Started the day by visiting the Ortho doctor again - he's FINALLY back from vacation. All things considered, he's sure now that I have a slipped disk (#4) that's pinching a nerve or nerves. So I go back on Thursday morning bright and early for an MRI. Then once he knows exactly where the problem nerve is, he's planning to do a cortisone injection to reduce the inflammation of the nerve(s) and (theoretically) stop the pain. However . . .
If that doesn't work, then he will "consider surgery."
HE will consider surgery.
I, on the other hand, will NOT consider surgery. At least not until I've consulted someone else (or several "someone elses") . . . maybe an osteopath. There are just a few osteopaths down here in Louisiana, as opposed to Ohio. In Dayton, where I grew up, there's osteopathic Grandview Hospital with 400+ beds. One thing for sure about osteopaths -- they, like me, will prefer almost anything to surgery. Hmmm -- maybe I should go home and see someone up there.
But one step at a time. First the MRI and possible injection(s). Let's just hope that works so I won't have to see anyone else.
Let's hope.
In the meantime, Mark has installed automatic waterers in each stall, along with pipe bars to hang their feed buckets on, and pipe hooks (well, not exactly hooks, but anyway...) to hang those enormous oddly-shaped buckets we bought to contain their Chaffhaye this winter. So I'll be able to deal with the horses while he's gone WITHOUT having to lean over. Once I stand up and move a few steps, the pain generally stops and I'm fine until I have to lean forward or sit down, so all Mark has done should take care of things very well. And then with Buddy and Lisa's help on the weekends everything should be just fine. The only hard part is going to be feeding the dogs. Well . . . picking up their dishes AFTER feeding the dogs that is. I think I'm going to order one of those stick things that they use in groceries to pick up things on high shelves. That should work great for picking up dog bowls! Then once Dr. R. manages to get me functioning again, we'll be all ready when we're 104 and need all this stuff again!
No comments:
Post a Comment