More Needles????

I hate needles. I really hate needles. If a needle is near me I can't look. If a needle is near anyone else, I leave the room. (Actually sewing needles and knitting needles are fine. Its those icky medical ones that cause me problems.)

Now it looks like more needles are in my future. Ick. Double ick!

Yesterday I went to see neurosurgery because of increasing pain in my neck. Real pain in my neck, not the literal kind. I do have to deal with the literal pains in the neck (like insurance companies, hospital billing departments, and poor bedside manners). Back in 2014, I was having problems with my right arm. I was sent to see a neurologist to see if there was something going on back in my brain to cause this. (A subtle way to see if there was a 'thingy' in my brain.)  There wasn't anything in my brain (except my brain) but there were disc protrusions and bone spurs on my neck.

Jump ahead 2.5 years later and I have increasing pain in my neck, shoulder, and arm. My primary care referred me back to neurosurgery. The neurosurgery physician's assistant said the following:

• Your body may reabsorb disc tissue but will not reabsorb bone so its not going away anytime soon, probably not ever.
• Physical therapy may help so we are going to try that.
• They want a new MRI of my neck (and brain) to get another picture of what's going on and see if there are any changes (read that as growth).
• The next step is needles in my neck sort of like what I get in my spine.

I am overjoyed. I can't wait. But I guess I have to realize that I can force myself to deal with needles if it means the pain might go away lessen. That is my dream actually for a pain free, healthy body. So I guess I have to stick with needles (that is such a bad pun I have to leave it even though its not what I meant to say. What I meant is I have to cope with needles.).

My Achy, Achy Back

My back has been very uncooperative recently. Actually its been a real pain, or in a lot of pain. I went to my pain management doctor a while back and he said that my back has been so bad because I haven't had any interventional treatments (a/k/a needles in my back) in a while and its time for another one. That is due for this Thursday.

But in the meantime, my back is giving me lots of grief (to put it nicely). Yesterday and Friday I was walking around hunched over in pain most of the time. My husband even cooked dinner because I was in so much pain.

Last night, I got in bed before 8 PM and took a breakthrough pain pill, an arthritis Tylenol, and a sleeping pill. I didn't wake up until 8 AM and my back feels better.... but not that great. I expect it to act up later today but I am happy with a few mostly pain free hours for now.

I do not expect a massive decrease in pain after Thursday's medical misadventure, but I do expect some improvement. And future needles in my back to help with this.

The Honest Truth

I have to admit this, especially since I am such a healthy patient. Its a constant issue for me.

I hate needles. I can't watch TV about the flu or another disease when they show people get injections.

Going for blood work is a bad day for me. And the last time I went I left behind yet another water bottle. Every Wednesday my husband gives me my methotrexate injection for my rheumatoid. I hate that part. I would never be able to give myself a shot.

Then today I had to take the cats to the vet and both of them got shots, and I was in the same room. They had my deepest sympathy on their discomfort from the shots - mental and physical anguish.

But now we can all take a deep breath and get on with our day. Until my next shot next week. Yuck.

Poked and prodded

Yesterday I had a dermatology annual skin check. This is a real conversation:

"How long has this mole been two colored?"

"I have no idea, its on my butt and I can't see it."

We did get a snicker out of that one and she laughed at herself. But the mole is no longer as it has been scraped off. And its a little sore and its on my butt. So this will be a fun day.

I also was a little daring. I had a wart appear on my left arm. My left lymphedema arm. My left lymphedema arm which cannot have needles or pressure or cutting or anything. I thought I was going to be stuck with the damn thing for life.

But the dermatology NP thought that since burning it off wouldn't be a problem because its  surface thing. I thought another second or two and said fine, go for it.

Right now my arm feels fine. I may wear a sleeve for a day or two just in case. I usually do not wear a compression sleeve except when working out or flying.

Then for more fun and games, I am going back to the doctor this morning for another look at my toe to see if I need more antibiotics or not. The first thing they do is squish the part that hurts. Ow.