Okay, this is starting to get old. Yeah, of course the foot pain is, but I'm talking about these nerve block procedures that I have hoped would temporarily deaden the offending nerves and give me some relief. Not happening.
Today's attempt at the S1 level went pretty smoothly as far as procedures go. I did feel some very slight changes in the way my foot felt. My pain level dropped a number or two and I was walking slightly better. However, the bulk of the pain never left the foot or lower leg and I was soon back to pretty much the same limp I have been saddled with for weeks now.
I will continue to log my pain level over the next 3 days. I return to the back doc on 9/4, hoping that he will have a new plan of attack. What I don't want to hear is that I'm just stuck with this.
So, please continue to pray for me to get some relief, but mostly pray for my spirits to remain high and that despair not set in. There still must be some things that God wants me to learn through all this. Thanks for remembering me today!
Prayers up!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Double Joy Day
I have two joyful things to report today: 42 years and another nerve block!
First, and most importantly, the 42 years. That is how long my precious bride and I have been together as husband and wife! That many years ago today, two very excited 19 year olds exchanged their vows in the cracker box auditorium of the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. Terrie has been God's greatest earthly gift to me. She continues to bless my life with love, respect, service, encouragement, forgiveness and prayer! I am honored to be her husband and to have been able to share this great life together. Together, God has blessed us in raising 3 wonderful kids, who each did their part in showering us with 10 unbelievable grandkids (hence the 10 in my blog address). Terrie, I love you totally and look forward to our special date tomorrow night.
Of course, on today as the anniversary day, we had a date to my doc appointment. How romantic is that! However, we did manage to squeeze in a lunch at a very cool Mexican restaurant on the way to the doc's office. It was fun to do that together.
Now, for the other joyful news. My back doc says that, since the selective nerve block at L5 didn't yield any results, we are going to do another one. This time, though, we are going to block at the S1 level, the one just below L5. He says this level is more directly linked to the feet, which is where I am in anguish (on the left side). If I get relief there, then we will talk about how to keep that relief thing going! Possibly more back injections over the months ahead.
While we were in the examining room, the doc pointed to the chart on the wall with the drawing of the man with his backbone & nerves exposed - you have seen similar. Then I noticed that the man in the chart had something that resembled a smooth stone under his foot - at the same place where I have felt like I have been walking on a golf ball for many weeks! I know this guy! I feel his pain! And my doc says the nerves to this area come from the S1 level in the back. Bingo! I hope we have found the culprit!
The next nerve block is scheduled for 8/28 at 10:45 AM in Arlington and my next follow up with the back doc is 9/4. As you can tell, I'm all over this scheduling thing! Pain tends to light a fire under you.
Many thanks again for all the prayers that are bombarding the throne of God! I definitely felt their affect today in the doc's office! As always...
Prayers up!
First, and most importantly, the 42 years. That is how long my precious bride and I have been together as husband and wife! That many years ago today, two very excited 19 year olds exchanged their vows in the cracker box auditorium of the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. Terrie has been God's greatest earthly gift to me. She continues to bless my life with love, respect, service, encouragement, forgiveness and prayer! I am honored to be her husband and to have been able to share this great life together. Together, God has blessed us in raising 3 wonderful kids, who each did their part in showering us with 10 unbelievable grandkids (hence the 10 in my blog address). Terrie, I love you totally and look forward to our special date tomorrow night.
Of course, on today as the anniversary day, we had a date to my doc appointment. How romantic is that! However, we did manage to squeeze in a lunch at a very cool Mexican restaurant on the way to the doc's office. It was fun to do that together.
Now, for the other joyful news. My back doc says that, since the selective nerve block at L5 didn't yield any results, we are going to do another one. This time, though, we are going to block at the S1 level, the one just below L5. He says this level is more directly linked to the feet, which is where I am in anguish (on the left side). If I get relief there, then we will talk about how to keep that relief thing going! Possibly more back injections over the months ahead.
While we were in the examining room, the doc pointed to the chart on the wall with the drawing of the man with his backbone & nerves exposed - you have seen similar. Then I noticed that the man in the chart had something that resembled a smooth stone under his foot - at the same place where I have felt like I have been walking on a golf ball for many weeks! I know this guy! I feel his pain! And my doc says the nerves to this area come from the S1 level in the back. Bingo! I hope we have found the culprit!
The next nerve block is scheduled for 8/28 at 10:45 AM in Arlington and my next follow up with the back doc is 9/4. As you can tell, I'm all over this scheduling thing! Pain tends to light a fire under you.
Many thanks again for all the prayers that are bombarding the throne of God! I definitely felt their affect today in the doc's office! As always...
Prayers up!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Small Victory
When you are grappling for a solution, any victory, however small, counts for something. This morning, I was able to move my appointment with my back doc from 8/31 to this coming Wednesday. Small, but significant!
I also left a message at the office of the pain doc who did my nerve block. Haven't heard back on that one yet.
Prayers up!
