Another Back Update

It’sbeen 166 days since I blew out my back. As you all know, I’ve had many miserabletimes during that stretch, but I have had just as my mediocre days. Days when Icould at least take a comfortable walk down my road or lay in the sun on my deck.I can’t say the totally pain-free days were greater than a dozen, but they werestill there, somewhere throughout the summer.

Yesterday,I had my steroid injection at L-2 to L-3 (if that means anything to any ofyou). It wasn’t very painful, and my back hasn’t hurt at all since I left theroom. Of course, they tell me that is just the effects of the local anestheticthey numbed my back with before putting in the spinal needle, and that within24 hours, that will wear off, at which time my nerve endings will go, “what inthe name of all things bright and beautiful did you do?” Meaning, the pain willmost likely return with a vengeance, until those nerves figure it out andsettle down in any where from seven to fourteen days.

Iknow, right? Did I really sign up for that?

Thedoctor was very nice and had a decent sense of humor, which you know Iappreciate. I had never met him and the staff already had me laying on mystomach with my head in the donut pillow, when he walked in and introduced himself.I answered him, “the back of my head is glad to meet you too.”

Hedid mention my nice tan and I told him that was because all I could do allsummer was lay on my deck in the sun. He said he thought I’d been gardening allsummer, which made me chortle and reply, “yea, right.”  

Anyway,it went smoothly. And all I can do is see what happens from here. Thank you,everyone, for all the prayers over the last five and a half months. I love youall.

I always try hard not to be frosty towards new people I meet in health care - I've been where they are.
 But I will admit, I was a chicken yesterday.