Back Procedure Update!

So, here's the deal: Nothing. Nada. I am FURIOUS!! Making a long story short, the pain clinic had booked me in for the wrong procedure!!! The nurse who wrote out the order incorrectly- I assume she failed to consult my file. I stormed out of the office with no help for my pain!!

What's the big deal? My procedure is very specialized, requires more O.R. time, and with special equipment. All that means they can only schedule a handful of weeks and patients book months in advance.

They also dropped another bomb. Insurance and the doctors require six months between procedures! I was one month short! But, it is rescheduled for Sept. 17th. I'm sure this is all in God's timing -even if I was fit to be tied!!- I know there was a good reason for me NOT to be operated on that day. 

But, please allow me a short complaining moment! Per instructions, I hadn't had anything but less than half a banana to eat and under 8 oz of water to drink. I had to wake up at 7am, which is very early for me. 

Don't judge, you're just jealous. ;) Console yourself with the fact that waking early gives me what accounts to non-pregnancy morning sickness. :( 

Also, I had to miss my evenings dose of medication for my shoulder tendinitis to boot! I was one cranky patient even BEFORE our hour wait to be seen! 

My wonderful husband Chris came to my defense to sort out this bramble of mistakes and red tape. I knew it was best for me to cool off and sit in our van. All I would have been able to do is yell and berate people who had no fault in this mistake. And I doubt pissing off nurses whose main job is to jab me with needles is smart! 

Chris was able to both get thing accomplished in a firm method, while being tactful. He spoke to the powers that be and got my Sept. 17th procedure date. I love you my Love. xoxo. My hero. :) 

Well, that's it. :( I'm just making it day by day until Sept. 17th. But, Chris & I can make it. We can do anything if we work together! :)

RFA- Magic Bullet!

Hey Readers! I'm not trying to rehash the past a lot in this blog because the majority of y'all I hope are friends or readers of my old blog. In a short recap, in 2009 I had a spinal fusion which sadly left me in significant pain.

But! Early this year, I had a back procedure that essentially CURED my pain! That was a possibility I had given up on. The projected lifespan of the procedure is 3-6 months, even up to 12-18 months. Happily the procedure lasted about 10 months in my case! :) 

The procedure is called a "radiofrequency ablasion" and mine is performed in my lower left back nerve bundle. If you are into medical stuff, google the name. There are interesting youtube videos - some with real people and some just animations.

Essentially, using special x-ray technology, my doctor guides three probes into my back. (Earlier, a simple injection was used to target the exact nerve bundle). Then he uses the radiofrequency to form a temporary scar over the nerves. The scarring is temporary, but nerves heal very slowly.

While I'll admit this procedure's healing process is pretty intense- in fact I'm pretty much out of the game for a week to about ten days. Nerves don't like to be messed with and the probes make me pretty sore. But, those 10 days are TOTALLY worth MONTHS of very little pain! 

While no one looks forward to pain, I can't wait to get my RFA over & done with this Friday and jump back (no pun intended) into my life! I love my life too much to sit on the sidelines! :) 

Left to Right -Clockwise: Me at Gulf Shores Plantation 2011, Our Wedding April 2007, Cub Scout Award Ceremony 2012, Chris make a snow "gun"! Jan. 2010.