Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[Pea-n-Me]

That's basically how it has been explained to me. The cushion is gone. My problem at the moment seems to be L5 to S1. The pain is almost phantom in that it can appear to be just in the soft tissue of your leg and then later it has moved to another area. I seem to have about 3 spots that are getting the nerve reaction this time. An interesting thing about the nerve pain: my Doc suspended my statin for cholesterol for the next week because he says the statin absorbs enzymes in the nerve area that could help mitigate the pain. I don't know if there's really anything to that but I trust this doctor and his practice. I've been his patient since the early 90ties and he's guided me to wellness in many ways over the years. He keeps up with the new stuff and he takes his time and listens to you.

The first time years ago that he saw images of my spine he called me at home in a bit of a tizzy because based on what he saw, I should have been in pain. I wasn't at that time. I find that movement, exercise and therapy are usually best for me, but I will be asking him about discectomy. I'd heard the term but didn't know how it was done.

Sounds a bit like when I had shoulder pain the orthopedic surgeon went in arthroscopically and trimmed the bursa. Tiny incissions and outpatient surgery.

Almost time for my pain med.
At least with the med I'm taking I'm getting sleep. A few hours at a time.

When they initially mentioned surgery for DH, I was against it. As a student I’d watched a spine surgery and it was a nightmare. I did not want that for him. But then there came a time when they said he had to move on to surgery as he’d reached the max on the steroid shots. Ugh. Well a very long time had passed since I’d seen spinal surgery (decades) and new techniques had been perfected. Being minimally invasive, it was nothing like the surgery I saw. There was literally a spot on his back about the size of the side of a dime or less, that was it. (Previously I’d seen the surgeon drill out the actual spine with a hand saw. He dropped the bone by accident and had to drill another!) As I said before, we wished we’d done it sooner. But live and learn.

I hope the statin trick works, let me know! He sounds like a good doctor. They may not want to go right to discectomy if they think a shot could help, idk. But it never hurts to have a consult, either, then you can think about your options. At the very least it’s good to know that’s available. What was interesting is that the Interventional Radiologist who does DH’s shots (same guy for years) can always tell where the problem is just based on symptoms and manipulation of the foot. He’d tell DH to try not to move his foot (and DH is a strong guy) but he could manipulate it every which way despite DH trying to not let him. Always a laugh about that. But once the shot settles in (it can take days - once we were actually at Disney when DH was painfully sitting on a bench when he felt a “pop” in his back, the medicine from the shot he’d had the day before we left broke through and he felt immediate relief after that) then there’s control over the foot again. Obviously there still needs to be an MRI to be precise, but they really know exactly where to do the shot, as well.

There’s another thing DH got at PT, it’s a big “roll” that he lays on and rolls his back on it, which helps separate the vertebrae giving it more space and relieving some of the pain. But I think that has to be prescribed.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Extra anddear Judique and dear Pea. Please take care of yourselves.

I had fun last night playing Uno with two friends, E and M. We are going to play again tonight. Tomorrow morning, E, who has been an amazing support, is going to help me get my care need approval once and for all. God willing, a very joyous update by tomorrow afternoon.

I have been enjoying some Christmas in July movies on Hallmark. A favorite that I saw again a few nights ago is Bringing Christmas Home. A military history professor and an antique store owner returning a WWII uniform to the family of the courageous soldier who wore it. A very moving story all-around. Last night, I finished re-watching 12 Games of Christmas which was a bit far-fetched but fun. I really did enjoy listening to the characters sing, "Hark, the Herald." I would recommend both movies.

Sunday hug to all. I will check back in later.

 

[lynxstch]

Good rainy Sunday morning. We had some storms last night around dinner time and it dumped down rain so hard I couldn't see out of the windows. It's raining now, storms later this afternoon, temp of 88. It's so muggy and humid outside that it's hard to breathe out there. I fed the cats just before the rain started this morning and they've all gone into hiding.

I cleaned yesterday and my back feels it this morning. It's aching whether I'm sitting or standing. Won't be doing much of anything, especially chores so I'm glad almost all of them are done.

Have a good day

 

[Snowysmom]

Pea Glad you are getting out and around. I hope the pain subsides soon and your recovery goes well. You are an encyclopedia of medical information which is so helpful. Thank you! I also took advantage of the link to the sports bras. Those are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Judique Hoping all goes well for you and that you can get your pain under control soon. My FIL had such awful back pain mainly from working as a welder. He did get some relief from back surgery but this was back in the 80s. They have done so much more now that makes it less invasive as Pea-n-me said.

Good morning. It is rainy out now and is supposed to be in the 70s today. Last day for cooler weather. The 90s are coming back. I went to the gym this morning and then made blueberry pecan pancakes. They were not bad and I froze some for later. Yesterday I went out with Kenny and did buy an iPad. I just got the base model and it was easy to set up using my iphone. We also went to Bernie and Phyls and I got a new manual recliner chair. It isn't tax free weekend but they gave me an equivalent discount. I custom ordered the fabric so it will be delivered next month. They will take away my current nana launcher type electric recliner. I no longer use the reclining aspect as I bought it for my knee surgery. The chair is in good condition so I hope they recycle it to someone who needs it. I feel like I want new and not a reminder of my old life in my old house. Tomorrow I hope to contact a place the does whole house water filters for well water. I do not want a water softener as I don't want to have to load 40 pounds of salt every so often or the slimy feeling after showering. A resident in my complex got a filter from these people and it does remove the minerals that can block pipes and makes the water quality better. It uses a filter that is replaced every 8 months. When I finally make decisions I tend to move on them quickly. My right hip and hip abductor are getting better slowly. All the walking at Legoland helped. Plus I forgot that sometimes it means I need new shoes as my left side decided to ache a bit the past 2 days. I changed out my shoes and that took away the left hip pain and helped the right hip. Getting older!

