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

[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...