I also left a message at the office of the pain doc who did my nerve block. Haven't heard back on that one yet.
Prayers up!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
This Week's Plan
I want to approach this new week with a fresh positive attitude. In the morning I am going to call my back doc and see if I can get an earlier appointment than my current 8/31 date. I'll even take a waiting list position. I want to hear what he says about the (apparently) failed selective nerve block procedure of this past Friday. I have even thought about calling the doc's office who did the nerve block two days ago. He is supposed to deal in pain medicine.
Am I approaching the time to seek other opinions on what is causing my pain? Not sure yet, although I am getting lots of loving suggestions in that direction from several of you. I first want to hear what my back doc says about where we go from here.
So, this week, please pray for:
Am I approaching the time to seek other opinions on what is causing my pain? Not sure yet, although I am getting lots of loving suggestions in that direction from several of you. I first want to hear what my back doc says about where we go from here.
So, this week, please pray for:
- the Holy Spirit to guard my heart against discouragement & despair
- an earlier appointment with the back doc
- something to show up that will definitively decrease my pain
- guidance from the Lord about seeking other medical opinions
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Disappointment
That describes how I feel today. Disappointed. While the nerve block procedure went very well yesterday, the part of it that I desired the most hasn't happened. There have been no significant pain changes.
I still feel essentially everything that I have been feeling in my foot. There has been the slightest decrease of pain when I walk, but nothing like I anticipated with a successful nerve block. I admit that know very little about this whole process, but surely I should have experienced more of a change than I got.
A ray of hope yet. The pain diary they gave me to chart my pain levels had me record something each hour for 8 hours after the nerve block. It then asks me to record the pain level once each for the next 3 days. When I couple that with what someone at church told me about her back injection taking a couple of days to kick in, I have the slighest hope that something could still happen to move me toward relief. But I have to admit, that hope is VERY slim at this point.
I am scheduled to return to my back doc on the 31st. I can't imagine at this point that he has enough data to cause him to pursue a pinched nerve and a way to resolve it. But, that's why he is the doc and I'm the patient. Maybe he can still come up with something to get rid of my pain.
Thanks for all the prayers you have offered up for me so far. I can really used continued prayers for some direction and strength in the weeks ahead. This is really hard right now. And yet, I want to keep this in perspective too. I am JUST dealing with pain. There are others right now that are dealing with the impending death of their loved one or grieving over one they have just lost. May God's abundant mercies rain down on all who are hurting.
Prayers up!
I still feel essentially everything that I have been feeling in my foot. There has been the slightest decrease of pain when I walk, but nothing like I anticipated with a successful nerve block. I admit that know very little about this whole process, but surely I should have experienced more of a change than I got.
A ray of hope yet. The pain diary they gave me to chart my pain levels had me record something each hour for 8 hours after the nerve block. It then asks me to record the pain level once each for the next 3 days. When I couple that with what someone at church told me about her back injection taking a couple of days to kick in, I have the slighest hope that something could still happen to move me toward relief. But I have to admit, that hope is VERY slim at this point.
I am scheduled to return to my back doc on the 31st. I can't imagine at this point that he has enough data to cause him to pursue a pinched nerve and a way to resolve it. But, that's why he is the doc and I'm the patient. Maybe he can still come up with something to get rid of my pain.
Thanks for all the prayers you have offered up for me so far. I can really used continued prayers for some direction and strength in the weeks ahead. This is really hard right now. And yet, I want to keep this in perspective too. I am JUST dealing with pain. There are others right now that are dealing with the impending death of their loved one or grieving over one they have just lost. May God's abundant mercies rain down on all who are hurting.
Prayers up!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
New Date!
Wow! You guys are doing great with those prayers! In my last post, I mentioned the likelihood that my nerve block procedure would be on the 24th. I asked you to pray that it could be sooner and guess what! I found out this morning that it will be done tomorrow! Yea!
I report to a pain management facility in downtown Fort Worth tomorrow morning at 9:30 for a 10:30 procedure. I am supposed to log my pain over the 8 hours after the nerve block so I can report the effects to my doc.
So, please continue to pray for this to perfectly and effectively identify the nerve that is in distress. I am filled with a mixture of excitement of not feeling any pain for a while and the fear that it will reveal absolutely nothing. If the latter is true, I'm not sure where we will go from there. No doubt, more waiting will be involved!
Prayers up!
I report to a pain management facility in downtown Fort Worth tomorrow morning at 9:30 for a 10:30 procedure. I am supposed to log my pain over the 8 hours after the nerve block so I can report the effects to my doc.
So, please continue to pray for this to perfectly and effectively identify the nerve that is in distress. I am filled with a mixture of excitement of not feeling any pain for a while and the fear that it will reveal absolutely nothing. If the latter is true, I'm not sure where we will go from there. No doubt, more waiting will be involved!
