Procedure went well I think, but I've got a temp of 39.9 after the cooling ice bath when temp was 38.5. DB has had to take time off to pick me up tomorrow as I'm not allowed to be on my own for 72 hours. Other than feeling hot n cold, lethargic mostly with bursts of 30 second activity to sort my bed linen I'm ok, feel very short of breath, but NO chest pain yay xxx

So a week later and the procedure had not been successful. I had a fall on Monday evening but I knew already before that with the pain I was experiencing and the continued "burn" what was hoped for had not worked. Yesterday was a bad day, the burn was excruciating in the upper back. The procedure on the lower L4/5, S1 on Feb 1 has been successful. Procedures on Feb 17th & March 20th have given no result at all.

Today I have a crippling headache, along with the "burn" I've had to resort to 10mg Valium along with Targin 20/10 x 2 and indocid. I'm supposed to be out for dinner tonight with DB, my mum aunt & uncle. Have taken day off of work and about to go back to bed for a few hours rest. Got all the washing finished and out of the way by 11am. So no need to stress over DB work clothes. Valium & Targin has kicked in, I feel very light headed, actually a nice feeling for a change. Pain in the back there but tolerable now. Head ache is acute & piercing. Hope I'm not headed for a seizure.

Going to speak with PM about other options. Don't want any more steroid or epidural his year. I've cut Endep back to 15mg, couldn't tolerate the tremor any longer.

Looking for ideas on celebrate 25th wedding anniversary August is year. Hard to plan when I feel so crap. But need to plan or may not be able to get leave.

Need to thank again my NT friends, your support and friendship is invaluable. Thank you from the top, middle and bottom of my heart and soul

Pam, I can understand your not wanting to deal with anymore Epidurals/Steroids for the foreseeable future.

I find even laying down can be painful. At times, I have taken 5mg of Valium, along with 7.25/325 Percocet which really helps the pain and am able to take a brief relief from pain, along with the ability to lay down for a while.

Also, since my pain meds don't deal with inflammation; the last few day have been taking Aleve which has lessened some of the groin/bursa pain/inflamation.

Just a thought, something like Aleve or in that category might be worth trying occasionally to calm down your inflammation.

Hope you were able to participate with the dinner commitment. A change doing something different might be a bit of a lift of spirits.

Ideas for a 25th are on the TTD list....


Gerry

Pam,
Re: Ideas for August 25th Anniversary...

I know both of you enjoyed a cruise last year. Do you think rather than a "party"/guests/ which might be a bit difficult for you; a 25th anniversary cruise would be in order. Sometimes the captain (if made in advance) can perform renewal of anniversary vows.


Gerry

Funnily enough DB said yesterday what about a cruise & has been looking...

Saw the GP, she wanted to me admit me straight to hospital. I've still got the headache but the memory loss is more concerning. I have explained to both my mum & sister there is no point me going to the ED. I think I have a csf leak and my pain Mgt specialist is on leave until next week. SJOG (private hospital) will only send me to Fiona Stanley (public hospital) as SJOG don't have surgical staff on over Easter and I'm not going to FS ever!!. If I can't manage it from home I will go to RPH (public hospital) but I feel it's a waste of time having to sit in the waiting room with all the drunk or stoned Easter yobs. Particularly as they know I suffer with chronic pain & I will be labelled as someone seeking drugs... DB has taken a week off so if I'm no better by Tuesday I will call my PM who will be back from leave by then. I spoke to my nevro rep Thursday and she will let the PM know what's happening. I'll be ok just feeling anxious over the memory loss but I'm sure worrying over it is making it worse. I must have put the painkillers for my head somewhere safe late yesterday afternoon, only I don't know where that somewhere safe is today so I'm trying to rest. I feel very agitated. The head hurts worse when I stand which makes me certain it's a csf leak. MY GP felt the back of my head and said something along the lines of the muscles in my neck were very stiff almost iron like. I don't know what she meant by that and was too overwrought to ask. She asked if I was driving home and I said yes, but it's just over the bridge. She looked worried.
My mum then came to visit and must have also been worried as she got my sister to contact me. My sister and I don't really talk anymore. I was supposed to be cooking a roast dinner for mum this Easter, I've apologised and said I'm sorry I can't. There's a first time for everything. First time I've ever told mum No. more to the point she accepted it, so I must look bad lol.

Pam,
This sounds very concerning. Not sure PM doctors are too informed on various illness and medical conditions, etc. My PM, and many in the USA, were formerly anesthesiologists and have gone into Pain Management. Not sure if this is similar in Australia.

Pam, Just a little FYI; If anything is going on; like a leak; not sure a PM would be someone to care for this. Pain, of course, is a warning; not always best to just eliminate the pain without knowing the cause. Does your GP have anyone that might be recommended;like maybe a Neurologist???

Concerned...

Gerry


Gerry

There you have it; "great minds think alike"...lol... If you can set up ahead of time the possibility of having vows renewed that would really be a plus.

Gerry

Pretty much the same here in Aus, all the PM specialists I have had and those I know of were former anesthesiologists. I've joked it's why they don't have the best bedside manner, all their previous patients were asleep... if it's a CSF leak which I'm pretty sure it is, I need a blood patch procedure performed. In Aus, it's the PM who does them. I had csf leaks back in 2012 when I had the grand mal seizure. It's why I'm worried about the memory loss, maybe I'm having a series of petit mal seizures. As a child I had a series of petit mal seizures only in those days they called them febrile convulsions.

None of this is being helped by DB having petty temper tantrums. I'll tell you about it on the other thread. He is being a real jerk and of no help whatsoever. It's Easter everyone else is out drinking and celebrating so he has a severe case of the ploms. (Poor little old me).

My GP looked up my notes from the neurologist I saw in 2012, if it doesn't get better she will refer me back to him. I asked her about seeing the cardiologist again and she wants me to get this sorted first. She keeps fobbing me off each time I asked to be referred to the cardiologist it's always let's deal with this first. My chest hurts today as well but I think it's just anxiety and muscle strain.

Thank you for your concern Gerry, you are such a dear friend.

I found the headache pills, in the cupboard with all the dog and cat medication... I'm definitely losing it... The headache pills are xanax - I hate alprazolam (Xanax) but that's what my GP has insisted I take to get the headache under control, I didn't realise it was xanax until I looked at the bottle when I found it. The dosage is lower than I've had previously but it doesn't make me feel any better about taking it. GP doesn't think it's a csf leak. She thinks I may be on the verge of a seizure. One good thing though, normally I will have shed buckets of tears by now, but nope, no tears at all. My eyes are dryer than dust. Why do things happen at Easter when only ER is open. I'm not going there, I'm safer here at home with the meds I have until the normal week rolls round and people I trust are back at work.