Hey all,
So, its been about a month since my last post and I want to start off with apologizing for not keeping ya'll updated in a timely manor. I never was very good at writing in a journal or diary or even school papers. Anyway a lot of things have been going on.
For starters, the first nerve block epidural didn't go as well as I had hoped. It hurt like heck for the first couple of days then I got back to normal. When I say normal I mean well nothing much changed except I got slight feeling back in my finger tips, woo! The doctors said it would take 7-10 days to get the full effect of it working. 7-10 days later still hardly anything and I had a follow up appointment. They asked how I was feeling and if anything changed, of course not much. I was then scheduled for my second epidural, this time between my C6-T7 vertebrate.
My second epidural was on April 12. It didn't hurt as much as the first and after a few days I had feeling back in my hand. Last week I had an appointment with the back and neck surgeon, he said if I had full feeling back in my arm and hand then I would get surgery to make it permanent. At that time the feeling was going in and out of my hand and arm so he said based on that, I won't be having neck surgery! He suggested to get an EMG. (How I understand it, its sending vibrations through my nerves to see where the hurting or pinched nerve is.)
But remember it takes 7-10 days to feel the full effects of the epidural? Well a few days ago I could feel my whole arm and hand like before the accident without taking pain meds! So, it's a bit confusing what the doctor said. I am all for no surgery but my parents and I feel it is best to get a second opinion. I have my semi-second opinion appointment tomorrow afternoon with my regular doctor who is also an Osteopath, and we hope he can send us in a better direction for a second opinion.
Its been a big waiting game and there is no way I'll be on a flight in a week and half like I had hoped but hey that just means I'll save and go on an even bigger adventure at a different time.
That's all for now, I'll keep posting!
p.s. Good luck on finals ya'll!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
BREAKING NEWS!!
Today I had two appointments, the first a regular eye appointment and the second a consultation for the epidural. Turns out my eyes are great, better then normal 20-15 woo!
The second went well also. It started out as just medical history, any questions or concerns, that whole thing. They needed to meet with me before the epidural. I was thinking that I may not be able to get in for it until next week. But, as I was standing there, waiting for the lovely lady to look for the soonest possible someone called and cancelled their appointment for tomorrow!! I am having my T1 Selective Nerve Block Epidural tomorrow at 8:15 am! I'm excited but nervous and happy. In two weeks I should know for sure if I'll be headed to Europe!
That's all I have for now! I'll keep posting! =)
Friday, March 16, 2012
Update as of 3.15
So earlier this week my back and neck
appointment was for March 26 and on the "on-call list" in case someone cancelled. Luckily we got a call Wednesday and I got in early! (Thursday morning)
The doctor was very nice and talked a lot! He said yes to an epidural and we would go from there. Now this doctor is the specialist but doesn't do any procedures or surgeries. He works with a team of 3 doctors, so I am in the best hands! I might be able to meet with the epidural doctor today but depends on my insurance approval. (there shouldn't be any problem they just have to ask so they know they will be paid by the auto insurance)
So currently waiting on that but if all goes well I'll be having an epidural in my neck next week and if it alleviates the pain and numbness, then they will go ahead with minor surgery. How the doctor described it was they would take out my disk between C7 and T1 vertebrae shave some bone fragments down to make a bigger hole for my nerve. To fill in the hole where my disk was they will put in someone else's vertebrate or an artificial one. So my C7 and T1 will basically be fused and will permanently fix the numbness. This will not limit my mobility because it is so far down in my neck.
If this first epidural does not help with pain and numbness then they will do another MRI and a second epidural and go from there.
That's all I have for now! I'll keep posting! =)
The doctor was very nice and talked a lot! He said yes to an epidural and we would go from there. Now this doctor is the specialist but doesn't do any procedures or surgeries. He works with a team of 3 doctors, so I am in the best hands! I might be able to meet with the epidural doctor today but depends on my insurance approval. (there shouldn't be any problem they just have to ask so they know they will be paid by the auto insurance)
So currently waiting on that but if all goes well I'll be having an epidural in my neck next week and if it alleviates the pain and numbness, then they will go ahead with minor surgery. How the doctor described it was they would take out my disk between C7 and T1 vertebrae shave some bone fragments down to make a bigger hole for my nerve. To fill in the hole where my disk was they will put in someone else's vertebrate or an artificial one. So my C7 and T1 will basically be fused and will permanently fix the numbness. This will not limit my mobility because it is so far down in my neck.