Prayers up!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Back to Waiting
The early news from the doc that has been assigned to do my nerve block is that I cannot get it done until the 24th - that is 9 days from now. More waiting. Ugh! I proactively called their office today once I had the name and asked for a return call. When the call came, she said that they only got all the paperwork today and the doctors in their office would likely review everything this evening. She will then probably call me tomorrow with a few questions and to confirm the appointment. Some prayer points:
- that this is the best doc for my nerve block
- that the procedure will do what I need - identify the offending nerve
- that God will give me strength & functionality until then
- that they could even have a cancellation and get me in sooner than the 24th
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Doc Visit
Well, I am beginning to get the answer from the doc that I wanted to get. I think.
Let me explain. As he poured over the CT scan film, he was not finding anything that indicated a pinched nerve to him. However, at that time he was looking to see if any of the screws he put in my back were encroaching on any nerves. All were in place where they should be. Finally, he noticed that the opening through which the nerve passes at L5 was much smaller than it should be (at least smaller than its neighbor). He believes that this diminished passage is likely the culprit. It would fit with my original diagnosis of spondylolisthesis - where the L5 vertebra had moved out of place, constricting the nerve passage.
He is ordering a specific nerve block on the nerve in that area. It will be similar to the epidural back injections that I have had a couple of times. They will put me out and perform an injection that will both bathe the nerve in steroids, as well as deaden it temporarily. If we have zeroed in on the correct area, the pain in my foot should go away very quickly and will likely return after all the drugs wear off. If the pain changes like that, he will know that we have found the problem. He wants me to log about all my pain for an 8 hour period after the injection so he will have an accurate picture of the results. If we find the pinched nerve through the nerve block, then he will schedule a procedure to go in and trim the bone around the nerve and free it up for normal (pain free) function!
I will now have to wait on the pre-certification department to do their thing with insurance, then await the phone call from the injection place to schedule my nerve block. Hopefully, I will hear from them during the first part of next week. I went ahead and scheduled a follow up with my back doc for 8/31 so I won't have to wait a long time after the nerve block to see him.
Thanks so much for the incredible number of prayers you have lifted up for me! I could feel them working as the doc studied the CT film. God finally pointed out the possible location to him and we have something to pursue now. BTW, I heard one of the Olympic athletes just yesterday use a term that I really liked. As he was talking about needing his home town folks to keep cheering for him, he said, "Prayers up!" I love that. You will hear it again from me, I suspect.
Prayers up!
Let me explain. As he poured over the CT scan film, he was not finding anything that indicated a pinched nerve to him. However, at that time he was looking to see if any of the screws he put in my back were encroaching on any nerves. All were in place where they should be. Finally, he noticed that the opening through which the nerve passes at L5 was much smaller than it should be (at least smaller than its neighbor). He believes that this diminished passage is likely the culprit. It would fit with my original diagnosis of spondylolisthesis - where the L5 vertebra had moved out of place, constricting the nerve passage.
He is ordering a specific nerve block on the nerve in that area. It will be similar to the epidural back injections that I have had a couple of times. They will put me out and perform an injection that will both bathe the nerve in steroids, as well as deaden it temporarily. If we have zeroed in on the correct area, the pain in my foot should go away very quickly and will likely return after all the drugs wear off. If the pain changes like that, he will know that we have found the problem. He wants me to log about all my pain for an 8 hour period after the injection so he will have an accurate picture of the results. If we find the pinched nerve through the nerve block, then he will schedule a procedure to go in and trim the bone around the nerve and free it up for normal (pain free) function!
I will now have to wait on the pre-certification department to do their thing with insurance, then await the phone call from the injection place to schedule my nerve block. Hopefully, I will hear from them during the first part of next week. I went ahead and scheduled a follow up with my back doc for 8/31 so I won't have to wait a long time after the nerve block to see him.
Thanks so much for the incredible number of prayers you have lifted up for me! I could feel them working as the doc studied the CT film. God finally pointed out the possible location to him and we have something to pursue now. BTW, I heard one of the Olympic athletes just yesterday use a term that I really liked. As he was talking about needing his home town folks to keep cheering for him, he said, "Prayers up!" I love that. You will hear it again from me, I suspect.
Prayers up!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
More than medical
Keeley and Sterling enjoyed some lunch together. He preferred to eat off of her plate rather than his own. Typical.
It was great to have Terrie's brother, Dwight, here from Iowa. He brought his oldest daughter, Caitlin (black dress) with him. She's a senior at OCU. We went and picked up Terrie's aunt Cleta(center) and went to lunch at Cracker Barrel. Two more of Dwight's litter of 5 were here - Coulter & Keeci - but they didn't join us for lunch. Their loss!
Okay, one more. You may have noticed Kamalyn's tie dye shirt in the last photo. We have been doing lots of tie dying around our house lately and here is evidence of the creativity. Terrie and I even did our own. It's pretty cool. I wore mine to church a week ago Saturday and got asked where the Grateful Dead concert was!
One medical reminder: my doc appointment is this coming Thursday. Please keep praying! Thanks!
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