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Therapy, Topamax, Lidoderm Patch, Epidural, PT and Surgery Possibility Still Lurks
I saw the neurologist again today because of the incidence of three migraines, working on fourth. I've still been going to therapy and doing everything like exercising, the modalities that the therapist has been using are still being used. Today's visit though, the first thing he asked was why haven't you gone to the neurosurgeon yet? I told him because he had agreed that we would try things first for PT and he remembered our conversation. He did say that he wants me to keep in my head that surgery is NOT out of the picture and that it's looming ever closer. We're trying Topamax, low dose for 14 days and then I'll increase it on the 15th day by taking two pills instead of one. He gave me Lidoderm patches and told me that I have to wear them for 12 straight hours. He also told me that he wants my tens unit on when I'm exercising and to wear it home after treatments. I was given an injection of Visteril today to break my pain cycle and I think it's catching up, I'm very sleepy. I was surprised though that he told me that he wants me back in 8-12 weeks and that I have to take therapy until that time, the appt is set for first week of September.
Sooooooo :) that's where I'm at now in my relentless quest to avoid surgery!!!
Sooooooo :) that's where I'm at now in my relentless quest to avoid surgery!!!
I just hung up from talking with the pharmacist and she said that the reactions listed are less than 1% of the population. I found out that I fall into that category with some medications and I just want to be really sure of what I'm tossing down my throat. She told me that it's a very safe medication and is used for an assortment of symptoms and maladies. My neurologist today cut back the use of the tens unit and said that he only wants it on four hours per day MAX. I've been using it from the beginning of a migraine until the very end of it and I've slept with it on a few times. It's because the majority of my migraines start during the night and by the time I get woke up from them, they're already at the worst and difficult to get rid of. I wake up with not only the pain but nausea and I can't go back to sleep because my head pounds from them.
Today during therapy my therapist told me that what he and the Supervising therapist are doing is bringing me up to a threshhold where I can do the exercises and modalities without significant pain but if they push it too much then I can expect some pain and they'll just back off. Their goal is to get me to a point where my pain level is lower for a period of two weeks, even a month. Until I reach that point I will be going through therapy. He said though that they will reach the point when they have to decide with the doctor whether to send me to the surgeon. It's through their communication with him that the decision will be reached. It's also up to me because if I ever reach the point when I say okay, I've suffered enough, I can stop it all and just go for the surgery so they're listening to me too. What was strange today was when he was doing the ultrasound on me, I tried laying my head on the table and I couldn't get comfortable with my head in any position, laying face down, side to side, nothing worked. He made the comment that I was seeming restless and I conveyed to him that I felt as though there was a pulling sensation in the muscle along my neck. He did some deep massage after the ultrasound and it felt great. When I got home though the sensation of pulling traveled down my back on the right hand side and went around my ribs until it took my breath away and I had to bend over and go sit down. Maybe I just did something while I was exercising, speaking of which, I was given a new exercise since one of the doorway exercises was too much. I'll use the theraband for the new one.
You know one thing too, I want to make sure that I make it down to see my grandson because I made a promise to him and I will not break it no matter what!!! I can't wait any longer to see him, it's just too important to spend time with him. I'll get the surgery done before the holiday season though if it comes to that because I want to be working during the holiday season! I had such a great time last season, I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today during therapy my therapist told me that what he and the Supervising therapist are doing is bringing me up to a threshhold where I can do the exercises and modalities without significant pain but if they push it too much then I can expect some pain and they'll just back off. Their goal is to get me to a point where my pain level is lower for a period of two weeks, even a month. Until I reach that point I will be going through therapy. He said though that they will reach the point when they have to decide with the doctor whether to send me to the surgeon. It's through their communication with him that the decision will be reached. It's also up to me because if I ever reach the point when I say okay, I've suffered enough, I can stop it all and just go for the surgery so they're listening to me too. What was strange today was when he was doing the ultrasound on me, I tried laying my head on the table and I couldn't get comfortable with my head in any position, laying face down, side to side, nothing worked. He made the comment that I was seeming restless and I conveyed to him that I felt as though there was a pulling sensation in the muscle along my neck. He did some deep massage after the ultrasound and it felt great. When I got home though the sensation of pulling traveled down my back on the right hand side and went around my ribs until it took my breath away and I had to bend over and go sit down. Maybe I just did something while I was exercising, speaking of which, I was given a new exercise since one of the doorway exercises was too much. I'll use the theraband for the new one.
You know one thing too, I want to make sure that I make it down to see my grandson because I made a promise to him and I will not break it no matter what!!! I can't wait any longer to see him, it's just too important to spend time with him. I'll get the surgery done before the holiday season though if it comes to that because I want to be working during the holiday season! I had such a great time last season, I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry girl, but all your doing is putting yourself thru more pain than you need to do. AND putting yourself at risk for permanent nerve damage. Almost no-one wants surgery, but that's why God created brilliant surgeons with brilliant hands. To help us! The longer you put it off, the more damage you are doing to yourself, and the longer it will take to recover. I know you have tried everything to avoid having surgery, but sounds like it's time girl. I don't know about the Topomax, but I'm like you, I hate mixing up a cocktail of meds, sometimes the side effects are worse than the benefits. Good luck.
