CAREGIVER'S CORNER NO. 6==Some follow-up stuff

I haven’t written anything for a while since there hasn’t been much going on around here. But I need to catch up on what has been going on.

I was having a LOT of trouble with my back. Some of it started about 7 years ago when I had my knee surgery. While I was doing home physical therapy for my first knee replacement I herniated a disc in my lumbar region. As a result I had a lot of sciatic pain along with numbness on the inner aspect of my right foot and my right big toe. In addition, I had a moderate degree of drop foot, not enough that my foot would drag, but enough that I had an limp. By the time someone decided something should be done, it was too late to correct the numbness and I was not ready for the only solution offered—fusion of two or three lumbar vertebrae. So I put up with it.

About three months ago, I was about to surrender and consult a surgeon to talk about surgery when I read an advertisement from a chiropractor about a new traction technique that he claimed was revolutionary and so Carrie and I went to see him. He took a couple of X-rays and told me what he thought would resolve my problem—all for only $2,700. Well I took the bait and at first I did get some relief, but then I didn’t seem to progress any further and I was still having problems. Again, I was ready to talk to a surgeon, but then read about a lecture by an orthopedic surgeon about minimally invasive back surgery. I went to the lecture and was impressed by the fact that he said the last thing he wanted to do was lay a knife on anyone. He also discussed pain management treatments that were being done by his partner, a pain management specialist. I thought maybe I had finally found someone I could talk to about my back.

I went to see Carrie’s neurologist and she thought that perhaps these two physicians might be able to help me, so with referral in hand, I went to see the pain management specialist, a Dr. Deeni Basaam. We discussed treatments and he recommended a two-step procedure. He would do an epidural injection consisting of Marcaine, a pain reliever and a steroid, Cortisone. Two weeks later, he would do eight more injections along the lumbar facets using the same two medications.

He did the epidural and it was absolutely amazing—instant relief—no pain, which was something I had not experienced for 7 years! Unfortunately, I made the mistake of returning to the chiropractor for some follow-up physical therapy, to include the aforementioned traction. Sadly, after the traction, I could hardly get off the traction table. Some of the pain remained and yesterday I went back for the second set of injections. So far my back is feeling very good and you can bet, no more chiropractor.

At this point, let me say something about chiropractics. I believe they do have a place in the treatment spectrum, but as the neurologist said, “They don’t CURE anything.” I sort of subscribe to this idea, but I also think that they can do some good for acute conditions involving disc problems and subluxation problems—that is where there has been some slippage of the vertebrae. But I don’t think they have a place for chronic conditions such as mine. It just cost me three grand to find that out.

If you have acute back-pain, consider a chiropractor, but do so knowing that if your condition has gone on for some time, this may not be the best move. My advice is to consider a pain management specialist. Try to remember that surgery should always be a last resort.

Now, how about my bride? Well, she is doing well. I think she may have plateaued, but that is not to say she will not continue to improve. For example, we are getting ready to go to Maine in a couple of weeks and she has taken it upon herself to do what she always did P.S. (Pre-stroke) and that is to organize all the “stuff” that we take along for the trip. She started with just getting the car ready—all the unnecessary junk out and then she has started rounding up “stuff” and then got out the baskets that we use for this “stuff”, plus found the fan we normally take along. When I say, “stuff”, this includes such things as chargers for various electronic stuff, maps, parts for our GPS and other odds and ends. While we do have a vacation check list, she has done all this without aid of the list.

Earlier this past week, we went to Fredericksburg to be with family and friends for the Fourth of July. She decided to have her nails done and had them do “stars and stripes” on several nails to celebrate the Fourth and the arrival our our grandson Joe who is a Navy CB.

I tell you these things because just when I think things have leveled off, I find that she is doing something that she did P.S. This is not to say that she doesn’t have problems—she does. Her aphasia remains about the same, but even this has improved ever so slightly. She still has problems find the right word for something, but if she “finds” the word or I help her with some very general hints, she usually remembers that word after that. Mathematical work is still a problem, yet she is able to go on-line and pay her bills; however, she has a lot of trouble balancing her checkbook. Composition is a labor of love, but she generally does well when she puts herself to the task—it just takes time and she is sometimes unsure of spelling and usage, but what she writes is very good and well thought out. What is necessary to understand is that she has to “find” the words, review how it is spelled and used and do all of this with a part of her brain that was severely “attacked”—I don’t like the term “damaged”. She had a severe brain attack and she is fighting back. Patience, understanding and love are the keys to success. We continue to talk down this path together and I believe she will continue to improve—time is a great healer.