If this first epidural does not help with pain and numbness then they will do another MRI and a second epidural and go from there.
That's all I have for now! I'll keep posting! =)
Friday, March 9, 2012
June - Present
So, for those who haven't heard I'm currently in my home town. Here is the story that leads me here.
June 16, 2011
I was headed south on 200 West and stopped at the 4 way stop at 1000N and 200W. When it was my turn to go this girl blew through the stop sign going east, smooshing my car and hers just a little. It really wasn't a big wreck just a fender bender. No airbags went off. We pulled out of the middle of the intersection and to the side of the road. Note: No one stopped to see if we were okay. Anyway, called the cops, exchanged information and took pictures that whole thing. (I called my mom and boyfriend, Nate, whom both were not in Logan, Don't worry Melissa came to the rescue!) The girl that hit me was rather shook up but we were both fine, so I thought. I had a little headache and soar shoulder but nothing bad.
I went to work the next day like normal, had a headache and wasn't feeling the greatest, so work I went to the Emergency Room. It turns out I had a concussion and bruised shoulder and needed to take the weekend off to recover and sleep. Well I didn't think I needed to go to the Chiropractor, So I waited, and waited, and went home for my cousin's wedding, and finally went. I have been going to the Chiropractor since July until about December.
Early December, 2011-Feburary 2012
In December, the Chiropractor sent me to a Neurologist because my left side was still falling asleep. He sent me for x-rays, MRI's and CT scans, and it turns out that I was a few compressed disks in my lower back and in my neck there is a cyst and abnormal curvature of my spine. The neurologist was saying that the best thing we could do it go for a epidural in both my neck and back, so hopefully my muscles would calm down and things would go back to normal, but it doesn't always go away. So, if after a weeks there was no improvement then I would have a second epidural. Finally if that didn't work, surgery to removed the cyst.
I'll keep posting as I know whats going on but that's all I have for now! If ya'll have any questions just ask! =)
June 16, 2011
I was headed south on 200 West and stopped at the 4 way stop at 1000N and 200W. When it was my turn to go this girl blew through the stop sign going east, smooshing my car and hers just a little. It really wasn't a big wreck just a fender bender. No airbags went off. We pulled out of the middle of the intersection and to the side of the road. Note: No one stopped to see if we were okay. Anyway, called the cops, exchanged information and took pictures that whole thing. (I called my mom and boyfriend, Nate, whom both were not in Logan, Don't worry Melissa came to the rescue!) The girl that hit me was rather shook up but we were both fine, so I thought. I had a little headache and soar shoulder but nothing bad.
I went to work the next day like normal, had a headache and wasn't feeling the greatest, so work I went to the Emergency Room. It turns out I had a concussion and bruised shoulder and needed to take the weekend off to recover and sleep. Well I didn't think I needed to go to the Chiropractor, So I waited, and waited, and went home for my cousin's wedding, and finally went. I have been going to the Chiropractor since July until about December.
Early December, 2011-Feburary 2012
In December, the Chiropractor sent me to a Neurologist because my left side was still falling asleep. He sent me for x-rays, MRI's and CT scans, and it turns out that I was a few compressed disks in my lower back and in my neck there is a cyst and abnormal curvature of my spine. The neurologist was saying that the best thing we could do it go for a epidural in both my neck and back, so hopefully my muscles would calm down and things would go back to normal, but it doesn't always go away. So, if after a weeks there was no improvement then I would have a second epidural. Finally if that didn't work, surgery to removed the cyst.
March 2012
So this month I am back home for a second opinion on what to do. I wanted to come home so if I do need surgery I would be close to family and my mom wouldn't worry as much. I know that I have several people that love me in Utah and would totally take care of me but I would more then likely want to get back to work and school to early and mess up whatever they fix.
I still have yet to be able to set an appointment with the back and neck surgeon up here but we are crossing our fingers for early next week! But while I'm home I'll be going to the dentist and hair salon and all sorts of appointments to get me all back to healthy and normal.I'll keep posting as I know whats going on but that's all I have for now! If ya'll have any questions just ask! =)
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