Rest assured I won't delay. DW is on the way to the pharmacy, can't wait to see what she comes back with. I'll be surprised if it's anything stronger.

Dirt

Dirt, In my experience, a bulging disc does not mean surgery. Traction is a good treatment for a bulging disc. Are you having pain all the way down your arm too? Like into your fingers, causing some numbness, coolness, etc?

What did you do to yourself or do you remember?

The doctor wanted you to go to the Er so you could get a shot most likely.

I've worked around a lot of this kind ofthing and experienced a good bit of it myself. I had a herniated disc that actually got straightened out with traction (what worked for me and I was able to treat myself at home with a traction kit).

Good luck. I'm experiencing some problems in my left shoulder now from lifting too much stuff up over my head.

quote:

The doctor wanted you to go to the Er so you could get a shot most likely.

Nope, she flat refuses to prescribe Percocet because:
1. She thinks I'm addicted!
2. She refuses to listen to her patient!
3. She is non-versed in pain
evaluation/treatment!
4. She thinks all bodies are created equal!
5. Reasons unknown!

I have a home cervical traction device from PT, waiting for an MD evaluation before using it again. Had to stop PT 2 weeks ago because of increase in pain. While panicking for some pain relief I tried traction but relief lasted less than a minute.

Pain stops at about bicep level, get some tingling to my wrist.

quote:

What did you do to yourself or do you remember?

Had another birthday recently!

Thanks all for advice/concern/suggestions. They provide some pain relief.

Dirt

I am a Rehab Massage Therapist! I have almost a 99% success rate with this! Have testimonials - will travel *wink*
Sorry dirt, I know what it's like...very specific massage and facilitated stretching by someone who knows their anatomy inside and out works wonders. We (the public in general) need access to the P.T's the pro football players get! That's what I think!

My husband is at the pain clinic right now finding out what they can do for him. He has cervical spinal stenosis. He has degenerative discs in his neck that are crushing his spine. Excrutiating pain. He's been off work for 2 weeks since he can't work with the pain meds he's taking. Had an appt with the surgeon but they keep moving it. Now he's seeing about getting shots. He did that 2 years ago for a while and it seemed to help but now it's back worse than ever. Now his doctor gave him some good stuff and said if it didn't work, they'd talk about morphine and other things! He's a pretty good doc!
I hope you get this taken care of, I know (from my husband) what it's like to deal with it all. Good luck!!

quote:

Originally posted by OregonRed:
We (the public in general) need access to the P.T's the pro football players get! That's what I think!

Got one. A friend is checking for me. The gal (Is it OK to say gal?) that I jump judge for has a friend that's a good message therapist that I might try.

Dirt

DW just returned and Dr raised strength to 7.5Mg Hydrocodone with a refill. My money says it will be ineffective but at least she heard me. Just looked at MRI on CD and for those of you who may have been wondering I have a brain! I could see the bottom of it. I know that'll be news to phoebe but I have documented proof!

Dirt

Geez, Dirt!

Not on here much lately, but I did catch some of the other thread about this and I'm sorry you have gone through so much pain!

I have taken those meds before and I didn't think that strength helped much either for me, but maybe it will work for you!

Good luck and keep us posted! And, congrats on having/confirming a brain! LOL!

Aww, Dirt, I hope you can conquer this. Your doctor doesn't deserve the patience you've shown her. Any chance you can see someone else?

ericah, hope your husband is getting some relief and healing. My pain is insignificant to what some folks are going through. Got to try to keep it in perspective.

Dirt

quote:

Originally posted by OregonRed:
I am a Rehab Massage Therapist! I have almost a 99% success rate with this! Have testimonials - will travel *wink*
Sorry dirt, I know what it's like...very specific massage and facilitated stretching by someone who knows their anatomy inside and out works wonders. We (the public in general) need access to the P.T's the pro football players get! That's what I think!

You can get farther apart than Oregon and S. Carolina and still stay in the continental U.S., but it ain't easy!!!!!

Thanks Dirt. He got a cortisone shot Friday and I sure hope it kicks in and starts working! He's been a bit more um....irritated lately.
Another thing a friend mentioned is some kind of decompression thing. She swears by it and has been pain free for a while now.

quote:

Originally posted by Dirt Pit:

Nope, she flat refuses to prescribe Percocet because:
1. She thinks I'm addicted!

Maybe if you hadn't shown up as Smurfette...

Next available appointment for ortho at the Army hospital is December. Asked for a referral to civilian doctor. Waiting!

Dirt

Appointment with ortho (not the pesticide guys) surgeon this Thursday. Note the time lapse since my last post, highly irritated during the interim.

Learned how the system works and am well pleased. Drafting a letter to the hospital Commanding Officer voicing my concerns over the hospital bureaucrats conduct. Compared to the treatment and service I received from the last group I visited (the insurance company referral reps - (((("Can you hear me Wayne?"))))) the hospital customer service just barely hits the charts.

I finally found the Tricare Referral office Friday morning and left with a revised referral (and several other doctors names to shop if I wanted) in less than 10 minutes with instructions to return if I needed anything else.

Dirt (Happy Camper)