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!
Hopefully you will get connected with a specialist that will figure out just why your having such problems with your hands and provide a best method to fix the underlining problem(s).
BTTT
Here’s a cervical traction unit for $180 .... a pretty good savings compared to the brand new one:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/hab/4401610897.html
A possibility?
If you’re interested, I’ll ask where it’s located, and if it’s near me, I’ll check it out!
We praise Thee o Lord and we adore Thee.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, alleluia, amen.
My therapist said to get a new one because there is a chance for something (I don’t remember what it was, but it was related to the pump) to go wrong on the used one. I did notice several that were used for a fairly inexpensive price, but I’m trying to obey my doc. I would hate to get one and then need another right away because of a mechanical problem.
I guess if it’s checked out really well by you, it would be worth looking at since it’s so inexpensive. My biggest concern would be for you, craigslist doesn’t have the best reputation and if anything happened to you, I couldn’t forgive myself!!!
Prayers
“Good news all”
Father God,
We thank You for the Good News regarding Trussell’s updated medical condition.
May the blood of Jesus flow through every cell of Trussell’s body and regenerate discs, nerves, and bones. By Jesus’ stripes we were healed.
We stand on Your promises for You say: Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:4)
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wound you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
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. (Isaiah 53:5)
We thank you, Father God, for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our transgressions and our iniquities. We are eternally grateful for the peace and healing that we have through the Christ’s suffering. We thank you for the gift of eternal life for those who believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ.
May we never forget the wonder of Your mercy and the depth of Your love.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
I use craigslist all the time, so no problem there. Of course, you have to be familiar with what you’re looking for so you’ll know whether or not it’s worth it.
With medical equipment, I know from my own experience that people sometimes don’t need it for very long, so it’s still intact and usually as good as new (if not, you say no thanks and keep looking). They more than likely just want to recoup some of what they spent. The broken/missing-parts stuff usually ends up at the thrift stores.
As for safety — trust me, I take precautions.
Having said all that, I didn’t realize it was recommended that you not get used equipment. Of course you should go with what your doctor and/or therapist recommend. If nothing else, it will keep you from worrying about used equipment.
Okay, bottom line with me is I’m just cheap and always looking to save money is all. It works for me, but I understand it’s not for everyone.
As we know, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” I pray you’ll have your health restored soon so you can recover in other areas of your life.
have you tried ‘inversion therapy’ ? you hang upside down in one of those inversion machines at the gym
you dont have to go all the way upside down, just as far as you feel comfortable.
I have one and 15 minutes a day COMPLETELY cured my back problems!! (including bulging disk)
Thanks be to God for steps in the right direction!
I have not tried that yet, but would love to. I have seen commercials for them and it looked like it would feel so good. I don’t have a way to get to the gym and can’t get one of the units myself so that is on my “to do” list for a later time.
do not wait.. this could be the single most important ‘fix’ for you
Borrow one if you have to
charge it if you can, if you lived close to me I would loan you mine
if there is no way possible to get one let me know maybe some freepers can help
Inversion chair anyone?
I don’t have anyone I could borrow from...charging is OUT OF THE QUESTION!...If anyone had one I could borrow I would lvoe to try it out. Otherwise, it remains a wish item on my “to do” list. :)
That's amazing!
trussell - my wife and I continue to keep you in our prayers. Thank you for the updates. I do believe that back issues are often best solved with alternative therapies. I would recommend trying to find one of these contraptions Mr. K mentioned. I will keep my eyes and ears out for one. God bless.
I should add that my own back issues resolved with back rubs with magnesium lotion and yoga/pilates stretches. Obviously your condition is much more severe than mine was, but conventional medicine wasn’t touching my pain.
I AM SO GLAD!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG PRAYERS FOR A RECOVERY!
T, I am so happy to read such great news. I hope you are able to get what you need at this time to lessen your pain.
You and yours remain in my thoughts and prayers daily.
Warmly,
SC
they are advertised on TV and they are around $300 and it is the best money I ever spent for my back
You lock your feet in it, and lay back, and it rotates until your head is lower than your feet and you can go back as far as you want including hanging completely by your feet.
it lets the bulging disks go back into place- I have not had back problems since I started using it. (and I had BAD ones before, to the point where I would collapse while walking- the pain would just make my legs give out)
prayers up!
I talked to my therapist about this and was told "NO!!!"
With the fusion of my L5/S1 and with the leads in the spinal column for the stimulator (they are sewn into the spot), if I stretched my back with something like that, it could mess up the placement of the leads, stretching them, ripping them out of their placement and causing serious damage to the spinal column and also cause damage to the fusion, possibly breaking the screws or the bone they are screwed into. Sounds like that is something I will never get to experience the pleasure of being stretched like I wanted. :(
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