notes from 9-24-07

It's been a very long time since I have taken the time to blog. I will try and take the time in the future. I know it only serves me better to do so.

This spring/summer as my pain level rose again, I tried twice a lumbar epidural. This procedure involves guiding a needle with x-ray into the epidural space in my lower back spinal column and injecting a mix of Lidocaine and Cortisone. My pain level after the first procedure went from an 8 to a 6 before I left and was down to a 4 by the next morning. I had a pain level around 3-4 for the next 2 weeks, than it rose again.

I had the procedure done again, hoping for a more lasting effect. I had this time 4 weeks with lower pain levels; still not as long lasting as we had hoped. We decided not to try a third round since it didn't seem to provide enough of a long lasting effect (6 months to a year).

My pain level has been manageable through most of the summer until lately. Through the last week and a half my pain level at times has risen back to the 7-8 level. I have just a couple of new smaller ulcers. My worst pain now feels like I got kicked in the shin, just above my right ankle on the inside of the shin. There are no external marks or ulcers in the area. It is very sensitive to the touch. It feels like a bruise. No swelling in the area either. The area is not hotter or colder than the surrounding skin. I also have pain near an ulcer on the inside of my left foot near my ankle. I will make another appointment with the MAPS pain clinic to talk about what is next.

I have been seeing Angela Leedy-Larson at that clinic for a while now. She has recommended an implantable device that has electrical leads and sends electrical pulses to your spinal column. This sounds to me very similar to a TENS unit which I tried for a while with no relief; I only was annoyed from the buzzing feeling. This is a permanently implanted device controlled with an external remote control. It just sounds kooky. I honestly don't belief it would work. I am pursuing treatment with meds for now. I can use them when I need, and when I am relatively pain free, I don't take them. I like that aspect of that course of treatment.

My purple skin patches continue to spread. I will upload some more pictures soon. I notice the spread on the underside of both forearms and a little on my belly. For now, it is just annoying.

That's it for now.