Over the last month, I've learned a valuable lesson. Never take for granted the little things in life...things like a good night's sleep, walking, good health, independence.
My pain started the evening of May 8th. I finished a Tae Bo aerobic workout (the DVD has since been destroyed) and about an hour later, felt the pain begin in my hip/butt. Over the course of the next two days the pain increased considerably and led me to see the my regular doctor on May 11th. Without any testing, she shrugged off my pain as a injured hip muscle (piriformis syndrome). She gave me a pain pill prescription and told me to stretch a lot. The next 10 days were slow going, but I started to improve and was progressively able to walk more, with less pain. So, we decided the Memorial Day weekend Royal Caribbean cruise/vacation was something I could handle - rest and relaxation - what could be better healing, right?
The first day of vacation was spent in Fort Lauderdale and we had a great time hanging out at the beach - very relaxing. The second day of vacation, we boarded the cruise ship and enjoyed touring all that it had to offer. I was starting to hurt again, but we took lots of breaks to sit down and let me rest. The first full day of the cruise was a stop in Nassau, Bahamas. We had planned on a beach day excursion at the Atlantis Hotel. It was a fun day, but much more walking that we had anticipated. By the time we returned to the cruise ship, I was in trouble. We made it to the Captain's Dinner and show that night, but by the next morning, I was shaking in pain. I spent the next two days of the cruise completely bedridden, aside from 4 trips to the medical facility for anti-flammatory injections (6 total). It was a bit unsettling when the only available medical personnel was a 60 year-old Polish doctor dressed in a Captain's suit (not sure if he was steering the ship in his free time or what?) Fortunately, getting home was an interesting, yet surprisingly pleasant, experience. I had a wheelchair ride off the ship, which budged us through long lines and sped us through customs. After a short taxi ride to the airport, American Airlines was able to put us on a stand-by flight that ultimately got us back to Omaha five hours earlier than scheduled. They had wheelchairs available to get me through security and the second I stepped off the plane for the layover in Dallas and again when we arrived in Omaha. Just when I thought we were on the home stretch, I attempted to get into the Acadia in the Omaha airport parking garage and felt a burning sensation run down my leg, deep into my foot, much like I would imagine it might feel like if I had just been struck by lighting. Since then, not only have I had pain in my butt (literally), but it runs all the way down my leg into my foot.
Immediately the next morning, we took a trip to Urgent Care and they gave me two more shots to help with the pain (8 is the new total, if anyone is counting with me). They recommended an immediate MRI, which I had done that same day. The results reflected two bulging discs in my low back (L4 and L5). Next step was to consult with a neurosurgeon who felt that we could avoid surgery by treating me with steroids in an effort to decrease the inflammation. I had an injection of steroid into my arm and then took a regimen of oral steroids the first weekend in June. A week later, with little improvement, we tried another round of the oral steroid. Still no improvement. Yesterday, I went to the neurosurgeon again and he was concerned to see that my reflexes and strength in the left leg had actually gotten worse, instead of better. He recommended an epidural steroid injection to get some novicane and cortisone directly into the area where the nerves are inflammed. I hate needles, but was willing to do anything to make this wall of pain subside. The procedure really wasn't too bad. My wonderful husband agreed to come in the room with me (he had to put on the lovely radiation vest due to the x-ray equipment used to help guide the needle). I didn't feel immediate relief as I had hoped, but am able to report that the hip/butt pain is definitely better today. The foot is another story, but we've got to start with progress somewhere. If anyone was curious of the pricetag of an epidural steroid injection, it is a mere $1,200 - not your everyday shot!
In a nutshell, I have not been able to walk since May 23rd. I haven't seen the kitchen since then either. I can't do anything for myself. I can't sleep. I can't shower (thank goodness for baths). I'm not hungry. I haven't worn my contacts or make-up for over 2 weeks. I haven't slept in my own bed for 3 weeks. I have cried nearly every day for the past 2 weeks. I haven't been outside the house for 2 weeks aside from 5 doctor appointments. If it wasn't for the walker (borrowed from family), I wouldn't be able to get anywhere. The walker at least enables me to go from the couch to the bathroom and back to the couch. I wouldn't wish this kind of pain on anyone.
The bright spots...
My husband has accompanied me to every doctor's appointment and has rearranged lots of meetings to make sure I am getting the treatment that I need. He comes home every noon to make me lunch and helps me up and down the stairs with my clunky walker. He gets up in the middle of the night when I can't sleep and helps to re-adjust pillows to try to make it stop hurting.
My parents came this past weekend and cleaned bathrooms, scrubbed and vacuumed floors, dusted, did a ton of laundry, brought us some delicious meals and gave Mike a 2-day break from having to wait on me.
Mike's mom is coming to help me tomorrow while Mike is in Kansas City and she will be coming again on Saturday when he is in Omaha.
Marica/Casey, Ann and Cindy have been great about calling to check in on me - sure means a lot.
Thank goodness we have great family and friends to lean on! It's truly kept the sanity in check at this house! Keep the prayers coming. I want to be able to walk by next week - even if it's just to the mailbox and back.
I'll post some cruise pictures tomorrow. Mike captured some great shots!
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