neck update

[jchrisobrien]

The last few days, the pain has been coming back.  The doctor said that the herniated disc would eventually get absorbed back into the body, until then he could proscrible an anti-inflammatory for ten days.  If the pain doesn't go away, I can try a (somewhat risky) cortazone shot.  PT for the neck starts next week.  Dancing and poi are allowed, along with running on the elliptical.  Liftig is allowed, as long as my back is supported (bench presses, flyes, curls, etc).  That part is good.

The bad part is I'm in the worst pain of the past few months.  All I could do this morning was close my eyes and try not to yell or punch anything.  I took some vicodin and the anti-inflammatory, and I think they are helping but that just means my pain is more of a 6 and not an 8.  What a stupid scale, by the way.  And for all the concern my doctor's have about "getting me off the vicodin", I can't say it's a particularly good pain reliever.  I don't know what all the fuss is aboot.

Comments

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

The few times I've been confronted by that stupid pain scale, I generally look at whomever asked me and stare at them blankly. How the hell do you quantify pain? I have a hard enough time calling it "pain" in the first place, but that's my own weirdness.

I'm glad you're allowed to do the things you enjoy! I wish you weren't in such pain. :/

[talesinsdaughtr.livejournal.com]

I agree on the pain scale. I'm not sure why that gets used at all, since most medical professionals I know readily admit that what counts as a '1' for one person is completely different for another. When my PT-ist asks me that I honestly cannot answer.

There's a post in here some where about trying to quantify emotions or sensations, or other things can't really be expressed in a way that some one who is not you can fully comprehend to other human beings.

[synaesthesia.livejournal.com]

There's a post in here some where about trying to quantify emotions or sensations, or other things can't really be expressed in a way that some one who is not you can fully comprehend to other human beings.

Exactly!

[silas7.livejournal.com]

I have a hard time thinking of any pain as above a five. What's a ten? "Eaten by fire ants?" "sticking my palm on a hot stove?" "getting hit by a car?" Asking what type of pain would be helpful (squeezing? pins and needles? throbbing?)

The anti-inflammatory seems to be helping a bit. I have to take it multiple times a day, I'll see how things feel after dinner (and the rest of my doses).

[atalanta.livejournal.com]

I have also found Vicodin not useful for pain and generally unpleasant to my system. It must work for someone, I guess.

Here's hoping this all passes as quickly as possible. I'm glad you've identified the culprit though.

[silas7.livejournal.com]

Maybe if I take it with some Scotch it will help!

I'm also strongly considering buying one of those temperpedic pillows, just in case my current pillows are exacerbating the situation.

[sirendipity.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

Stupid spine.

I hope the medication starts helping soon. At least you can still do the active stuff you love.

[silas7.livejournal.com]

I THINK the medication is starting to work (of course I'vd just started this morning, plus I just got some caffiene in me. This morning has convinced me that how I sleep affects my neck, and my pillow is a big culprit. I'm going to splurge on a new temperpedic pillow, and see how that helps. I've had it reccomended to me by a few people now.

[cat9.livejournal.com]

Well, that sounds unpleasant. I've had absolutely no luck with vicodin myself. I took it after my hand surgery, and basically I ended up still in pain, but with added fogginess and nausea. Not a win.

If they do end up doing the cortisone shot, I hope it works perfectly :) I've had a bunch of those in my hands, and it's the reason I was able to stave off surgery as long as I did. Especially as your body can heal from this, it might give you the window you need.

Anyhow, hope things improve rapidly!

[silas7.livejournal.com]

If there's no change by Friday, I'm to call and schedule a shot. Hopefully there will be some signs of improvement in the next few days, and a new pillow may help matters as well.

Fingers are crossed!

[cutfever103.livejournal.com]

*big hugs*
I'm sorry that you're in so much pain. :( Hopefully as the days go by the pain will subside for you.

[silas7.livejournal.com]

I am optimistic that it will improve, I'll have a better sense tomorrow.
Thanks for the hugs :)

[sanguineempathy.livejournal.com]

Sorry you're in so much pain. The scale's not great - it'd be better to quantify how much it's disrupting quality of life or better descriptive method. The silly faces are just that... silly.

[silas7.livejournal.com]

Disruptin is a must more accurate scale.
For example, I couldn't even read on the T this morning, all I could do is sit there with my eyes closed, and try not to make any sounds. I'm able to focus and function better right now. How I'm sleeping is the biggest problem, I think.

[alonewiththemoon]

Well, as you might remember I have had pretty bad experiences with cortisone shots. Some people tolerate them just fine, but from what I've gathered online, reactions to them are much more common than the doctors tell you. Supposedly the cortisone is still doing its job even if a flare happens, but I didn't find that to be the case for me.

I think getting a good pillow is an excellent idea.

Hopefully these are the worst days (the beginning of PT might be bad too) and you'll heal up soon!

[silas7.livejournal.com]

The doctors were clear that the cortisone could not work, or make things worse. The steroid treatment seemed to make the most difference, and the anti-inflammatories seem to be working fine as well. I'll definitely keep up on those.

I'm buying the pillow tonight! PT starts in a week or so, I just have to be patient and sweat things out for a week.

vicodin

[mrhavisham.livejournal.com]

I love them too! Just don't get all Elizabeth Taylor on us!

Hope you feel better

Re: vicodin

[silas7.livejournal.com]

I'll do by best, darling! ;)

[phaidros.livejournal.com]

Wow, so sorry to hear this. I remember when my pain was at its worst, I was in NM with Estella, and there were times when I just screamed, it hurt so bad. I couldn't tie my shoes!

If it helps, it DOES get better. I had the offering of the CT shot, too, and I never even needed it, the PT was so effective. It takes time, but you ultimately forget you ever had any problem.

(oh, and that pain scale? I guess it can be effective to measure progress -- regardless of what you personally consider a "4", being able to say that after PT or after a certain drug regimen you are down to a "2" .... plus, asking people to quantify may encourage some who are exaggerating to pause for a moment and concede, 'I suppose it could be worse, it's probably a 6 and not an 8' even though some people may insist no matter what 'It's 9! It's 9!' however hard you try to get them to think about it on a larger scale)

[silas7.livejournal.com]

The medications are helpful right now, which is good. I hope that things continue to improve once I run out. PT will start next week, which I'm also eagerly looking forward too.

It is effective for progress, but it feels like there should be more of an absolute, or a description, that makes it more identifiiable. Is your pain a 9? Is it really as being eaten alive by pirahnas? Ok, I didin't think so.
Bumping into a door? That's a 1. Bumping your head into the pointy part of a cabinet? That's a 3. You know, populating that chart could be fun...