Update:
Yesterday,
church was a painful experience. My hip
pain started hurting while driving to church.
It continued to intensify all during the service. While walking to the car afterwards I had to
stop while excruciating pain coursed through my leg down to my toes. I was very glad to get home. It seems like when I am in the recliner with
my legs up, I have a reduced amount of pain.
My wife
really isn’t into comics. I love them
and try to share the best with her; but I rarely get any reaction from her when
I do. However, I showed her Sunday’s
Garfield comic and she laughed and said, “You’ve GOT to include this in your
blog—This is so you!” So here you go:
Over the
last few months, I’ve had an increased level of pain that has severely drained
my energy levels. I’ve had to take naps
during the day and at times I find that I have drifted off to sleep when I sit
down for a few minutes unless I am actively engaged with something. I seemed to be getting a bit better before I
started taking Lyrica but now my napping and going to bed earlier has increased. Yes indeed, it is a pretty exciting place
around the Hurd home. “What are you
going to do this evening?” “Uhh. Start
getting ready for bed by 7:30 p.m. so I can be in bed by 8 or 8:30 at the
latest.”
My wife and
I are continuing to discuss whether I will stay on Lyrica. Although it seems like most of the side
effects have diminished; my wife says that I am still not myself. I get easily confused or lost (“What did I
come in here for?”). I am more irritable
than normal. I continue to have malodorous
flatulence (such pretty words for something so foul). And I still have pain. Overall, I think the severity and frequency
of the pain is less; but it still plagues me.
This morning I woke up at 3:30 a.m. with enough pain that I couldn’t get
back to sleep. I think that I will go
off Lyrica and see how bad the pain is without it. And perhaps go back on it to compare the pain
levels again. This definitely is not a
clear cut win or lose scenario. So it
will take some evaluation.
I’ve got an
appointment this afternoon with my prosthetist.
There are a couple of minor adjustments that she wanted to make in an
attempt to increase my comfort.
My MRI is
scheduled for next Monday. After that,
we’ll have a clearer picture of what is happening in my spine and sciatic nerve
and can then formulate a treatment plan to help alleviate my pain. Some possibilities include physical therapy,
steroid shots in the spine, surgery, chiropractic care, etc. It all depends upon what they find.
I am amazed
at how quickly time flies and at the same time how slowly it moves. “I have to wait another entire week until my
MRI. My, it is already April.” March just flew by for me and yet when I had
the worst side effects from Lyrica, each day seemed to drag on forever. It’s strange how we perceive time. If we are waiting for something to happen—the
clock moves incredibly slowly. If we are
busy and engaged, the days and weeks fly by.
This is just a reminder to all those who are young and spry and busy
with a full schedule. Don’t forget to
take time for your parents or older relatives and friends. If they don’t have much going on in their
lives, your call, note, or visit might be the bright point of their day or week. I know that you might not have a moment to spare
throughout the day; but make the time—your contact with them will be a blessing
to them.
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