Went see the orthopaedic specialist today. After checking out the x-rays and the CT scans, and feeling my back and listen to me rattle on about the last two years of pain, he decided that it wasn't anything like a pinched nerve or a spine defect. Good news, no? I thought so. Even if it means I get to keep this unexplained pain.
He was actually quite surprised at how localised it is, and how I can easily pinpoint it. (Not that my arm actually bends that way or anything...) Anyway, he's pretty sure it's a ligament that is chronically inflammed. Can't say why this happens but he's seen it before and knows just how to fix it. So it's not the bone itself or the facet/joint in the spine, it's the ligament atop it.
What's the remedy? A cortisone shot, of course. I told him how I hate needles. So much so that I had Lily naturally without epidural. He laughed. He's still pretty sure an infusion will take care of it - permanently. So while I was on the table there, I told him to get on with it. He gave me a local and then went on with injecting the steroid. You know, I think it's actually many pricks around the affected area. Can't say it hurt bad, but it certainly wasn't comfortable. But for a while afterwards, because of the local anaesthetic, I couldn't feel the usual back pain.
It was bliss.
So maybe he's right. I hope he is. I just don't have much faith in cortisone shots because my mom's had them so many times and while for the most part they worked, it was always only a temporary thing.
He gave me some exercises to do to help my stomach muscles. Didn't do anything in that dept. after labour because it would set off the spasm attacks. Hopefully, he knows what he's doing. I can't wait to get in shape again and lose weight. I just hope it'll work.
The local's effect is gone now. Pain's back. What do you know? Then again, it should take a couple of days to act. After all, it's an anti-inflammatory, not a painkiller.
And to make me feel better, big arguement with Rob. He can be such a jackass. Part of why I didn't want to get into all these tests and specialist visits was as to not disturb him and his work commitments. Of course, he's always very keen verbally about supporting me and what needs to be done, but when it's time to pony up... twit.
No news about Grand-Papa. I can only hope this means good news.
He was actually quite surprised at how localised it is, and how I can easily pinpoint it. (Not that my arm actually bends that way or anything...) Anyway, he's pretty sure it's a ligament that is chronically inflammed. Can't say why this happens but he's seen it before and knows just how to fix it. So it's not the bone itself or the facet/joint in the spine, it's the ligament atop it.
What's the remedy? A cortisone shot, of course. I told him how I hate needles. So much so that I had Lily naturally without epidural. He laughed. He's still pretty sure an infusion will take care of it - permanently. So while I was on the table there, I told him to get on with it. He gave me a local and then went on with injecting the steroid. You know, I think it's actually many pricks around the affected area. Can't say it hurt bad, but it certainly wasn't comfortable. But for a while afterwards, because of the local anaesthetic, I couldn't feel the usual back pain.
It was bliss.
So maybe he's right. I hope he is. I just don't have much faith in cortisone shots because my mom's had them so many times and while for the most part they worked, it was always only a temporary thing.
He gave me some exercises to do to help my stomach muscles. Didn't do anything in that dept. after labour because it would set off the spasm attacks. Hopefully, he knows what he's doing. I can't wait to get in shape again and lose weight. I just hope it'll work.
The local's effect is gone now. Pain's back. What do you know? Then again, it should take a couple of days to act. After all, it's an anti-inflammatory, not a painkiller.
And to make me feel better, big arguement with Rob. He can be such a jackass. Part of why I didn't want to get into all these tests and specialist visits was as to not disturb him and his work commitments. Of course, he's always very keen verbally about supporting me and what needs to be done, but when it's time to pony up... twit.
No news about Grand-Papa. I can only hope this means good news.
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