[runner]

Hi Paul,

So you have problems with L5/S1??
We are only three months apart (surgery wise). I would have posted back earlier but I have been recovering from the latest ESI.
Happily, i don't need to see the spinal pain specialist for two-and-a-half weeks. After having four injection procedures since the beginning of the year, I am ready for a short break.
I can't believe how crazy the steroid in the injection makes me. The first night I could barely sleep. I was not myself. A lot of side effects and increased pain. Today, I woke up to take care of my eight-year-old, helping him get ready for school. I was awake for a short time before I fell asleep with my four-year-old happily snoozing next to me. We slept for hours and I woke up feeling much better. However, after my "nap", my right foot has been "sleepy" all day.

I took less pain pills today with the goal of getting off pain pills this weekend. Well not completely off but just being able to take medication at night before I go to sleep. I don't know if I can do it but will try. Since I have been taking the "heavier" pain medication this week, I have been suffering from the brain fog. Tonight, I couldn't remember how to cook rice--that is the ratio between rice and water in a saucepain--and had to go on-line to look it up.

What kind of consult are you having on your L5/S1? Did you go back to your regular surgeon or are you consulting with the pain specialists and what tests have you had?

I think with the last ESI I got some relief in terms of the numbness, but the sciatic pain felt just about the same. Now my main concern is this increasing back pain. Back pain is just so fickle. Now, i have to wait and see what this Tuesday's ESI has in store for me. I know that there was a lot of steroid or medicine in the ESI because I was just about a crazy person for two days and looked like a red lobster. I don't know why I have a huge increase in pain after the ESI but it is no fun.

I do like being put asleep (conscious sedation) for the ESIs. After having them the other way (no sedation) before my surgery, I definitely don't miss the idea of laying there quietly as needles are put in your back.

So here we are, I feel like I am coming off the "roid rage" and have to wait and see. That is all we seem to do, wait and wait.

As for the P.A., well she really can't relate to how I feel as a patient. I ask myself whether I am imagining back pain and numbness and sciatica and know that i am not. Maybe P.A.s are less intuitive than us patients. They always taught us to treat the patient and not the machine. So i really don't care if my MRI doesn't show much. I know how I feel and it is not normal.
I can see why a lot of people with back pain seem to be written off. I hope all this back pain is treatable, otherwise I don't like what the future holds. I think that would be the worse, having severe pain and having very few options about what to do with it.

Hopefuly, for me and you there are some answers and we will be on the road to health soon. I know it is frustrating but you have to hang in there. The toughest part is the crazy waiting and telling people you don't quite know what is wrong with you.

Well, I have to go to sleep. I am watching Rachel Ray's vacation episode on Food Network while I type and I am salivating. She went to Las Vegas and was eating this huge lamb chop and boy it looked delicious.

Please keep me updated on your progress. I'd like to know how your docs are treating your condition.

Good night


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