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!
There is no way to make it less steep as that would make it go into the grass and I can’t get myself through the grass. It’s really not terribly steep...I could get up it before, it’s just that my hands and arm are too weak to do it anymore :(
The laundry area in the garage is just to the left as you go out the door. It sets back just slightly to make it out of my reach from the door. The upstep is not terribly high, you are probably right in saying it was probably 4 to 5 inches. I don’t know who I would get to build the ramp and if it would be acceptable to do it in the eyes of the homeowner. The one at the front door is removeable, one built against a wall in the garage would probably have to be anchored to the wall to make it stable...and it would probably have to be build fairly wide to make it possible for me to turn to go in the door and to keep me from slipping off the edge.
True. A wheelchair isn’t made for rolling through the grass.
I’ve seen those step-ups. They’re not high, but they’re too high for handicap purposes.
Do you park in the garage? If not, something temporary would be easy enough to build for the purpose of using the laundry area, with the owner’s permission, of course.
Does your landlord have any skills? Would he be willing to help come up with a solution?
The landlords only purpose is to cause hardship for me...he feels I am faking my problems, his attitude is that he is the only person in the house that can have pain and medical problems. I could have a notarized doctor’s note and he wouldn’t believe it. I spent a week in the intensive care and he accused me of faking the blod clots that put me in for that visit. He feels that I could stand and walk to do it without having the ramp so why bother with a ramp?!
What?!!! Why is he so hostile towards you? Is he still threatening you with eviction?
We dated for a while. I lost my job due to the economy and when my unemployment ran out and I had no more money to give, he started getting madder and madder. He had medical issues with his hip needing replaced, he’s very self-centered and feels nobody can have pain or problems like he has. I supported him through his problems, every time. I spent days in the hospital with him several times. He was in for 4 days, I came home only to make dinner for the kids and make sure they were in and ok...another time, he was in for almost a week, same thing...just to take care of the kids for a few minutes and then rush back to him. Then, when I needed help and support, he wasn’t there, he felt I was faking it...just the other day he asked if I was seeing a mental doctor, that was his way of accusing me of being mentally ill, faking it.
Yes, he threatens us with eviction several times a month some times, other times, he’s good for a month or two. There’s no rhyme or reason to explain why he is like this except to say “alcohol”.
I think that the fact that the neurologist has promised to stay on your case is a clear sign of God’s hand in your recovery.
Prayers up.
I’m sorry. I hope you don’t suffer for posting all of that and I didn’t intend to draw you out on it.
It sounds like a hostile environment. I realize it would take some time, but you should definitely not stay in that situation.
If you’re not able to work, and you have doctors who have documented that — along with the fact that you have a dependent child — I don’t know why you wouldn’t qualify for housing, food, utilities, and whatever else there is.
gluten free does not have to be expensive, and there’s n reason your family has to have different foods. MY grocery budget is about half since we eat so much less (and feel better)
I shop mostly in two aisles, meats and fresh fruits and veggies...The think about that is you are far less hungry than you used to be- I lost 40 pounds going gluten free
Tumeric is in the spice aisle and also in the vitamins aisle in capsule form
A short update on my hands and arms. I saw the new Neurologist, he scheduled me for an EMG which was done yesterday...the bad news; I have carpal tunnel in both hands/arms/wrists...I have to make an appointment to see my neurosurgeon, to see what he wants to do next. The neurologist says the weakness in my arm, up in my shoulder, could be coming from the CT from the process being interrupted in one direction so it goes the other way and gets my shoulder...does that make sense?
I’m not so sure I want to do more surgeries...I’ve heard bad things about this surgery, how it works for a while, but then gets bad again and requires more surgery that takes a lot longer to heal. Suggestions? Ideas that I can bring up to my doctor?
More prayers appreciated
oh, how I wish I knew more to advise you about! You’ve been thru so much, I certainly hope there’s some light for you soon at the end of this tunnel.
I had the surgery - nothing to it - I slept most of the next day, took a few pain meds then switched to advil - didn’t lift anything heavy for a few months. It worked perfectly.
Prayers going out for you.
BTTT
I had carpal tunnel surgery on both my hands and it was the best surgery I’ve ever had done.
I was very careful to not lift anything heavy afterwards, as they recommend, but I used my hands constantly, mostly my fingers to do light or details stuff. Things like writing, pinning something I was sewing, etc.
I did not need physical therapy afterwards. I did have a little trouble with numbness in my left palm for a few weeks but that resolved itself.
I have since been doing some exercises to keep the tendon loose. There are some online that are mostly stretching exercises.
It’s been several years now and I still have not had any recurrence of problems.
Lord Jesus, guide the doctors in their decisions and grant the virtue of endurance to Thy long-suffering servant.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
Prayers for you!! As a worker in His field, may Christ heal your hands and wrists.
Dear FRiend, I will be praying for you!
I am so sorry you are going through this.
I know many who have had carpal tunnel surgery from cashiers to church secretaries to accountants. They were all successful.
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