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Posted 6/26/2009 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi friends, I haven't been around for a couple days. Things have gotten a little hairy around here. I am ok.

 

My mom is here in my house again. It is going okay. She hugged my husband and said that she was sorry. He also apologized and hugged her back. She was in town for a little bit. She brought my son home and decided to stay for a little while. I picked her up yesterday at my sisters' house. I admit I was more than a little scared when she said she wanted to come here for a couple days!!! So far so good. They are getting along rather well-knock on wood. I think she is going back to TN on Monday. I sure hope that she and husband keep getting along. I don't think I can take another episode of that!!! I am a nervous wreck. I am glad I did get the Xanax filled last week!! I need to relax. They are adults. They have made up. I don't like walking around waiting for one or the other to "start it". I have to remind myself to breath and relax,breath and relax.

 

I had an PM appt. today. It went well. I haven't seen him since before I decided that I would have the surgery. He changed me from the Lortab 10mg to the Percocet 7.5mg. He left everything the same. But said that I could take 2 of the elavil at night,if I wanted to. I don't think I will. It makes me sleep too hard. My husband tried to wake me up a couple nights ago b/c he was having chest pains(he is ok, I think it may have been a panic attack) and he couldn't wake me up. It makes me sleep too hard. And I don't like that. He wrote out a rx. for a tens unit. He said he thinks it will be helpful.I am suposed to talk to my PT about that. I need to set up the appts. in a few minutes. But I wanted to post here first. He said that I need to try to relax. And that some people heal differently than others. He said he thinks that I will see results... The fact that I have gotten a little improvement from the PT is good.etc... I know that people heal differently. I think he was just trying to offer reassurance. I appreciate it. He wants me to come back next month. He said to take the Percocet 1 every 6 hrs-(3 a day). He didn't change the flexiril.

 

I also saw the ortho. surgeon today. He agreed w/ the tens' unit. He said that he thinks it will help. I told him about the med. change. He said that he wants me to continue w/ the PT for now and come back in 3 weeks. I asked again about the return to work date, and he said that he is not releasing me yet to go back. Although he knows that I want to, he said that it would be too soon. And that it may cause damage. I accept that. And I know he is right. I will be  patient. I will continue w/ the PT. And I will work hard at getting better and stronger. I didn't cry when I left his office today. I am glad.

 

I still hurt ofcourse. And in the same places-hips and buttocks. It really doesn't seem to have changed any. I get real frusterated about it. I wish that I could atleast have one day without pain...it has been so long.

anice

Posted 6/27/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice,

I'm glad to hear that everything is going well - that the situation with your mother & husband is working out, and the both your doc's appointments went well. Hopefully your PM's new plan will help. Keep working at your PT & hopefully the next time you see your surgeon he will let you start working, at least for a few hours a couple times a week! You're handling this all well! Keep it up.

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 6/27/2009 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, Sounds again like things are moving forward. That is a good direction to go. I know that many of us or possibly all of us have made that statement, just one day without pain, or even one night of good sleep. I mention this just to say that we all hope for that even if we haven't experienced it for awhile.

Posted 6/27/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)

anice

I am sorry that you did not get more relief from pain with your surgery, but it is still quite early, so don't give up hope yet! I am glad you are seeing your Pain Doctor and he is taking care of you. I do hope everything goes well for you anice!

I wish you only the very best !

White Beard

Oh yeah I keep my fingers crossed that your mother and your husband continue to get along! wink

Posted 6/27/2009 4:55 AM (GMT 0)

HI Anice,

I have my fingers and toes crossed (well sort of lol) that all continues to go well with your hubby and Mom!  It sounds like you are moving along slow but steady on the road to recovery! 

Have a GREAT weekend!

XXOO
Patti 

Posted 6/27/2009 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I would just say "ditto" to the above posts. It's got to be a bit of a relief that your Mom and husband at least got this far. And maybe it's good it won't be a long visit!

Slow but steady - isn't that how the turtle won the race? :-)

Keep up the good work!

PaLady
Posted 6/27/2009 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully everything will go smoothly for you. I'm also glad your mother and husband are getting along. I will wish luck on all of you that this will be an uneventful visit.

