Ibuprofen is key

I skipped my self prescribed 800mg dose of ibuprofen this morning, just to see how much it helps. Yes, it helps! Dear Lord! At 8:15 I took it at work.

I felt it necessary to try the day without it. I don't want it to be part of my baseline. I also don't want that dose to be part of a new normal at the end of my next treatment.

However, my short term goal is to sleep through the night.
Next, it would be good to get the diagnosis confirmed.
Then, perform a procedure I may not have had yet but that is an available treatment approved by my insurance.
Then, a month from now...after 9/11, pursue the next procedure that will be a available/approved at that time.

I'm not sure how to keep making it through the day, though. I'm quite unhappy in the current situation, between a rock and a hard place. My husband has made me afraid to speak at work about this, and I am somewhat uncomfortable talking to him now. It's hard to hear, "just be thankful you have a job." And I know it is true, but it doesn't make me feel better.
-Amy

On to pain management

Monday I saw my physiologist and he referred me to pain management for evaluation for a nerve block, or nerve ablation. I also saw my regular doc and asked for pain med. I had finally surpassed the point of dealing into suffering; Jason helped me realize it was time to do the next step. My physical therapist is seeing me one day a week through the next few weeks. I'm doing all my stretches and exercise. Also I'm swimming and using the elliptical trainer for cardio. I m still waking all through the night, rarely sleeping more than 4 hours a night, and at most 3 at a stretch. It is really starting to make me crazy after 4 months of it! First week of April, after PRT injections, this started. Now, there was some improvements especially in the mid to upper low back, rarely is that sore, but it's the left SI joint and this new issue with pelvic muscles.

-Amy

Wow! an improvement!

I have been having trouble going to sleep, waking two times a night, usually between 11-3 and the last time is hardest to get back to sleep due to discomfort. Tuesday was the worst so far. Lucky me

Doc RX'd gabapentin on Tuesday. Therapist put me through the wringer. And that night I woke the same but it was less intense.

Yesterday was no physical therapy, and Emily RX'd elliptical or swimming, walking at the least on off days. I went lap swimming at gym. (Swimming at grandma's on a Saturday led to a wonderful Sunday 2 weeks ago.)

Last night I fell asleep at 11 or so after reading. Didn't even need my audio book. Today, I woke around 2:30 and 6:30. I was so glad that the second time was this late and now I'm just awake for the day, in a happy mood even though I'm hurting! Sleep makes a big difference!

The gym is very close to me, and 30 bucks a month is reasonable to pay for the gym even if I use the pool facilities only. I'm going to join.

I'm hoping I will improve and then taper off these meds. Doc thinks I will need a dose increase after a few weeks. I hope the smaller dose is enough. Seem hopeful it will help get over the hump.

-Amy

God is good!

Good visit with Jon and Barb! God blessed me with their visit. The children loved spending time with them!

Rested on Saturday made such a big difference on Monday morning. I felt good. Tuesday not so much but still not the worst!

-Amy

Meds changes

I started some RX'd meds today to hopefully help ease the pain short and long term. Short term I didn't want to take an NSAID since it would counter act the PRP shots. I was hoping that I could avoid the long term meds but I am to the point that I am ok with it. Maybe it can help. It's cymbalta.

-Amy

On Chronic Pain

I have never written about back pain but I decided I really should. It's been an unfortunate part of my life for about a year on a consistent basis, but before that too, but growing in intensity and being more disruptive over time.

I keep feeling like it's getting better, but then it starts hurting again. Currently, I am having episodes of intense sharpness in my right buttock/SI. The worst was 2 Tuesdays ago, before my PRP on Thursday. It happens when I stand after sitting or lean forward from sitting. It is sudden and I gasp or even yelp.

But this is probably better than before.

Previously, my right leg would hurt when walking, too, all the way from my back to the calf. Now just the calf hurts intensely for a few minutes when walking and my foot hoes slightly numb, but that subsides. This only happens when standing and walking. It will go numb about halfway but not so much that I can't walk. When it comes back, it's just back. it doesn't have pins and needless.

My back proper feels pretty good. I used to think it was my low back, only, and maybe a disc problem, but maybe the muscles and tendons are healing and strengthening to overcome compensating for the SI joint issue.

It sucks not being able to take NSAIDs. They do effect the inflammation. I had to stop taking them wrote the Prolo therapy and then I just had PRP so that's about 6 weeks now with Tylenol only. Heat and the tens unit.

Today I broke down an used ice. It was us so painful when I moved slightly a few minutes ago, I had had it. I will not use it long, because it reduces the purposeful inflammation from the PRP--and that is something I don't want to counteract lightly. It was super painful, and nobody online talks about the details, I'll just say it, or folks would not do it. It's called an "injection" but it is not just one! It's across a large area. It really has seemed to help in many ways. Just wish it was 100 percent better already.

Recently I wondered if I shouldn't just start taking a prescription pain medicine, but I'm afraid I wouldn't want to stop taking them.

The mornings have been good the past two days! The evenings always are hard and I am sorry that my family gets the tired and hurting version of myself. I have been generally more short on tolerance as I just have less physical tolerance and its wearing me thin.

I know God has a plan and I know that going through this, I can rely on him, and bring him honor by my behavior. Maybe I can recognize to be patient with others in the future when I encounter someone in a similar situation. I will be more suited to give them grace, rather than a hard time. Maybe without having this experience, I would look down on them or judge them in some way.

Maybe I will need to learn now what I simply cannot learn in any other way than experience.

-Amy

Good Saturday Furniture Shopping

Today was a nice day together with my family. We relaxed in the morning. Thomas played super Mario after breakfast. Jason napped after suggesting I take a bath! I took a bath and Joanna gave her doll a bath! I caught Joanna sitting on Jason and it was so cute!
Jason cooked while I took the kids to the pet store to get Jack some food and bedding. The clerk treated the kids to playing with the animals.
Joanna found me in the aisle to show me the snake!

I was really surprised!

Joanna helped clean Jack's cage when we were home. I looked up bedding for Thomas and he picked out a nice masculine and tasteful choice! I was impressed!

We ate lunch--Jason made chicken lettuce wraps. And cooked a Thai chicken dish for tomorrow, and I did the laundry. Thomas helped put in the soap and start the load. It's something he showed interest in. Whereas Joanna likes sweeping.

I finished watching Star Trek vi the last frontier. The kids played outside and played super Mario.

I talked Jason into going to look at furniture for our room. I had been out a few times with the kids shopping and wanted to go to oak factory outlet. We liked a set of furniture a lot, but it was not oak! It was alder wood. We also went to Knoxville wholesale furniture, to see the kinkaid furniture I liked as well. We ended up buying it, and they had a floor model of a bed I had really liked! It was a really good deal and I'm so glad I waited and researched the beds a while. It made the decision easier having known what a deal would be. We got a floor model of a bed and adjustable base they were no longer going to carry.

Dang though that Joanna scratched her back. She and Thomas were horsing around on the beds and she slid off onto something. She and Thomas had fun but also were good together especially since Jason was there.

The kids ganged up on us and asked to eat out. So we went to Olive Garden and enjoyed ourselves with the kids menu activities.