Recovery update
 

So, my doctor decided after my first set of injections last week that he doesn't want to do the radio frequency ablation next week. He fears damaging the nerve and causing RSD there. After last week, how much I hurt from the needles (I hurt for days) and how sensitive the nerve is, he decided to inject steroids instead to see how that would do. This is for the lower left back pressure/pain and the pain in my right hip going down my leg. The diagnostic injections last week helped, but didn't last. Hopefully this will help and the pain will subside so I can turn up the SCS in for my legs.

Today I had the steroid injections...fun, fun, it was a treat.

To top off the day, my bridge that is on my dental implants came off this afternoon. Argh!!! This is on the RSD side of my face :eek: good thing is that my dentist will see me first thing in the morning and is very familiar with my situation.

So, that is where I am now...
Nanc

Thank you for the update Nanc :hug:
Geeze I'm sorry you are having all this pain. I sure hope the steroid shots will make a difference.

I can only imagine the pain you must be in tonite, especially with your dental issue! Holy cow, how can this happen! I'm glad your dentist can see you in the morning.

Hopefully you have something on hand to help you relax thru this so you can get some sleep tonite.
Keep us posted and let us know how it goes with the dentist.

Sending (((HUGS))) your way...

:hug: Rae :hug:

Thanks Rae! Seems like the "fun" never ends. The dentist saw me right away this morning and popped that bridge back in. He angered my gums and face a bit, but it has calmed down. I am eating mashed potatoes and pudding for lunch :)

I did not sleep last night much at all, I will certainly need to take something tonight to help me. With all of the pain I had, I woke around 3 am with a terrible headache doesn't want to leave me....I will see my neurologist tomorrow morning for the increased migraines. This is the first I am seeing her in a while. If you remember, my family dr and surgeon wanted me to see her since they have increased since the last surgery.

Can't wait until the steroid shots kick in, the anesthetics part of the shots wore off by the afternoon.

This is certainly a loooong day at work :(

Thanks again :hug:
Nanc

Wow! Your dentist sounds amazing. Did you know we have a Dental forum right here at NT? When I was having dental problems (Due to taking Lyrica) a year ago I asked some Q's over on that forum and Bryanna was SO helpful! I've learned much more from her than any dentist I've ever seen. She's really good about explaining things.

Those nasty headaches! Maybe while you're with your Neuro tomorrow you might ask re: possible CSF (central spinal fluid) Leak......I'm really curious what he would say.
I just hope he has SOMEthing that will help you!

Rae
:hug:

Nanc
 

I remember how the injections never truly assisted me.... just didn't. The anesthetic was the greatest benefit from any injection. Once it was abated, so was the purported benefit.

I am glad your dentist could help you, remembering as I do having had to have a root canal at that time. Yeah, pain is a @#$%!# and some more.

Prayin for ya,
Mark56

I noticed a dental forum the other day, although I haven't peered into it yet, looks like I should! The root (pardon the pun) of my RSD comes from biting a rock that was in my mexican food back in 1991 and all the work I had to have done after losing my three back bottom teeth...root canals, then implants, then this bridge that just came off this week (was a good one to last that long!!). All that trauma caused the RSD and the stellate ganglion nerve blocks helped me! My dentist at the time was a Godsend! He helped me so much and searched until he could find doctors who could help me. I never thought I would find another dentist like him.

I now live 2 1/2 hours away from that dentist, so I see his brother-in-law :D who happens to practice in my town, he knows my history well and knows how to treat ME!! I really like him too. My luck normally stinks, but I did luck out here!

Oh, both the surgeon and the neuro do not think it is a CSF leak (I was worried about that too). She (the nuero) did tell me that she has another patient that had increased migraines AFTER they had to change out her SCS leads...very interesting huh? That is when mine increased. They finally got hers under control with more muscle relaxer/med combo. We are working on my meds, to change things around a little. One suggestion was butterbur. She thinks that my body might just be too used to the topamax since I have been on it for so long.

Nanc
:hug:

Thanks Mark...I sure hope these injections help. I haven't had much luck with any leading up to these in the past 1 - 1 1/2 yrs, but these are to hopefully help that thoracic stim to work better on me...so at this point I am willing to try, even though it hurts like the devil getting them!!

Yes, at least the dentist was one smooth thing that happened...even though it was another wrench in the works :)

Appreciate the continued prayers...need them!
:hug: Nanc

Well, Nanc, the good thing is that certain things are being ruled/out of this mix and they seem to be on the trail to finding what will work.
I sure hope you can find a cocktail of meds that will get these headaches under control.

I think I am the same way with my Hydrocodone as you are with your Topomax. It's getting less and less effective as my tolerance continues to go up.

Rae
:hug:

Arghghhhhhhh
 

Maybe captain jack sparrow has it right..... [even though I don't drink] RUM. Afterall, the character gives a right good imitation of feeling no pain.

ARGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
Mark56

Huh, one is limited to 15 smilies, but the H, now the H is unlimited...... oh, that just reminded me, I have to prepare the outlines to lead discussion on the Great Divorce.................... pretty much all about a perspective on HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH with which some are familiar. True?