Okay, I've done some more reading on WEBMD about this medication and I still don't like what I'm reading about it. Maybe I'm just being silly but some of the side effects kind of scare me. I don't know when I'll ever become comfortable with this medication or if I will for that matter. I don't know if he knows that I take Lasix but it's on my chart and I noticed that it said something about if you take a water pill, so I'm not sure what to do. Lasix was not listed but other names were, just not the generic name even so is it precluded as having a side effect with it...or?? I have only ten minutes left to decide if I'm taking my pain meds or this Topamax and I'm leaning in the other direction again until I really figure out what to do. I may call the poison control center and ask them about the interaction between the Vicodin and Phenergan. It mentioned Codeine and I take the Vicodin with APAP...codeine in other words so I still wonder what to do...UGH...I wish I didn't have to make this type of decision it's making me nuts in and of itself!!!!
he asked me if I felt better the day after or the next day after the PT
NOT after surgery...since I haven't had it yet...
NOT after surgery...since I haven't had it yet...
With the latest visit, he told me that he's only willing to go as far as having an epidural and if that doesn't work then it's on to surgery, he won't let me keep trying to put it off. He asked me if I feel better the next day or day after surgery or worse and I couldn't deny the truth. I've felt worse each and every time. I feel good for a few hours after given that they're using the ultrasound, massage, HWave and Ice blanket but the next day I feel so bad that I do not want to go back and have considered not doing it. I just want something to work so that I don't have to go through the surgery. I know that I can't keep ignoring the fact that I go numb, I hate that feeling too and I still wake up when I am numb. I'm more than likely hoping against hope but my doctor will help me decide the outcome. After the visits that I've had with him, I'm confident of the care I'm receiving and quite comfortable in his decision making abilities. He knows that I don't want surgery, he's known all along and that was why he has agreed to let me try things first. He also knows when to throw in the towel and send me on to the surgeon. I'm sitting here now with a lidoderm patch on my back and the tens unit doing it's job on my shoulders and neck. I have to leave the patch on for a full 12 hours. I've got roughly two more hours to go then I take it off. I have to admit that I've yet to try the Topamax and it's mostly because of a drug interaction fear that I have to alleviate somehow. I am going to research it some more and see if there's any interaction between it and Vicodin and Phenergan(antiemetic) since I do take those routinely for pain control.
Thank you for your concern Patsy, I really do appreciate it.
NaniKai~
Thank you for your concern Patsy, I really do appreciate it.
NaniKai~
I hope I'm wrong but from your other posts my opinion is you will need surgery. You sound like you may have nerve damage to me. Nerve damage doesn't go away for the most part but surgery can prevent more damage. I waited 3 months and cancelled the surgery once because I didn't feel I needed it. I have permanent damage now. Pt can strengthen muscles etc...but it will not correct bad disks.
Saturday night (a week ago) I went to the movie, Transformers with my grandson, daughter and her bf. I thought ...okay can I handle this just having gotten over another migraine??? I told myself, you just have to, you haven't seen your daughter (inner voice speaking) and going to the movie sounds like fun and a way to have family time. I went and had the time of my life, my grandson sat by me and I got to know firsthand who the bad guys and good guys were via a six year old's explanation. It was so great seeing his eyes light up, smile on his face and hearing his laughter, my miigraine just faded off into the distance.
Sunday was quiet and this week has just been filled with the PT, Dentist (had my temporary crown put on my front teeth). I spent 5 hours in the dental chair with both arms outstretched and locked on the armrests!!! I max'xed out on Carbocaine and I still don't know why so much is required when I go in, but for major procedures, I typically use up the max dosage.
I was told one side effect is weight loss, okay, I'm for that and it will relieve some pressure on my joints in my knees (or lack thereof on the right knee). You know that I showed the Head Physical Therapist my right knee yesterday and he did not like the mottling that has never gone away on my knee. He said that after all this time, it should have gone away completely. It's still very visible and he told me that it's indicative of circulation problems. I kind of figured this but I have areas of numbness and I do not feel the heat from the pad until it's on the highest setting making me believe that I am not getting any relief from pain unless it's on the HIGHER setting.
I hope that you're doing well, it sure sounds like you've come along with your healing, that's good to see. You take really good care of yourself.
Today is my day of rest because I've had very little rest time this week. Yesterday I had three appointments and ended up leaving home at 8:30 am and returning at 5:30 pm...it was a full time job running to and keeping the appointments via the city transit system.
Sunday was quiet and this week has just been filled with the PT, Dentist (had my temporary crown put on my front teeth). I spent 5 hours in the dental chair with both arms outstretched and locked on the armrests!!! I max'xed out on Carbocaine and I still don't know why so much is required when I go in, but for major procedures, I typically use up the max dosage.
I was told one side effect is weight loss, okay, I'm for that and it will relieve some pressure on my joints in my knees (or lack thereof on the right knee). You know that I showed the Head Physical Therapist my right knee yesterday and he did not like the mottling that has never gone away on my knee. He said that after all this time, it should have gone away completely. It's still very visible and he told me that it's indicative of circulation problems. I kind of figured this but I have areas of numbness and I do not feel the heat from the pad until it's on the highest setting making me believe that I am not getting any relief from pain unless it's on the HIGHER setting.
I hope that you're doing well, it sure sounds like you've come along with your healing, that's good to see. You take really good care of yourself.
Today is my day of rest because I've had very little rest time this week. Yesterday I had three appointments and ended up leaving home at 8:30 am and returning at 5:30 pm...it was a full time job running to and keeping the appointments via the city transit system.
I had been wondering how you are ****? It sounds to me that it might be time for surgery..I know you don't want to hear that. But..since my surgery on June 4th, I haven't had one headache. I am now up to 10 laps in my pool 2-3 times a week, and walking a mile almost every day. Yes surgery is a scary option, but I'm so glad for the relief from the headaches. Please keep us informed how your are doing. God Bless
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