Therapy started on a Friday. I was already exhausted from everything else but I had to get in and start this or I’d lose my short term disability.
The PT guy explained that most likely i just had a bulging disc, and with therapy we could correct it in a few months. So over the next 10 sessions 2 a week, we would figure out how things were going.
Normal easy things, moving doing some exercise stretching etc. Also homework doing various stretches and what not.
I’ll be honest he didn’t seem to care one way or the other. I wasn’t in the right state of mind so I don’t know. We did our sessions and nothing seemed to change.
Around the 4th or 5th session, he decided to try stretching me on a machine. Maybe it was supposed to pull the spine out? or stretch it and pop things back in place. I think of the Incredibles movie when Mr. Incredible is fighting the robot and hurts his back, it is pulling him from his arms and legs and his back pops back in place and he’s good to go.
Not what happened to me. I felt a small pop, and then nausea. I almost threw up there. It got worse over the next few days and me driving a home was a chore. We continued doing PT but he stopped trying to get me to stretch or anything else, and after 10 sessions he declared i was ‘good enough’.
Per him and my PCP any residual pain is all in my head. Or nerve damage. either way.
My PCP sent me to a specialist for brain and spine injuries.
They did an x-ray of my chest and back. Nothing there. Did a cat scan. Nope seems somewhat normal.
Finally they agreed to do a MRI. The MRI showed that I did indeed have a bulging disc, in my L4, L5 region, possibly also the S1. Cool.. what’s that mean?
It means I get surgery to remove the spinal cord, and replace it with metal.
Unless I want to do the shots? They were 50% sure that the replacement would stop the pain.
The shots? Not sure at all but it’s worth a shot (ha....ha.)
I finally set up the shots and I’ll be honest I was terrified. At least someone will be with me right? No. Ashley got a migraine and was throwing up the entire ride there. I was going to just drive myself but they said I couldn’t due to the medication they would be giving me. Plus I would probably be in too much pain to drive. which is a … great way to describe it.
When I got to the doctor I was then asked to watch videos on them injecting things into my spine. and sign a waiver saying if they mess up it’s not their fault.
I have a friend who has had several major back surgeries after a car wreck, he let me know that one time they did his spinal shots and missed, sending the medicine into his spinal column, which caused seizures and such. Wonderful.
I can say no the the shots, oh right i get to get 2 shots into my spine b/c the problem seems to be on both sides. I get pain in both buttocks and going down both legs to my feet, but then this and that.
So of course I agree. Not much choice now is there? I was given some pill to take to ‘help with the aftereffects’ Mostly it was to knock me out. I figured it wouldn’t work since the appointment was at 7 am and i had just woken up. The doctor got ready and let me know I would feel a ‘slight pinch’. Doctor is a fucking liar.
He started on the right side, once the needle went in my entire leg starting at my hip went ‘numb’ but i could feel pressure, painful pressure starting from above my hip and pushing down my leg. It was not a pleasant feeling. And being constantly told to not move and relax is not helpful. After what seemed like several days, but was most likely a few seconds, he removed the needle. My leg came back from being numb to … a different numb. then they did the other side, same feeling.
A few days later I read the doctors note, he put a 4 inch needle into my spine. Twice.
After the doctor finished, they had to help me into a wheelchair. Then took me downstairs where I had ashley pull the car around. She was still throwing up but.. what else can we do?
She got me home, where i then had to figure out how to get down the stairs into our apt. It took a while, it’s not like she can help me, I weight like 300 lbs and she is a tiny thing. Also that pill or whatever they gave me was kicking in, causing me to lose control of my legs at various times. So that was fun as well.
Once i made it inside and to the bed I laid down and just relished in the lack of pain. Huzzah this has fixed things. They say I can only get these shots every 3 months or so but whatever, if it works I’ll take it. I fell asleep pain free for the first time in a long time.
I awoke several hours later around noon in agony. The painkiller had worn off and i was miserable, couldn’t even get out of bed. I’ll spare you some of it, but 3 days later i was finally out of pain enough to ask what else they got, BESIDES removing my spine and replacing it with a metal cage for my spinal cord.
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