[Maria]

This is just a quick update on where I stand today.
Haven't had my dog w/me since May. I haven't walked on a regular basis since then however my cervical pain has been at a minimum and I believe this to be a function of not being jerked around (literally) by a 24 lb miniture schnauzer who takes flight when she sees a cat, squirrel, or bird to chase.

My low back has been painful now for easily a month on a daily basis. I have had difficulty in the mornings bending and/or squatting and feel like something is going to painfully pop out my back right about mid center and near waist level.

This feeling sometimes eases off during the day and sometimes is persistant all thru the day.

Talked w/my PM about it last week and he thinks L4 is acting up. I will be seeing my OSS this week to request another lumbar ESI. In the last few years WC has only authorized 2/year which is below the conservative number of 3/year (standard of practice in the community). These ESIs usually work quite well for me and I would like to have at least 3/year until they aren't working for me anymore or I decide that I'm ready for surgery.

I will be getting my dog back next weekend and I worry that my neck will become problematic again and hope that my low back will improve with a more regular walking schedule.

Even though one might think that a dog on the smaller side shouldn't be difficult to control this isn't true with Lola. I think it's because she lives between 2 places with differing methods of discipline. She is 6 years old now and I hope I can still work with her to obey me a bit better because C5/6 gets radically irritated when she yanks on the leash very suddenly.

Lastly my feet are still somewhat problematic with posterior tibial tendonitis bilaterally. I have been trying some new inserts in my tennis shoes and the other day I wore them all day (vs. breaking the time in w/them) and my back was screaming after 6 hours as well as I had burning and weakness in my quadraceps bilaterally and could hardly get up and down the stairs to bring the groceries up.. I ended up in bed at 4p.m. only getting up to use the bathroom and even then needed a cane.

Was better yesterday thankfully and wore my old inserts with tennis shoes.

I'm thinking of using a walking stick while walking the dog and tapping her gently when she starts to get out of line.. or using a choke collar on her (I use a soft one usually). Any comments here?

Meanwhile just the regular routine of pain meds, gabapentin and skelaxin for muscle spasms which seems to help pretty much.