6 injections in the facet joints – more pain not less, next up a nerve block

I thought one injection was bad, but try 6 at one time and to make it worse, it is worse pain now than before. Now they are talking about deadening my nerves to stop the pain. If only that works. I am having trouble being positive during all this.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

I was warned…

I was warned that day 2 and 3 after the epidural injection could and most likely would cause more pain before leaving.  There is a chance it may not leave, but we are not entertaining that idea.

Today is day 2 and I have some mild pain return. I had a faith healing from my dad to help me and I still have the neck to deal with. I expect another epidural at the minimum in my neck.

It was painful, but bearable so this time I won’t have to be as in fear as I was with that first one. I had these with local anesthesia and not general iv surgery like the first time 7 years ago.

I think moving around  more would also help. I tend to stiffen up the longer I sit or lie down.

Teresa (Tessa) Dean Smeigh

-Advocate for Mental and Invisible Illnesses

-Author of Articles, Stories and Poems

http://www.tessacandoit.com

http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (no longer canceling this blog, just not adding new work to it, sign up for http://www.tessacandoit.com for the new posts).

Epidural done yesterday, feeling much better

The local anesthesia was the worst part. Didn’t feel the actual steroid injection. By the time I got my pain pill a couple of hours later it took a couple of hours to start feeling better.

I could turn over in bed without the resulting pain and this morning getting out of bed was easier. I can walk easier, not all stiff and little steps as I did with that terrible pain. I haven’t felt this well in decades.

Ruby I kept your prayer cloth in my pocket right next to where they were working. It gave me comfort. Thank you to you and your church for praying for me.

Teresa (Tessa) Dean Smeigh

-Advocate for Mental and Invisible Illnesses

-Author of Articles, Stories and Poems

http://www.tessacandoit.com

http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (no longer canceling this blog, just not adding new work to it, sign up for http://www.tessacandoit.com for the new posts).

Stronger medication, but not much relief, just grogginess

I called the pharmacy today to make sure they had given me the right medication. It was supposed to be stronger. I couldn’t sleep all night due to the worsening pain and when I finally got up I found myself very groggy and my therapist wasn’t going to let me leave since I was driving a car.

I over rode her objections and drove home carefully as it wasn’t far and climbed into bed. The pain though was still worse.

Now it is evening and it is starting to lessen and I am not as groggry. I still don’t understand why a medication that was stronger was actually working less. I can understand why I was groggy, but that is all.

I will see later how I feel when I take the next dose and climb back into bed.

i called pain management and they will send the script for the required EKG for the injection and they are working on the pre-certification as well. Hope my insurance is more accepting of this procedure than they were of the MRI.

I must say I am much more relieved now that I don’t have to have surgery. I was really a mess over that.

I am not thrilled with the series of injections in my spine, but much prefer them to surgery especially with all the stories of failed back and neck surgeries.

Teresa (Tessa) Dean Smeigh

-Advocate for Mental and Invisible Illnesses

-Author of Articles, Stories and Poems

http://www.tessacandoit.com

http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (moving posts to other blog and will be deleting this one).