Dave Bugg wrote:
> That is why I'm facing steroid injections. The docs seem to think that there
> is a possibility that my nerve trunk is still aggravated and extremely
> grouchy from having been severely impinged prior to surgery. The steroid
> injections may sooth and decrease any swelling in the nerve so that there is
> no more impingement. A nerve that is no longer swollen will have plenty of
> space around it and go from being irritated and angry to non-irritated and
> happy. This approach seems reasonable to me. It is far simpler and less
> costly than surgery. It is like making sure that a stereo, which will not
> turn-on, is not unplugged before opening 'er up and digging around the
> circuit boards.
>
> BTW, I am taking neurontin, robaxin, and ibuprofen every 8 hours. This makes
> the pain tolerable during the day, but I have very limited activity. I am
> doing physical therapy and doing exercises at home. Although I have
> hydrocodone, I limit taking it until a half-hour prior to bed. It really
> helps reduce the percieved pain level to a point which I can get about 3-4
> hours of sleep each night. About once a week, I am soooo desperately tired
> that my body lets me sleep for about 8 hours before the pain breaks through
> the exhaustion and wakes me up.
>
> I hope this helps; maybe what I wrote will strike a cord of something
> similar. This is, of course, my perspective and your issues certainly are
> going to be different.
>
> For me, it isn't just the pain that make things suck. It is the inability to
> function normally and to be able to get back to work and be productive.

Dave, I hope the steroid injections will help you get your life back.
Pain is no fun, and chronic pain can really do a number on you.


Om, I just finished a Medrol pack for respiratory problems. Right now,
my sense of smell has returned and it is just awesome, I run around
smelling of everything. At times, steroids seem to fix whatever ails
you. For several months, I had plantar fasciitis, when I took a Medrol
pack for respiratory problems, the plantar fasciitis went away, and that
was 3 yrs ago.


Becca