Why I'm So Quiet Lately: Part Two
Part One is HERE.
Nothing much has changed, except that I now have a diagnosis: sciatica. At long last, I'm properly medicated and ordered to undergo two types of physical rehabilitation — physical therapy (According to Stephen King, "PT stands for pain and torture") and medical, therapeutic, and relaxation massage.
I've already been warned by my neurologist that the PT is going to be painful. But pain is relative. For months now, I've been pushing a Number 10 on the Pain Scale.
The medication I'm taking produces mild euphoria. I can use that!
My neurologist is hopeful that I can make a good recovery because I'm "in good shape." All that country upbringing and years of power-walking built strong muscles and bones. But my recovery will take time. I'll be blogging and making blog rounds as I am able to do so.
posted by Always On Watch @ 10/06/2006 02:00:00 PM
33 comments
33 Comments:
GOOD! I'm glad that the neuro has more hope than that useless quack! Well I won't say totally useless, except for you. I'm so happy that you will be on the road to recovery, hard, yes, but not stuck in a place of pain and no hope! We will continue to pray you through this, then we'll throw a dance!
tmw
TMW,
I'm a dancing fool. But I haven't been able to dance for months. I miss that.
Hope the new treatment helps! Good health is the one thing we can't do without, and the first thing we miss when its' gone!
That's for sure! And if your back, legs or feet hurt, forget it, you're miserable!
tmw
I used to (I don't know why I don't anymore, it's been 11 years now, the meds that cured it the last time were an entire 5th of Jim Beam, LOL) have a low back pain problem and during the last and worst episode my sciatic nerve "erupted", big time. I can't even imagine what that would be like as a day to day thing.
Thank G-d you now have the right meds, even if they're not 80 proof!
TMW,
This long, long road....Is that Sinatra?
Seth,
Booze eases muscle spasms. I have that information from a medical source.
Farmer,
My mother's last words to me: "Don't hurt your health."
Alcohol is a good muscle relaxer! LOL!
I'm glad you have a diagnosis; sometimes just knowing is a great ease to the mind. If it isn't too intrusive, keep your friends abreast of your condition!
Just be careful not to get too attached to those pain meds! ;)
Brooke,
It's not an addictive drug.
While I'm not happy to have sciatica, I'm glad that the problem isn't something worse. One's mind can run wild in speculation, especially after previous treatment yielded no good result.
Take it one day at a time. At least there is some solid hope and a direction. ...
Outstanding AOW, this means that your posts can be a bit wacky and we’ll understand...
Get well and listen and follow your PT.
Pain is weakness leaving the body.
Mild euphoria is okay. I prefer extra spicy euphoria.
I went through physical therapy for a out of whack rotator cup in my right shoulder. It was painful at first, but the more excercise I did the easier it got. I sincerely hope you make a speedy recovery. They told me it would take at least two years to recover fully. It only took six months because I did my excercises religiously at home.
There is no doubt you will also recover from this, and I'll bet you do so in record time!
I hope that you get well soon...stay off of your feet.
look on the bright side, now you can really enjoy those Pink Floyd records in storage with your meds. Get rest and how will the teaching go?
I'm glad you finally got a diagnosis. I'm amazed that you get as much done with everything you have going on. I can barely keep up with the day to day stuff and I've been healthy!
Jason, Gayle, & Steve,
Thanks for your well wishes.
I'm good at following a doctor's instructions. All these months with the doctors' not knowing what I should do except "Take it easy" has been so frustrating because taking it easy didn't address the problem.
Michael,
Outstanding AOW, this means that your posts can be a bit wacky
Over the past several weeks, I laid aside a few unusual articles. Maybe I'll get to them when the pain eases off.
Mr. Beamish,
Mild euphoria is okay. I prefer extra spicy euphoria.
When I go to the full dose later this week, I may get that spicy euphoria.
O Bob,
how will the teaching go?
Good question! One of my students was worried that the medication might take away a certain aspect of my personality in the classroom: my pointed criticisms. I can't imaginge that I'll be nicey-nice. We'll see this week.
I have already noticed that I have a tendency to talk too fast. But that works to my benefit in Spanish 3 class. LOL. I've also found that I can pull up archived vocabulary.
