Posted on 01/17/2014 6:14:56 AM PST by trussell
I have faith that the implant is going to help me...when they took the trial away it was like taking candy from a baby...it was cruel! And waiting so long for the permanent one is cruel too. I am praying I am making the right decision in getting this done. It’s a huge step and one that I struggled with at first. I remember the few days I had the temporary unit in my spine, my legs didn’t hurt, I could lay on my sides and they didn’t hurt! My right hip still hurt like crazy and my back was horrible and my stomach hated me from the buzzing, it would make me sick when I ate! But when the tech messed with the unit before it was removed, she got the buzzing out of my tummy and all the way up my back to the middle of my back! It felt so good, I hated when they took it away!!
Went to the doctor on Wednesday...he asked me how long have I been having the increased pain...I told him that I had complained to his Nurse Practitioner for a few months now and that she has told me “He’s not going to give you anything stronger, period”. He said “I’ll have to have a talk with her, I don’t like to see you in the much pain”. He asked if the percocet was working at all anymore and I said not so much...even when I take 2 of them at once. He said “quit taking those, I’m going to give you dilaudid instead, and give you a numbing PATCH to put on your back...leave it on for 12 hours then replace it with another” He wants to see me in 2 weeks to make sure my pain is being manage. I started the dilaudid a few days ago (as soon as I got through the pharmacy drive through) and so far it only helps at night when I take 2 of them with my nerve medicine and my sleeping medicine. I get the idea that the Nurse Practicianer could be losing her job for not talking to the doctor when I said I was in pain and she said I wasn’t getting anything stronger. She didn’t even TALK to the doctor, and I told him she said that and he confirmed that he didn’t know!
Just found out one of the meds the doc wants me on is not covered by my insurance and it is $275 for a one month supply....no way I will be getting that one. :( The medicine the doc wanted me using is a lidocaine patch, 12 hours each patch then replace it. They say since my insurance won’t cover the patch, they will do the cream instead...but I can’t reach my back to rub a cream on and I’m not comfortable asking my teenage son to rub a cream on my nude back (I am really fat). I am on gabapentin for nerve pain. I’m on amitriptiline 50 mg to help me sleep. As for the new medicine...one 2 mg dilaudid doesn’t do it. I take my middle of the night dose at bedtime...so I take 2 at bedtime as well as taking the gabapentin and amitriptiline. I manage to sleep with that cocktail but the rest of the day is still stiff and sore. I’m hoping I can get the patches so I can get some relief! They talk it up like it’s a miracle drug. Maybe I can find out the name of the manufacturer and see if they can help me get them.
Also, my procedure to implant the spinal cord stimulator is set for January 27th...same day surgery, will be home that night. Really look forward to it, though I’m still scared about having the unit in my spine.
Please, keep up the prayers. I appreciate them so much!
Prayers up! Thank you for the update!
Prayers up!
I have had the stimulator in almost a year.
Not happy with the results but the DR says its a work in progress.
Good luck to you and I truly hope you find relief.
Hi Johnny! It looks like you meant to post to the OP who is undergoing all these difficult treatments instead of me. Just thought I’d point that out in case you want to post to her directly. :)
Father God,
We stand on Your promises of healing and restoration.
By Jesus’ stripes we were healed. Jesus won the victory through His death and resurrection. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Psalm 107:19-21
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Exodus 23:25
Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,
Psalm 30:2
O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Psalm 103:2-4
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
Psalm 41:2-3
The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
I wish there was a “Like” button that I could click to say I like and appreciate all the comments that have been posted. Thank you all, so much!!!
“...does that make sense?”
Not to me, but he’s the doc and would know what he’s doing. But since you’ve gone to him with the problem, and he’s diagnosed CTS, then if he suggests CT surgery, you should follow his advice.
You’ve made me curious about this, though, so wondering — did he say what causes the process to be interrupted — and what causes it to go the other way? Does he think you may have a worse case of CTS than the usual and that’s causing the interruption?
Maybe he was trying to explain referred pain. That would make sense to me. Although, I still can’t picture the interruption and reversing direction he’s describing.
Maybe a freeper in the medical field can help us understand. :)
You could be right in that it is “referred pain”. It was explained that the signal goes towards the wrist and when it can’t continue, it will affect the upper arm area. My memory is really bad anymore and I’m afraid I can’t remember exactly what they said. I know they said that this is capable of affecting the strength in my arm and causing me pain there too. I have to admit, this confuses me and I think I need to get a recorder so I can record what is said so I can remember it better! They said that both sides were equal...that the problem was just as bad in both hands and that since the right hand was bothering mme more, I should try to care for that one first. I want to try non surgical options first only because the back surgery has jaded me on surgeries...
I understand what you mean about being jaded.
Good thought about carrying a recorder (I should do that myself), but unless you understand medical terminology, you’d have to do a search for all the terms they use.
Maybe the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins site would be helpful for that. Or look for neuro specialists and see if they have a FAQs page you can search.
Another thought, it might be helpful to search blogs and get it straight from those who have had the procedure done. It might be reassuring anyway.
An update that requires me to thank GOD for all his blessings and to thank the prayer warriors for all their prayers. I was just informed...my disability was approved. We don’t have an amount yet, we don’t know how far back they are going to go...we just know that it is approved and I should get my letter giving me the news and the amounts by Friday. Also, I will not get the money right away, it will take several weeks for that to come through.
I did JUST get the information that my onset date is going to be less than one year as the doctor is blind (not literally) and can’t see where my disability is older than September of last year...and there is a 4 or 6 month waiting period from the onset before benefits will be paid...so you are expected to be disabled 4 or 6 months before you can receive benefits. There is a 2 year waiting period before you qualify for medical benefits...so I will definitely need prayers that my current medicaid continues through until then.
Also, I am using the wrist splints (actually the left one so far, and waiting for the right one) and will try that for 6 to 8 weeks and see if that helps. If not, I guess the next option will be surgery. I hate to think of doing that again...but I can’t do the shots and I have to try to stop the pain.
Continued prayers appreciated. God Bless you all and thank you so much for the prayers!
Continued prayers for you, FRiend! :-)
Missed you on the thread ping. Here is the most recent (just this morning) update on my prayer needs (post 910). Thank you so much for the prayers!
BTTT
Prayers for you, trussell.
Good news! That should take some stress off of you.
Continued prayers.
Hooray, approval is more than half the battle!
I was just wondering how you’re doing last night, t. Your ears were burning.
You are always in my prayers.
We praise Thee o Lord for the progress in overcoming the bureaucracy and having the disability status approved.
We pray for complete healing of Thy longsuffering servant.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
I’m glad to hear a few things are starting to happen to give you a little relieve. Surely this has been very good news for you.
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