On Easter 2017, I found out just what a 10 on the pain scale was for me. Wife found me balled up on the floor, writhing in pain. ER didn’t know what to do with me, besides some temporary pain meds. I was miserable.
Found out I have degenerative disk disease, and a few bulging disks, and the combo pinches the nerve and causes me a lot of pain in my neck, shoulder, arm and hand.
Pain management in San Antonio took good care of me. Dr. Fom was an awesome doc. (If you are in San Antonio and need pain management, I highly recommend him - I can provide his number if you need) I was nervous about epidural steroid injections, but that doc put me at ease, and took away my pain in a short time. But I moved back to VA a few years later, and the pain management doc here... ain’t Dr. Fom. I’ll just leave it at that.
Finally got to see a surgeon last year. They said it was not necessary, and actually recommended against it, as they said I could end up in worse pain.
Fast forward to this year. Pain management doc sent me to another surgeon for a second opinion after a new MRI and X-ray. It’s not much of a choice anymore. I really need surgery to fix this issue, as it’s just going to get worse. Epidural steroid shots are just masking the issue, not curing the problem, and they aren’t working as well as they did in San Antonio.
Ok. Schedule me for surgery. So what’s involved? Kinda wish I had never asked that. He goes in from the front. The front. In other words... he’s going to cut my throat for access! He said I’d likely hate his guts and curse him out for the first two weeks post-op, but by week 4, I’d be happy I got it done.
Speaking of week 4...That’s when I could remove the cervical collar. I have to wear it for 4 weeks. He recommended I buy a recliner (which I already did), because it would be too hard to sleep in bed.
I know I need to just get it done, and stop worrying about it... but it’s almost a month out (June 22nd), and for some reason, I’m super nervous. Probably because it’s my spine. Trying to think positive thoughts.
All the best,
Glenn
Found out I have degenerative disk disease, and a few bulging disks, and the combo pinches the nerve and causes me a lot of pain in my neck, shoulder, arm and hand.
Pain management in San Antonio took good care of me. Dr. Fom was an awesome doc. (If you are in San Antonio and need pain management, I highly recommend him - I can provide his number if you need) I was nervous about epidural steroid injections, but that doc put me at ease, and took away my pain in a short time. But I moved back to VA a few years later, and the pain management doc here... ain’t Dr. Fom. I’ll just leave it at that.
Finally got to see a surgeon last year. They said it was not necessary, and actually recommended against it, as they said I could end up in worse pain.
Fast forward to this year. Pain management doc sent me to another surgeon for a second opinion after a new MRI and X-ray. It’s not much of a choice anymore. I really need surgery to fix this issue, as it’s just going to get worse. Epidural steroid shots are just masking the issue, not curing the problem, and they aren’t working as well as they did in San Antonio.
Ok. Schedule me for surgery. So what’s involved? Kinda wish I had never asked that. He goes in from the front. The front. In other words... he’s going to cut my throat for access! He said I’d likely hate his guts and curse him out for the first two weeks post-op, but by week 4, I’d be happy I got it done.
Speaking of week 4...That’s when I could remove the cervical collar. I have to wear it for 4 weeks. He recommended I buy a recliner (which I already did), because it would be too hard to sleep in bed.
I know I need to just get it done, and stop worrying about it... but it’s almost a month out (June 22nd), and for some reason, I’m super nervous. Probably because it’s my spine. Trying to think positive thoughts.
All the best,
Glenn
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