Every other tuesday, I go for spinal injections for my back & leg. Had to skip a session due to heart probs, but went in Tuesday and got 6 shots! One of them hurt worse than any I ever had before.

Usually they kick in within a day or two. Not this time.
My back hurts worse than it did the day of the injections, and it was worse yesterday. Called the doc, no call back. So, have to call again this morning. Not sure if he hit a nerve, a knot or the L-5 that is buldging or wtf is going on, but been in bed for the majority of the time since Tuesday, and having a very hard time getting around so, a bit worried.

On the upside, the CH's are slowing back down. I did the alt therapy on Saturday and it seemed to kick some ass - only been hit 3 times so far since. Round 2 is this weekend, and upping the ante with a  supreme alt method that, I've never tried before. Can't post what it is... let's just say the granddaddy of all the alternatives out there.

I just hope my back settles down enough I can do it. Have a concert to attend tomorrow night and a wedding Saturday. I just hope I can make it.  :-[

Peace,
Carl

Hang in there Carl, keep the music rolling! ;)

Joe

Sorry you are having a rough time Carl, hang in there and hope that new method helps.

Matt

Just remember no break dancing till you get it handeled. oh and no football ;D ;D ;D

goat the great(  :D ) has laid his wisdom upon the great Carl

How are you feeling now, any relief? PF wishes bud. :(

I'm sorry my friend!  Been there, done that, and it ain't no fun at all!  When your back is hurting everything hurts.  Praying for you.

Jerry

Still hurting pretty bad. Sleeping erratically, and for the 2nd day in a row - never got a call back from the PM doc about my back. So, just trying to deal with it best I can. Keeping ice on it for periods, and today did my best to move around more & try to work out the soreness but seems every which way I move, I am whincing.

Thanks y'all. And Joe - music is the one thing that comforts me at times like these.

Hey, Carl. Not sure if we've met here before, but I wanted you to know I'm a'prayin' for ya'll. Sucks when one thing recedes and another takes its place. Take care. lance

Wow, have you ever been diagnosed with spondolythesis?  I had the pain in my back and down my leg... tried the cortisone shots and it made the pain WORSE...  finally a dr diagnosed me with this, I had surgery to have L4-5 fused and I have been back/leg pain free for 5 yrs.   Good luck and I hope it gets better.

Wendy1 wrote on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 8:16pm:

Wow, have you ever been diagnosed with spondolythesis?  I had the pain in my back and down my leg... tried the cortisone shots and it made the pain WORSE...  finally a dr diagnosed me with this, I had surgery to have L4-5 fused and I have been back/leg pain free for 5 yrs.   Good luck and I hope it gets better.

Thanks Wimsey. Can use all the vibes/ prayers I can get right now.

Wendy, sometimes the shots DO work, but was told by the Nurse Assistant at last weeks appointment that, since all of my joints are flared up pretty bad (got Rheumatoid Arthritis pretty hard), that inflammation may have contributed to the shots going bad.

I do find it interesting that, the last two MRI reports came back as negative (nothing changed.) My pain management doc looked at the MRI's themselves and said BOTH showed L-2, L-3 & L-4 haven't changed much, but L-5 is bulging! So far, still no spinal lesions (which is very good news.) But, it just makes me wonder what ELSE gets missed when tests are read - and makes me reluctant to have more done unless they can GUARANTEE a pro will look at it with a fine tooth comb.

The RA doc felt all of my joints and said everyone of them are swollen, so back on Methotrexate, 15mg of Prednisone a day, and may have to start giving myself injections of somethin that starts with a Z, not sure what it is but reduces joint/ bone deterioration.

Did round 2 of CBing, and thought I knocked it out of the ball park. Unfortunately I had a bit TOOOO MUCH wine at a wedding reception on Friday night, and wound up waking up with a hard CH at 5:30am. Then, last night during the show - at a critical moment where I HAVE to be at the helm for the indie "Song of the week showdown" I felt major pressure in my eye and looked at Jeff, who is my cohost now, and he said it was changing. So, ran downstairs, huffed o2 for 5 minutes and made it back in time for the showdown.
So, guess I have to do a 3rd round.  :-/
But to quote the movie Dune, as far as the Beast goes, "I WILL KILL HIM."
Especially since my Praxair bill is so high due to insurance not covering o2, I'm about to get my tanks repo'd.  [smiley=yikes.gif]
If it does, I have a backup plan.

Thanks for the well wishes. Been a hard day today, but I'll get through it. No other choice.

Peace,
Carl

PS - I see the cardiologist on Wednesday. Kinda nervous, since they are talking Pacemaker.

Any doc ever suggest Enbrel for the RA?

Brew wrote on Oct 11^th, 2010 at 6:16pm:

Any doc ever suggest Enbrel for the RA?

Is that an injection? It might be what they mentioned at my last appointment. This is all new to me. My old doc didn't do a very good job at catching anything of importance, just put me on insane amounts of painkillers and dropping the ball completely. Wasn't until I got a 2nd opinion they found the RA and started treating it.

Right now I can't sleep. Got hit again around midnight or so, and started having panic attacks about tomorrows / todays appointment with the Cardiologist. From what I gathered on the phone, they'll be doing the consult and a heart catheter. Just really nervous & stressed out since they are talking pacemaker. Gonna attempt to lie down again.
I have to take Jeff to work this morning so I'll have the truck for the appointment.

Oh yeah, one awesome thing I forgot to mention (or did I?) Is, last week I got my drivers license back!!! Here Illinois was trying to force me onto SR-22 insurance for 2 years in order to just get the license. I move to Missouri and BAM! I'm legal, no hassle. THAT, was nice!

Okies, gonna lay down a bit.
Carl

Carl D wrote on Oct 13^th, 2010 at 5:31am:

Is that an injection?

Yep. It's what I take once a week for hidradenitis suppurativa. It's primary use is for RA and for psoriasis, all three of which are auto-immune related. It slows down your body's production of TNF, or tumor necrosis factor.