Lone Pony,
How do I get so much done? I can multi-task! So far, anyway.
Finally a diagnosis and proper treatment. PT can work wonders and it is surely better than any form of surgery. What meds are you taking?
We miss you when you are not here and we will pray for a quick recovery.
If possible hon, please keep us updated on your progress.
Blessings!
Gayle,
Right now, I'm making more blog rounds than I am composing posts. As the frequency of treatments (massage right now, PT added to that next week) increases, I may have to cut back even more. **sigh**
Tomorrow and Wedneday, my students will be turning in their entries for the VFW Scholarship Contest. We're on a tight deadline for submitting the entries to my local Post. However, I DO have another posting almost ready, so I'll be putting that up tonight or tomorrow morning.
I am continuing to teach my full homeschool schedule. Getting into the car and driving to piano students will be done as my pain levels allow. But after just two medical-massage treatments (plus the meds, of course), I'm already feeling a bit better. I'm waiting for the day when I can resume the power walking I used to do before my injury occurred.
Pink Floyd??? Records in storage?
I had to research sciatica to make sure I knew what it was. Sounds painful but the article I read says that given enough rest it can cure itself.(?)
Having to watch over your mother-in-law while classes have resumed might make that hard to do.
I hope you start feeling better.
Steve,
No Pink Floyd here (heresy, I know), but I do have some Doors albums.
Crusader,
the article I read says that given enough rest it can cure itself.(?)
I did that for months following the accident. And for a brief time, I thought I had this ailment whipped. But suddenly, without any cause except the injury I sustained, the pain returned with a vengeance. I'm now in the 6th month of that relapse, so the docs feel that it's time for rehab. My sciatica doesn't seem to be curing itself, and having my life on hold for 1.5 years is stressful and adds to the pain. Ugh!
Dealing with MIL was indeed difficult. But my husband did as much as he could to supervise her so that I could rest. She was here with us for just over three days.
You will be power-walking before you know it, AOW. I'm sure of it! :)
Gayle,
Nasty weather and the end of EDT will cramp my style. I'll have to go mall-walking! I hate to shop, but I can pound the floors there with my walking shoes. One huge indoor mall is a mere 5 minutes away. :)
With time, maybe I can even return to bicycling, which I dearly love.
Albums? That's our AOW ... traditional to the core. Of course, I prefer Sinatra ...
Back to the "back" I'm glad you got better help. I've found that one doctor never solves the problem and I consult a few. It took about 5 doctors before I found out I was mildly allergic to our cats. Getting a second and third opinion always helps with these matters.
Jason,
To be honest, I do have CD's--usually, "The Best of" kind. But I can't seem to let go of those vinyls.
My saga has been one of going from doctor to doctor. As you've also discovered, multiple consults are often required.
Glad to hear that your allergy to cats is a mild one. I, too, have a mild allergy to cats. But Claritin takes care of it when it flares up, which typically occurs only when I'm on overload from mold, grasses, or ragweed.
AOW, I am an old Doors fan. I wish I could have seen them before Jim died. The only shopping I don't mind doing is done at the grocery store or my friend military surplus store. Thats were my cloths come from. I hate buying cloths from a United States bassed company that moved its factories out of the country. One of folk singer John Stewart's (not the person on comedy TV) songs,"Who Stole The Soul Of Johnny Dreams" starts out saying, "Attention K-Mart shoppers, do you really need all of that crap".Pretty much sums up the way I feel anytime I do have to go to one of the big super centers. I hope you continue getting better.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
AOW
I do not know if you are aware but there is a far left attempt to blackmail me on Freedomnow's site.
I would appreciate if you and some friends would take a look at what happens when the left gets unhinged.
I had no idea who this clown was but the far left does not like it when we come out swinging. A person calling me a Jewish private body part is outraged that he is being called an anti semite.
If you and your readers could speak up it would be a great help.
Stephen King would know what pain is considering the accident he was in. Praying for you.
Now, at long last, you know the name of the condition which you will fight & overcome. You're on your way to recovery. I'll throw my own prayers your way... it can't hurt ;-)
Cube,
I appreciate your prayers. Thank you.
EB,
Thanks for your prayers.
Stephen King's accident was so much worse that mine. But I have to admit that mine has been a life-changer, at least for the short term.
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