Have a good Sunday.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Please also take good care dear Lynn and dear Snowysmom! I sure have learned quality supportive shoes make a huge difference. I have a brand-new pair of Easy Spirits waiting for my feet to be ready for them. I also have some light-weight but supportive in-between shoes that I can practice walking with shoes on one day here. First things first, tomorrow, God-willing I will get back to my early morning route come Tuesday.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Pea Glad you are getting out and around. I hope the pain subsides soon and your recovery goes well. You are an encyclopedia of medical information which is so helpful. Thank you! I also took advantage of the link to the sports bras. Those are exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

Judique Hoping all goes well for you and that you can get your pain under control soon. My FIL had such awful back pain mainly from working as a welder. He did get some relief from back surgery but this was back in the 80s. They have done so much more now that makes it less invasive as Pea-n-me said.

Good morning. It is rainy out now and is supposed to be in the 70s today. Last day for cooler weather. The 90s are coming back. I went to the gym this morning and then made blueberry pecan pancakes. They were not bad and I froze some for later. Yesterday I went out with Kenny and did buy an iPad. I just got the base model and it was easy to set up using my iphone. We also went to Bernie and Phyls and I got a new manual recliner chair. It isn't tax free weekend but they gave me an equivalent discount. I custom ordered the fabric so it will be delivered next month. They will take away my current nana launcher type electric recliner. I no longer use the reclining aspect as I bought it for my knee surgery. The chair is in good condition so I hope they recycle it to someone who needs it. I feel like I want new and not a reminder of my old life in my old house. Tomorrow I hope to contact a place the does whole house water filters for well water. I do not want a water softener as I don't want to have to load 40 pounds of salt every so often or the slimy feeling after showering. A resident in my complex got a filter from these people and it does remove the minerals that can block pipes and makes the water quality better. It uses a filter that is replaced every 8 months. When I finally make decisions I tend to move on them quickly. My right hip and hip abductor are getting better slowly. All the walking at Legoland helped. Plus I forgot that sometimes it means I need new shoes as my left side decided to ache a bit the past 2 days. I changed out my shoes and that took away the left hip pain and helped the right hip. Getting older!

Have a good Sunday.

I have never heard of a whole house water filter. Makes sense, and glad you’re getting it done. You do move on things quickly when you make your mind up. New chair sounds nice, too. I hope they recycle it too as lots of people are looking for that type of chair. (I know you don’t want to deal with people coming to your house if using Freecycle or Craigslist, I can’t blame you. I wonder if there are legitimate places that would come and pick it up…) We bought Mom one off of CL, it was brand new and the owner didn’t like it. We still have it in our sunroom, DH likes it and I even slept in it after surgery. It has heat, massage and a launcher, lol.

I think you’ll enjoy your iPad. Let us know. There is a store called Marathon Sports (many around MA) where you can go in and stand on a computerized pad that analyzes your feet pressure points, and they also analyze your gait, then you can buy the proper shoe inserts for it. DH and DS both had theirs done and it helped with pain issues. A lot of marathoners and runners go there. Something to consider if the pain returns.

We woke up to no water this morning. I was worried something happened in our house like a pipe bursting and I’m thinking how much it would cost to repair! On a Sunday! But then we realized it was a whole neighborhood problem. There’s a project of some sort going on down the street where lots and lots of heavy trucks are going up and down the street every day. The weight must’ve burst a pipe, as there was flooding down in that area. They had to shut off the main valve so they were out very early, like 6am, when we discovered this after I went to use the bathroom and only air was coming out of the faucets (sink and tub). DH went out there nosing around, lol, and gradually all the other neighbors started coming out, some w no shoes, stopping their cars to get information, etc. So DH ran to the supermarket to get some big containers of water and we put one by every sink. What a pain! I was looking forward to my shower this morning, now who knows when I’ll be able to take one! Envisioning how I can wash up with just the water we have. DH suggested going in the pool but I can’t! (That’s gross anyway.) So we’ll see how the day goes…

I hope everyone has a nice Sunday.

PS Lynn any more sightings of Tiger cat? I’d love to know what she’s doing!

 

[lynxstch]

@Pea-n-Me

Thanks for caring about Tiger. She comes and goes as she pleases. She was here yesterday morning, not around for dinner, and here first thing this morning. She was sitting on the arm of one of the chairs meowing at the door, lol
She ate, and then sat on the arm of the chair watching me while I fed the birds and deadheaded the flowers (before the rain started). When I came back to the deck, she meowed at me again. I picked her up and petted her and she was purring. Sat her down on the chair and she meowed again.. They are all spoiled and want fresh catnip out of the herb box. I gave her some, she ate it, then went straight to the shed, and under the ramp. I guess she spends most of the days under there, it must be cooler. She's an independent soul, but as long as she comes back when she's hungry or thirsty, I'm good with it. Just odd that she started doing it after she's been here for almost 3 years.