Medical Jargon and too much t.v.

It’s done!

Last week, on Thursday, my L5-S1 AND a L4-5 spinal disk herniation was treated with a bilateral (which means both sides) transforaminal epidural steroid/ozone gas injection.

After a lot of consideration and stress, I met with the doc before going into the surgical suite to reevaluate my treatment options. Instead of performing the expected diagnostic nerve block test, aka a “Medial Branch Block Procedure,” which would have been just as painful and not as helpful, the doc agreed to call this audible, to borrow a football term. (Thanks, Merle!)

There were still needles – lots of them -- but there was no local anesthetic, as I am allergic to all of them, and I didn’t have the luxury of taking a valium because I didn’t have a stupid prescription.

It took about 15 minutes, with me on my tummy, facing the fluoroscope screen.  I was able to watch what was going on.  Ironic since I can’t look at the actual needles.  It is amazing to think I can be awake during all of that, although my language tends to get a bit flowery.

Who am I kidding?  I’m a sailor.

SEEING my pain being hit with medication is far better than just thinking about it and trying to picture it.  It’s not in color and when the steroids and ozone gas is injected, they’re not a cool ice blue color or even a healing white. The ammo is black, but seeing the cloud of meds envelope the injured area on screen is still very effective for my overactive imagination.

By the time I was done and we got out to the car there was no, shade and opening the door I could see heat waves emanating out of the car.  I wished I were hallucinating.  It was in the triple digits and the heat index was 112.  And we have no AC.  CRAZY.

Once home, I settled in on the couch with the remote control and heating pad.  Merle had a meeting to go to, so I was mostly on my own.  I say “mostly,” because I had Renata and Frankie taking care of me.  Now, we all know my cats are the most well behaved creatures and they promised in their blog to behave…but I was still suspicious.

I was not at all surprised Renata came up and made herself at home as close to me as she could, but what shocked me was Frankie!  That little girl really went above and beyond.  She must have read her blog!

Thursday night was rough, but that’s to be expected.  Friday was tricky because I was bored but unable to sit up to go online.  T.V. helped – somewhat.  T.V. has a way of turning functioning brain cells into zombiefied mush.

Saturday was still rough, although by the time the afternoon rolled around, I was a little perkier. It seems like the evenings are always worse, as are the mornings. I have to remind myself that even if it feels better for a few minutes, I can’t just jump up and go do something.  THIS is driving me crazy.   Today, I got up to go get something from the other room and stepped sideways and thought I might blackout.  Setback.  Yuck.

It’s Sunday, as I sit and write this, it hurts.  To emphasize, it is better, but there is still some recuperating to be done.

I’ve been through this before, the new variable being the added injections of OZONE GAS.  I’ve had them in my shoulder, but not in my back.  The plus side is I’m unable to hear the “snap, crackle, pop” of the little gas bubbles bursting like I did when he treated my shoulder with it.

I would like to think that by going through this before, it would make it easier, but it hasn’t.  I know I can do it; I know I’ll get through it; and I know that because of having the injections, there will be relief even if only for a few months, (or perhaps longer). 

Something that has changed over the years is the support system I’ve been blessed with.  My real life social circle is small,  but the window out has increased significantly via my virtual world.  I can never say thank you enough nor can I convey HOW much the support and encouragement means to me.  Even a simple “thumbs up” on fb has a positive effect.  That way, I know I’m surrounded by good thoughts.

The simplicity of sharing a few kind words has such an enormous impact on the way I feel and can help me through the worst of the pain.

Today is now Tuesday, after the setback on Sunday, I got very frustrated.  I wanted everything to be better in a few days and I have NO IDEA why I thought it would only be a few days of healing before I could get up and go and do. 

Merle’s brother and sister-in-law are here from California along with their two kids for a few days.  It’s so frustrating to not be able to go with and hang out.  Last night, they came over after they checked in to their hotel. I hadn’t seen them in years and I couldn’t get up to give them a hug.  It can’t be helped.  I have to give my back time to recover, I know that.  Today, they came over again and they all took off to go do stuff around Austin.  Guess where I am?  On the couch, on my back most of the day.  EPIC FAIL.

Tomorrow morning I’ll have a follow up appointment to see how I’m doing.  I fully expect to have a good report.  And I know there are more days of resting ahead.  I’ll do what I have to do because there isn’t much of a choice.  I think having company in from out of town makes it harder because I can’t go with them.

So, each day there is a little bit of improvement but because I’m impatient it’s not enough, lol!  Hurry up and heal! 

That’s what’s been going on around here.  I’m going to lay down again now and watch some more soul sucking television.