September 6, 2014
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Update on My MRI, ... & more
Good News! – There really is something wrong according to the MRI. It isn't all in my head! On Thursday, September 4th, I went to a pain doctor to which my family doctor had referred me. According to the MRI I have two back problems going on at the same time. The one problem which has been the most excruciating and crippling has been in my right side, and it is a condition called costochondritis.
This coming week on Thursday, the 11th , I'll be under sedation ... it will take about 15 minutes for him to give injections into the interior border of the right rib cage...He believes that should take care of the pain pretty soon.
The other problem that I have is spinal stenosis, due to the aging process …narrowing of the spinal column that causes pressure on the spinal cord, or narrowing of the openings (called neural foramina) where spinal nerves leave the spinal column. This is what is causing the pain in the back. Sometime after the first procedure, he will treat that by way of epidural steroid... and then when that is done, I'll have physical therapy.
Thank you to each of you who have been keeping up with me via e-mail, FB, or here on Xanga. Thank you to Dr. Zakiah, who urged me to ask for an MRI. After my doctor returned from his vacation, he was shocked to see how badly I was hurting. (The stenosis was all that was hurting prior to his going.) After the insurance turned me down for the MRI, he went to them a second time and got them to agree to my having the MRI. I'm “hanging in there” and hopeful that there will be much less pain to deal with after next week's procedure.
On another note – a couple of new types of flowers have shown up in my garden! If you compare this picture with the one in the last post, you'll see -- this one is more blurred, but also .... there are three new kinds to the right -- tall light lavender, then another yellow kind, and then a blue, and then more of the white ones (which were there before, but not as many. I don't know names of any of them, but I get so much pleasure from them!
Also, September is a BIG birthday month for our family. I mentioned in the last post that Mom has a birthday, but my husband had a lovely birthday on Sept. 3rd. He doesn't like a big deal made about birthdays, but my mom is all about BIG celebrations. So I told them both to compromise... and I fixed him a nice meal he liked,I game him a bag of candy & nuts (notice he acts really thrilled about the new plastic bag he can now use as a trash liner - while the contents lie on the table), and Mom enjoyed giving him a card, and some nice shirts and a pair of pants. I got to order them on line for her ... such pretty colors... the pants look black, but are actually navy blue. They both were happy with the event and the gifts. Oh, and we sang to him, and he sang along … to himself, then we ate pie (he prefers that over cake).
We have two more birthdays coming up: our younger son Shaun's on the 10th, and their older daughter Tristen's 10th birthday on the 24th. . . plus Shaun & Melissa's anniversary on the 28th.
Any of you have certain months in your family that are especially big birthday (& other celebrations) months?
The following is a free verse poem I wrote just now, inspired by my gratefulness to God.
Blessings
Faith in God, Family and Friends
Meaningful things with which to keep occupied -
That help to keep one's mind off of self (& pain).
Fun things to do – word games, books to read, and more -
Bible study, prayer, journalling, and communicating with others
to encourage them – and that comes back as well.
All of these things are blessings … and there are always so many
more that can be counted too!
Thank You Lord, for always being there for me!
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT)
Comments (16)
I am so happy Carolyn to read the good perspectives about your back pain . A treatment and a physical therapy will be sufficient . What a relief for you . Thanks God .
I notice you are also in the birthday whirlwind like Janine and I were in July and August . Happy belated birthday to your husband .
The flowers do not cease to surprise us but the problem is their name . How to say hello to a flower that we know nothing about and even not the name . Personally this grasps me. I studied the science of the nature in the past .
Again,, let me tell you how much I am happy for you.
Have a goosd week end
Love
Michel
Ah! I too have a spinal stenosis - at L5-S1. Very painful. The physical therapy I have is being put on the "rack" where they put you under traction. It isn't fun but it really really helps. It has been over 3 years now since my last treatment and I'm still good. I hope the treatments work wonders for you too!! Our big birthday/Celebration month is September as well (at least on my Husband's side) my side is much smaller and is so spread out that there isn't one month I can point at.
September is probably our biggest birthday month too. My mother will be 97, oldest daughter and daughter-in-law will both be 55 on the same day. Ella will be 7, Eli will be 2, and two of the TX family have Sept. birthdays too.
Happy Birthday to the birthday "kids"!
Our biggest months are Sept., Dec., and March!
Birthday pie sounds wonderful!
I hope things go well and the procedure helps with your pain. Continued prayers...lifting you up to God!
HUGS!!!
so sorry for all you are going through, but happy they found what it is and how to do deal with it ~
Glad you found the cause of the pain! Hope you can get relief and healing.
September is a big birthday month for us too. I love fall except for winter coming soon sounds.
Amen to your blessings. We have them all around us. So often I focus on the bad and forget to count all the good around me.
It's such a relief when a specialist can pinpoint a problem and treat it.
Your hubby likes birthdays as much as I do, it seems.
Glad things look a little better. I am trying to get back to my exercise program. I have a bad back and the doc thinks I just need to be exercising more and walking.
I am trying to get started.
Loved your photos, Carolyn and hope things get much better for you.
blessings
frank
What aging process? You look so young! Love you and am praying for you.
I'm so sorry I haven't kept in closer touch, Carolyn! I saw your status on FB and also commented there, then hopped on over here. We've had some things going on here at home but I want you to know that you've been in my thoughts and prayers! I'm so sorry you've gone through all of this, and I'm praying for you that all goes well tomorrow and you will finally get relief! I do want to message you with more, but for now, you rest and keep us posted! Love your photos, and the poem you wrote, too! That scripture in Isaiah has always brought comfort to my heart! I'm also going to hop over to your WP blog and catch up! Love you, my friend! ((HUGS))
Been praying for you!
HUGS!!! and ♥ !!!
Are you better about your back pain, Carolyn ?
Michel
♥ and prayers and HUGS!!!
HUGS for a Moan-Day!
And I owe you an e-mail!
Twill get around to that later tonight!
No post for a month . I start to worry,Carolyn . How are you?
Love
Michel
Wow! Can you believe it's Oct already!
You're still in my thoughts and prayers, SweetC!
HUGS!!!
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