Laurie
Posted 6/27/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi friends, Thanks for your replies. Things are going well with my mom and husband. I am so glad. It has been hard on me. I need to relax. We are all adults here. We can do this!!! She is suposed to leave tomorrow. She has been sick for a couple days w/ high temp and vomiting. Today she is better.

I think the percocets are helping me a little better than the lortabs were. The pain seems to be improved with the change. I haven't been walking much for a couple days-mom being sick and the temps have been 98-100 without the heat index. I decided that I will go to the grocery store or Walmart to walk, Atleast it will be inside and out of all this unbearable heat. I need to do a little grocery shoping anyway. I think it is a good idea. It is only a mile away from my house. I am going in a few minutes. I think we'll have sandwiches-cold cuts and such on the french bread-too hot to cook!

Ok, I am rambling on about nothing. I wish you all a low pain day. I have gotten a little behind on reading everything, but I'll soon catch up. I do have a question: Can someone explain the tens unit? I really don't know much about it. Have you found it to be helpful? I appreciate any info that you give.
anice
Posted 6/27/2009 10:40 PM (GMT 0)

My doctor switched me from lortabs 10 to perc 10's cuz he said they work so much better.

I live right outside of Nashville TN and today had hit 100 degrees today not including heat index.  Its way to hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! smhair

Laurie

Posted 6/27/2009 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

anice

What would you like to know about TENS I have two of them! They are little electronic devices that send out electrical impulses via patches that are put on your skin on your back or what ever area that is needed.  I think the theory behind it is that the electrical impulses confuse the pain receptors, and thus istead of feeling pain you feel vibration or tingling from the impulses. Or something like that, I have had very little success with the TENS because I sweat so much that I can't keep the electrode patches on, and when they try taping them on, I am allergic to most tapes and I break out in a rash or I blister, even with the paper hypo-allergenic tapes!

Anyway allot of people have very good results using TENS. I guess in away it is kind of like the spinal stimulator units but instead of being implanted the electrodes are just stuck on your skin. and the unit is adjustable with different strengths of impulses and also time and duration and type of impulse. Anyway you can put two to four electrode patches on depending on the type of unit you have.  The PT person will probably be the one to set it up for you and determine where the electrode patches should be placed, and the setting for the unit.

Do let us know how you like it and how it works for you. I know mine runs on a little rechargeable battery, and you get new electode patches every so often. I hope this has helped you, if you need any more information, just let me know. I am sure that there is somebody here at this forum that is probably more familiar with them and can explain it better.

Good Luck to you Laurie

White Beard

Posted 6/28/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
 

 

     Hi Anice!

 

Can someone explain the tens unit? I really don't know much about it. Have you found it to be helpful? I appreciate any info that you give.

     I LOVE my Mr.T!

 

   It is so small, no kidding! I pull shirt over it, looks just like one of those little cell phones. When you go down to get yours, the representative will set it to your "prescribed" settings. I suggest if you dont have one already invest in battery re charger thou. The cool part? if my bumblebees bump me or I bump anything it doesnt mess with it.. the keys "lock" and it auto turns off after the "prescribed" time. Oh! And don't forget to put youself on the list for more electrodes every other month.  Don't take off the electrodes by the side with the wire. Always pull from opposite end of the wire.

 

*huggs*

dani

Posted 6/29/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
WhiteBeard and Dani, Thank you both. Your information was great. I go to PT tomorrow. I hope to find out more about the when and how much this will cost with my insurance. I am eager to try it and see if it works for me. I am ready for something to help at this point.

Oh, my mom left today. I am very happy that she and my husband got along well, without any more arguments.It seems they both did good. I am proud ot them both!!!
anice
Posted 6/29/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
anice

Congrates to your Mom and to your Husband! I do hope your TEN'S works out well for YOU!

Good Luck!

White Beard
Posted 6/29/2009 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, I also had a Tens Unit after my failed back surgery. I hope that you have better luck than I did. I tried one and still have it but it did not help with the nerve pain in my leg and foot. I put 4 patches on each day and hooked the wires up to them. Then you hook the wires to the control. I tried so many setting and options but it did not help. The SCS is helping much more than the Tens Unit. From what I have heard, it depends on the type and location of the cause of the pain. Like White Beard, my patches would come off and I have had them hook to each other and short out. What was good is you have all the control and can turn it on when you want and can turn it up or down. I hope all goes well with you.

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