4-30-09

Yesterday evening I had some unexpected pain relief. In the afternoon, after my morning dose of pain medications had worn off, my pain level was down so I didn't take any Dilaudid, Percocet, or Ultram. Even without those in my system, my pain level was 4-5 and I was able to walk without a cane for the first time on a week or so. I was very happy and thought maybe the end of this outbreak was at hand. By 7:00 pm my pain level was increasing and and by 9:00 pm I had taken all these pain medications again out of necessity, and had a pain level of 7-8. I am trying to understand what led to the decrease in pain, possibly that I had cooled my foot in cold water for 4-5 hours through the day while I sat at my desk at work. That is the only change I can think of from what has become my daily routine.

I see Dr. Abraham this morning to try and get a referral for Dr. Belgrade. I also received the name of another pain specialist, Dr. Scott Schultz, a radiologist who works in Robbinsdale, MN. I got this name from Jill Landecker, a pharmacist at Cub Foods where I get my prescriptions filled. Being at the pharmacy every week, I have gotten to know my pharmacists at Cub Foods pretty well over the years. After my appointment this morning, I will call and try and set an appointment with this doctor as well.

My hope is that things go well with Dr. Abraham this morning and he can be my primary physician. I have been without a primary care physician for a couple years now, since Dr. Bosmans left my local clinic.