Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Herniated Disc Update #1

Hey guys, thank you so much for all of the well wishes and sweet comments.  Please don’t take my lack of response to each comment as me not caring; it’s just been really difficult to focus through this ordeal to write much.

I met with the pain doctor and his physician’s assistant on Thursday and thankfully they were able to squeeze me into a packed schedule for a steroid injection into my spine between the L3 - L4 area.  This was done via an epidural...yes, an epidural like you get while you’re in labor.

The steroid injection is supposed to reduce the swelling of the nerve.  I’ve been told it takes anywhere from 7 to 10 to 14 days to fully kick in.  This afternoon will make day 6, and I’m really hoping to be one of the lucky ones who gets relief on day 7.

At that visit last Thursday I was prescribed a different pain medication because the other two I was taking were making me so nauseated, plus they really weren’t helping with the pain.  Well, that medication did take my pain level down from a 10 to about an 8, but holy cow did I get super nauseated.  Basically all I could do was lie down with my eyes closed.  It’s a 12 hour drug and after spending Saturday in misery, I decided to not take my next dose.  So, the nausea went away but the pain shot back up.

I called the physician's assistant on Monday morning and got a prescription for an anti-nausea drug.  I didn’t want to try and switch pain meds at that point because everything seems to make me sick, plus our insurance required a written authorization for that prescription, which would take about a week to get, so we just paid for it ourselves...and we paid a lot.  My PA also gave me a prescription for something that specifically targets nerve pain.  I take it at night and this is something that takes weeks to fully kick in...why does everything take so long to work?

The good news is now that I’ve had a few doses of the expensive pain medication, my pain has lessened a bit.  I can’t stand very long or walk across my house without my leg hurting immensely, and I still cannot sit in a chair because that 90 degree angle compresses the nerve too much.   But I’m not groaning in pain and unable to find any comfortable position to lie in, so that’s a plus.

The bad news is that the anti-nausea medication is only helping a little.  I get a few decent hours and then I’m back to feeling barfy.  As you might guess, I’m writing this during one of my few decent hours stage.

I don’t know when I’ll be back to my regular blogging schedule, but I will be back one of these days. In the meantime I’ll leave you with some pictures of my constant companion.

Laying on me didn’t last too long as it hurt.
Laying behind me...better, but every time I’d move to adjust to the pain it disturbed him and then it took an annoyingly long time to get him settled again.
Yesterday morning he stayed in his bed.  I think we were both more comfortable this way.


13 comments:

  1. So good to see this update. I hope you are among the lucky ones and day 7 is when the shot will kick in, and you will be pain free again.

    I will be keeping you in my thoughts and hoping for good things for you.

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  2. This really sucks and I'm so sorry!

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  3. I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing! Thanks for the update!!!! I’ve got my fingers crossed (and praying) that the injection kicks in soon!!!!!

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  4. I'm so sorry, Shelley. I can't take any narcotics at all without vomiting, so I'd be in trouble. I do feel you about waiting for the meds to kick in, tho! I'm over here patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for my flare to subside. It's been 4 weeks since I started my new med and dare I say that I'm feeling pretty good?

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  5. I hope you get some relief soon. Keeping you in my thoughts.

    Don't you just love our little companions? They are the best things for lifting our spirits.

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  6. Hoping for some relief sooner rather than later for you. Being laid up surely sucks.

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  7. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. Hoping the shot and meds kick in and you get relief very soon.

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  8. So sorry for your pain, Shelley! And being barfy is just the icing on the cake :-( I hope the meds kick in today and that you get some relief!

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  9. Gah, thank heavens Paco is there to nurse you! This is horrible! Why DOES it take so long for these meds to kick in? Ugh, I really hope it works on Day 7 - would that mean you can back off the one that is making you so nauseous, or not? Really really hoping you get relief ASAP. Hugs! XOXO

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  10. Sorry to hear about your injury. I've known a few people who had this, and from being around them it seems like a lot of pain.

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  11. Oh gosh I hope you get some relief asap!!!

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  12. I am a regular silent follower but I want to send you my best wishes for a speedy recovery from northern Canada. Your willingness to share your journey to health and parts of your life are something I look forward to as I continue sorting out my health and wellness balance. Take care :)

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  13. I was glad to see the update, but I'm so sorry you're not feeling better. I'm delurking to wish you good health, send you some prayers, and a wish for a speedy kick in for that shot.

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