Posted 10/30/2012 9:03 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I was gonna do this in the morning, but need something to do to pass the time while I sleep, since the whole movie collection is in the den where my brother's in-laws are sleeping. I had a very long day today, got to the doctor's office at 9, and was immediately wisked away for testing, scans, and Xrays.
They drew blood, then sent me in for a couple Xrays for the back surgeon to get before lunch, then it was off to the MRI department, where they hooked me up to the straw, started pumping in their evil elixer, and had me in the machine for 1 1/2 hours. Apparently, they took images of my shoulder, chest, and my lumbar and thoracic regions. Then they sent me to lunch, and toldme to come back at 2:45. Golden corral for lunch, my first time, not bad, though I was amazed when I made my son a simple ice cream sunday, he took one bite, and spit it out. Not sure about that one lol.
Anyways, got back to the doctor's office, and had to wait almost 45 minutes before being called back, and when they did, the back surgeon was up first. First thing he talked about was the fusion, he says it looks like it's progressing, but slowly, he wants to order a bone growth stimulator to help. Not sure what will happen there, since I got a letter from work comp back in mid September saying one had been requested and denied. Anyways I'm stuck in this rigid back brace for another 6 weeks, and still no physical therapy, no stretching, bending, kneeling, or anything else that could strain it.
At that point, we discussed meds. He has to request any new pain meds, and wants to switch me to the fentynol patch. For now, I'm on Oxy ir, a pretty liberal regiment, with soma up to 4xs per day. He said to come back next Monday, and he'll have the script for the fentynol ready to go, and then he called my pharmacy, and 2 others to see which patches they stock. Apparently, we're going to have to use a privately owned pharmacy, since the doc said he wants a specific brand of generics, and then wants me to switch them every 2 days. He also said he wants me to use Norco for BT, after I get the patches, but said it will be very small amount of that allowed per day, no more than 3 per day.
As far as finding me a new PM goes, he wants to hold off for now, until the fusion is complete, and will take over my pain management until then. Besides that, he said I'm ok to try driving a bit around town if absolutely necessary, he admitted that having to rely on others for transportation as a single parent is incredibly difficult, but no driving with the patches until I know what they'll do. Now I just wait until my next appointment on December 10th.
Well, on the shoulder end of things, I saw the specialist for that too, and he wasn't very helpful. The whole thing needs to be replaced, there's no cartilage left at all in the socket or on the ball. And the bone on the ball looks collapsed where it should be round and have a cartilage pad on it. He said he would replace it if I want, but warned me that doing it this young can have it's own consequences down the road. Right now, he won't do anything until my back is more stable, so we have a tentative appointment scheduled for the end of April of next year, to discuss it further.
Well, the back doctor is sending the pictures of my chest to another doctor for a consult, said he can't offer much, but I should hear from the other doctor within the next couple weeks, and possibly find out some more on my lungs.
Well that's it for now, I'll update when I know more.