Tank birthday, 47+ years

[Paul B]

Thank God.! I called my wife's PT therapist who is a friend of her Pain Mgt Dr. She called her on her cell phone and the Dr. called me right back. We are going to her tomorrow morning first thing. She is only about 45 minutes away and usually the nerve block works right away.

The purpose of this Ryzotomy was so she didn't have to get nerve blocks every few weeks. I am not sure if this will work but there are no more options. All the doctors just wantr to do is give her more pain meds which never work, and just put you in a coma without touching the pain.

I don't know how she is going to do this because even a breeze on Dales face causes extreme pain so a needle will really put her over the edge. I don't think she could knock her out on such short notice as that is usually a big deal.

Her Neurologist also got back to me and he is flying over the Gulf of America now on his way of Mexico, but he still called me. We are friends with all these doctors.

 

[jsmkmavity]

I hope Dale is feeling better today, and also hope the surgeon can offer a better long term solution.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Good luck today.

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

I read every single page of this thread. I cried towards the end... I'm a 38 year old married man with 2 small kids. How could I not? PaulB inspires me. Value life, hug your kids, don't stress about the small stuff.

I hope she gets the nerve block ASAP first and foremost.

I want to read good news from you Paul.

Physical pain imo is the hardest human condition to endure second only to emotional pain. There's some new research that may be helpful.

I was/am totally against the idea of anything other than "real science." Which has always meant drugs,drugs, and more drugs when they stop working due to that annoying thing called homeostasis...fast forward to mind/body science.
Empirical or **** is how I roll. I'm learning new things too.

Here is the science.

meta analysis paper - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2753680

harvard article - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mind-body-therapies-can-reduce-pain-and-opioid-use-2020021118772

mayo clinic prof video->

good summary of current science -> https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/mind-body-practices/

Docs don't like these treatments because you can't "do them to a patient". You can't look it up in a PDR and calculate mg/kg and ask about allergies. PCP's usually dont want to or have the time to talk to patients or get to know them. Many specialists try a little harder but I digress. The patient has to buy into these sorts of treatments. The power of placebo (the mind) is repeatedly and demonstrably more powerful than any known drug.

I hope she gets the nerve block ASAP. I think there are quite a few of us rooting for you.

Although I don't believe in a force at a distance beyond that of electromagnetism and gravity, I feel really compelled to say I'm praying for you; Even if it's to my flying spaghetti monster god.

 

[Paul B]

I like your spaghetti Monster God.

Dale got the nerve block yesterday and hit the ceiling with the needles. She is not much, if any better as of last night. It was supposed to work right away but it didn't. I think she was slightly better, but she says she is just getting used to it.

All the doctors say it just has to take time to work. Time is a relative word, especially when it's someone else with the pain. Now they are going to give her morphine.

CVS keeps texting me that they need more information from her doctor and the doctor keeps telling me that she called them twice. So, guess no one knows how to do their job. So far, since yesterday, no morphine. .

If this doesn't work, she is scheduled for Gamma Knife.

Hopefully, she will feel better this morning as I am tired of arguing with doctors and drug stores.

 

[Paul B]

Dale just got up and thinks she feels a little better. I am so Freekin Happy.

I hope it is not just a feeling and a sign she is getting better.

 

[Rybren]

That is great news Paul.

 

[tripdad]

Fingers crossed it keeps getting better!!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Dale just got up and thinks she feels a little better. I am so Freekin Happy.

I hope it is not just a feeling and a sign she is getting better.

Best news I've seen here in a couple weeks. Outstanding and hoping improvement continues.

 

[Minifoot77]

Prayers do work keep up the good fight Paul.

 

[chillout-reefer-dave]

At least morphine is plant derived from natural poppies? Yes it's a very very powerful substance but it occurs naturally and has a use, albeit very very slim. People react wildly differently to opioids.

 

[mmw64]

I like your spaghetti Monster God.

Dale got the nerve block yesterday and hit the ceiling with the needles. She is not much, if any better as of last night. It was supposed to work right away but it didn't. I think she was slightly better, but she says she is just getting used to it.

All the doctors say it just has to take time to work. Time is a relative word, especially when it's someone else with the pain. Now they are going to give her morphine.

CVS keeps texting me that they need more information from her doctor and the doctor keeps telling me that she called them twice. So, guess no one knows how to do their job. So far, since yesterday, no morphine. .

If this doesn't work, she is scheduled for Gamma Knife.

Hopefully, she will feel better this morning as I am tired of arguing with doctors and drug stores.

I'm so sorry Paul. As I said before my husband is suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer. It's a nightmare. Pain medicine causes complications with reason for the pain! I'm praying for you and Dale daily.

 

[Paul B]

MMw64, that is horrible. I have a few friends fighting that now.
Unfortunately, my wife was back in severe pain again last night. She took a half of a morphine pill, but I don't know yet if it helped. If it did and didn't get her sick. Maybe we will try a whole pill today.

They only gave her a few pills. I think CVS feels I am going to sell them in a van down by the river. But I am not going to do that.

Dale can't even smile any more, forget eating. That takes forever.

We have 3 neurologists and a pain Mgt. Dr. working on her and so far, no help.

 

[Paul B]

 

[Paul B]

I took a walk to the beach this morning before my wife got up. 15 degrees and very windy. No one there so I had plenty of room to put my blanket.

 

[jsmkmavity]

Hoping the temperature goes up and the pain goes down for you guys. We have finally been getting some winter here the last couple weeks. It was 12° or 13° last night and high of 25° today. You guys have been getting more than your fair share of the cold this year! My wife Shannon was able to walk to the bathroom without her boot last night (first time since ankle surgery a few monthe ago)!

 

[twentyleagues]

-15f here this morning. Now its 5f. Everything is cold. Thats without wind chill.

 

[tripdad]

I think it's colder here this am than in Anchorage....

 

[Paul B]

15 degrees here now and still pitch dark. I am going for my beach walk in a few minutes as we only have a few inches of snow so far. To get to the beach, have to walk down 176 steep steps. Great cardiovascular exercise. Unfortunately, there is no cell service at the beach so if I slip, they will find me next spring still frozen like a Mrs. Paul's Fish Stick

It's so cold outside that I seen a chicken with a Cape-on.

 

[Paul B]

We have such great doctors. Last night, Saturday night two of our three neurologists called me to ask about my wife. One of them was her pain Mgt. Doctor. How many times has a doctor called you on a Saturday night to see how you are doing.

She is booking another ablation for my wife as soon as the snow is low enough so we can get there. It's about 45 minutes away and we are expecting 18".

I have two Jeeps so I could get there, but the doctor probably can't and I don't know how to do the procedure myself so it would be stupid for me to go there without the Doctor.