My poor blog has been neglected for the last week or so. I've been meaning to write a post or twelve, but that hasn't been in the cards. I've spent the better part of the last week at my doctor's office trying to figure out what the hell I did to my neck and how to make it better.
I woke up about 10 days ago with a stiff neck, which isn't unusual for me. I carried on with my daily routines but after several days I was in more pain and having some horrible pains in my shoulder and all the way down my left arm. The pain was enough to send me to my doctor last Monday for what I thought would be an easy snap-crackle-pop and I would be feeling better. Alas, no snap, no crackle, no pop; my poor doctor couldn't get anything to happen with my neck or back. He prescribed some pain pills and a muscle relaxant and scheduled me to go back at the end of the week. Those meds did NOTHING at all to help, so I called him back on Tuesday and he schedule me to come in late Wednesday for a cortisone type shot. After no sleep on Tuesday night (and none Sunday or Monday either) I was back in Wednesday morning for the pain shot. It helped for about an hour, which was not what we were hoping for. My doctor's concern was that I had a herniated disc in my neck and that was the reason for all the throbbing nerve pain in my arm. He ordered a MRI and switched me to Percocet for the pain.
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you know I haven't had the MRI yet. Wanna know why? My insurance company denied it. Wanna know the reason why? Because Doug's company changed insurance companies and my coverage with them expired at midnight on Friday night. So, they jerked us around sufficiently to avoid having to cover the MRI and now my doctor has to negotiate with my new insurance company. Love it.
So here I sit on Monday morning, thankful that today the Percocet is working a bit (it didn't even touch the pain yesterday), wondering if I'm going to get better anytime soon. I can tolerate some pain; after all I birthed 3 of the 4 kids without any drugs. But I cannot tolerate constant, throbbing pain that impairs my ability to care for my family. I have to call my doctor again today and maybe he'll get that MRI scheduled so I know what I'm up against.
Monday, August 3, 2009
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7 comments:
Ugh, sorry you're in pain. I know how hard it is to function and care for your family when you are being submersed in pain. Hope they get the MRI soon.
Ugh....I am so sorry that you are in so much pain. I know from the terrible back issues that my husband has had (herniated disk that led to surgery) how awful it can be and how its virtually impossible to do anything other than feel the pain. Your insurance situation sound so frustrating....spent 10 years of my working life wrestling with those mean, old giants....hope your MD can whip them into shape today!
Hope you're feeling better today. Keeping you in my thoughts.
That kind of pain is HORRIBLE. And I can't imagine how you're holding up the mommy duties alone dealing with it. Sending strength and hugs.
Also, I'm curious as to how you birthed three of the four kids without drugs. I think I missed that story...
I am a new reader and I do not usually do this, but I wonder if you have thought about visiting a chiropractor? I work at a chiropractic college and have been under care for 13 years- chiropractic is not just about pain, but it does help a lot of people who are in immediate crisis. Just wanted to throw that out there....let me know if you want some help finding somewhere near you.
~Lisa
I read your blog occasionally and when I saw this post my heart goes out to you. I was 6 months pregnant with my 2nd and started experiencing the pain you are describing down my leg after falling on some ice. I thought it was the baby sitting on a nerve and after I gave birth I thought the pain would go away. No such luck. After 3 cortisone shots that did nothing some physical therapy I decided on surgery and it was the best thing. I see the chiropractor every so often for an adjustment and I feel great. FYI pain killers dont help nerve pain.
I can't say I love it when insurance companies have to be total dillholes.
So sorry you're in so much pain!
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