I haven't posted in a while, mainly because I've been depressed and discouraged. After my last set of shots didn't work I made an appointment with my PM doctor. They didn't have any openings for a month. My appointment finally came around and they called and cancelled, he was sick. Fine, the only problem was they couldn't get me in for another month. They left this on my voice mail. I'm in a lot of pain so that day I called the surgeon back. They managed to get me in sooner. He sent me for an MRI and CT Scan. The MRI was painful, laying flat on my back for an hour isn't fun. Anyway I went today for the results. They both look really good, that's good and bad. The fusion is solid and healthy. The only thing he could see on the MRI is the right top screw encroaching on the facet joint. It isn't in the joint just looks really close. His recommendation is, drum roll please....... another round of injections. I agreed to this set because he wants a repeat of the first hardware injection just to be sure it works. If it works we are taking the hardware out. He knows how traumatic the last set of shots was and offered to remove the hardware without the repeat injections. He seemed genuinely concerned about my well being, mentally, having another set of shots. I told him I would do anything he deemed appropriate to stop the pain, even if he wanted to send me to a witch doctor, acupuncture, therapy, psych doc, massage therapy, I don't even care anymore. I told him I'm barely hanging onto my job, that I've started calling in sick, and taking vacations because of the pain. He tried to gently tell me if this doesn't work I would probably have to start the disability process. Not thrilled with that. I like working, it just isn't good right now. I can't do anything outside of work, no shopping, no cooking, just laying in a recliner on a heating pad, or resting in the bed. I'm actually taking my full prescription now too. Not happy about that either, but can't do much without it. By the way, during all of this the PM doctors office called and cancelled my appointment again, can't remember when I'm supposed to go now.
On a side note, I did manage to take a holiday with my mother. During one of my worst episodes, when I took a week off work, we packed up and she drove us down to Florida. The car ride was hell, but worth it. We stopped every couple hours so I could walk around and take my painkillers. We went to Panama City Beach. She was looking for a house, and she found one. We got there on a Monday around 11pm and checked into the hotel room. Then moved hotel rooms because of a dirty towel in the bathroom (looked like blood and footprints). Anyway by Friday she had found a home she wants to buy. I'm so happy for my parents and hope they get the house. The put in an offer, but since it's a short sale they are waiting on the banks approval. So Friday afternoon and Saturday was just laying around and going to the bar on the beach to watch other people sing karaoke. There were these really cute little kids doing the Bieber song, Baby. They did it perfect. I'm hoping to be able to go back in July with my family. It wasn't the best week I've ever had in Florida. It rained the first few days and was chilly, but after she found her house the skys cleared and it warmed up.
