seats to switch. I didn't think he could because if I had three seats to lay down on I wouldn't switch either to a bulkhead. He came back to collect the rubbish from everyone and said he was still working on it. Fair enough - I held out as much as possible. Then he ran up to the front, leaving his cart just sitting there, and came back a few mins later saying he'd sorted out something and would be back when he was done. Miracle of miracles, he had told the first class purser my situation and that I didn't need any extra attention, just a place to lay down and the bloke had agreed. Thank G-d! This very nice man took me up front, showed me how to recline the seat into a bed and for the remaining few hours I was able to lie on my stomach. I would not have made it otherwise, that's for sure.
The first few days in London were a little rough but I managed okay. By the end of the week I think the cut was healed up for the most part. The flight back wasn't bad for the bum at least. The rest of me was not happy and I am so so glad I now order the wheelchair assistance because there is no way I would have been able to walk off that plane and through the terminal. My whole body was in pain from the pressure on the flight, plus all the walking I had done during my visit.
So now I'm back and have the colonoscopy scheduled in a few weeks. Yesterday I caved and rang my hand/wrist doctor because my right hand has been getting worse and worse and the last week with the camera threw it into pain overdrive. I believe it was over a year ago that I saw Dr. Melone and he gave me an injection. He said if it didn't work I'd need surgery. It lasted maybe a month or so and then, well, I had the whole ER and one surgery after another to deal with on the opposite end, so ignored it as much as possible. Lately though I've taken to rubbing my wrist in with lidocaine cream which seems to be the only way to get through the day. I am still wearing the splint at night, mostly, and it's not doing much of anything. Therefore, I caved and made an appointment to go see him. Trust me, I really don't want to. I don't even have many days off left for this crap, but I don't know if I can wait with the pain for another 7 months to have it sorted. I will hear what he says about the surgery and if it is a quick recovery or not and then will make a decision.
Also because of all that's been going on I've been quite remiss on my PT and the neck and jaw are acting up quite a lot. Started doing some PT last night and will be going to see the acupuncturist this week as well. Praying for some pain relief.
Like I always say, never a dull moment.
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