1st Block & insights afterwards

I felt better this morning than I had the last couple of weeks.  I have still been recover from being so sick after the antibiotics & Plaquenil.

I was going to go somewhere today, butagain it was heating up & I don't do well in the heat, was still a bit weak, but in less pain than my hips & back had been in quiet a while, which has been draining me, so I thought bette

After being VERY sick for that 2 months, I'm still recovering, still exhausted, but thankfully breathing better.  I'm tired of the doctor appointments, the medications that have seeminglymade things worse.

 I'm wondering if the flouroquinolone antibiotics didn't play a part, if not caused the memory issues. 

Plaquenil was likely a trigger of the comple

I was up late last night talking to a family member. I woke up this morning with a headache - mostly the back of my head & neck. I played some video games, fell asleep, was woken up by abdominalspasms not knowing weather it wass early morning (which it seemed to be), or early evening.

I've been craving sweets, especially frozen yogurt, although I often have allergic-type reac

I've been having spasms, primarily in my abdomen & legs, but hands, shoulders, arms, etc. again like "MS", or so an old doctor told me. It's no wonder I've got strong abdominal muscles, even when I've been in bed for a couple of months. With that, the other symptoms that seem to be similar to, or perhaps even porpheria - urine changes, some dark, some clo

I STILL have profuse sweating & a few blistery bumps & some others that seem to be small blisters or "semi-pimple" like bumps - breast still painful & enlarged- I don';t feel with the pain that "sit & wait" is a good idea, yet am SO tired a LOT of the time. I'm not feeling well STILL!

I'm still not able to eat regularly, and when I do,

Well,  don't recall if my last post was before or after my right breast became too engorged/painful to ignore, or the additional mammogram & ultrasound, being sent to a surgeon, thathad a "wait & see" attitude (not acceptable in my book), and still having problems breathing,, antibiotics didn't do a lot, but did, with Mucinex & cold meds (Corcidin Cough &

I hope today is the worst of this shingles crap. My left side of my abdomen is burning, not unlike the RSD pain, but this seems to be more on the skin & not bone-deep. This started with my havingwhat I thought was a really bad cold & allergies, then when the blisters started on my upper back, I figured it was shingles.

I haven't been able to sleep but a car nap here & ther

Yuck!

When these blisters started, it seemed to start to subside as quickly as it came on.  Well, I did take valcyclovir as soon as it showed up, so perhaps that helped. I threw it up sometimelast night though & the rash/blisters are coming back a bit.

Last night/this morning, I had a terrible time typing & had to retype & use the mouse a lot to correct the spelling

 I got a call-back from my Rjeumatologist's office & the gal told me to stop taking the Plaquenil, so I took my last dose yesterday morning..

I started on Valtrex again, with antibiotics & taken off the Plaquenil, as I got very sick after about 2 weeks w/ a rash that look l

I had the pharmacy refill my Vsltrex I've taken as needed for HSV over the past few years. I know it also helps with shingles & so I'm back on it, thi time sd regular as possible. The 1gram tablets are hard to swollow, especially with a sore throat,, and to my knowledge I'be not had shingles before... at least not diagnosed, yet this appears to be a shingles rash... yuck/ouch/it

I had my diagnostic mammogram & ultrasound done. The tech told me I had a cyst and my doctor would go over it with me.

I got a call today from the nurse telling me that they had set an appointmentwith a general surgeon. No explanations, other than I have cysts in both my one breast & an enlarged axillary lymph node (under arm, on the right side.

There was no explanation of a

I took a nap all afternoon yesterday, am still coughing & dealing with my swollen right breast. I woke up a little while ago, took my evening dose of medications, then a few hours later, my Plaquenil.

 A few hours after this, I broke out on my upper back in small blisters, like either shingles or HSV, yet had never had a herpes outbreak in this location before.

I'm

I felt immediately better with a proventil inhaler after the first couple of doses (2 at a time, twice a day), I felt immediately better & fell asleep. After a few hours of deep sleep, I woke upcoughing again, so I got back on the Mucinex & the Corcidin HBP, then felt better again. I'm VERY tired & still occasionally coughing up sputum, yet I can think better & fee

I've been sick with a really bad cold (and the oak & other trees dumping pollen hasn't helped) since last Thursday. At first it seemed like just allergies, then my ears were plugged up. On a trip I had to go up a grade (maybe 700 ft or so) on Friday & it was then I realized how blocked up my ears were, coughed up some wonderfully green stuff  knew it was more than just 

While my headache isn't totally gone, going to the chiropractor & resting in a dark, quiet room for a couple of days helped the migraine quite a bit.

 My good leg hurts a lot still. I think it was tightening up from the pain, or I slept without it being supported & my hip, knee & ankle hurt a lot. Walking isn't easy at all. It's been frustrating.

Typing

Migraine today, couldn't sleep last night - pain levels high. Urine orange this afternoon. Wondering if this Plaquenil is the issue, or if I need a neck adjustment & to be more hydrated? Alsohad a couple of blisters pop up & some itching (yet it's allergy season here too, so may be that simple?) Also VERY light sensitive, seemingly more than usual, yet could be from the migraine

I can't take Methotrexate because I have HCV (Hepatitis C), so we're go

Just a follow-up from yesterday...

Ouch!

I'm still, sore & likely not going anywhere today. Hands hurt, neck is sore (likely from being weak), headache, hands hurt... OK, everythinghurts today. L hand is swollen more than the right & is painful, shoulders are tight, low back & tail bone hurts, legs hurt, a few cramps in my L foot, both feet are swollen, L wrist &

I saw my neuro doc & rheumatologist. Green light for Plaqenil from my rheumi & things staying pretty much the same w/ the neuro doc.

 Rheumi had no objections to the immunizations & they seem like a good idea. Things pretty much the same w/ my neuro doc. 

I drove myself to both today after re-starting PT, which was difficult & painful, but kn

After having a phlebotomist shake all the blood samples after drawing them, getting an "indeterminate" result for typing of HCV & seeing that many tests for HCV have stopped running altogetherdue to a  shortage of reagents, I can only wonder about the results and had thought we'd be running a test a month or so later. We'll see.

I saw the gastro doc this last week. :sigh: Asked me if I had any questions, I had a few for now, he ordered some labs we clearly need to type the HCV... Clearlyhe's dealt with some weird stigma that HCV has for some people it seems.

My rheumy doc told me absolutely no Methotr

I had a caudal injection again Friday, and had forgotten that the time before last (or was it the last time?) I had a milder reaction. Felt similar to a food allergy. I had been itching, feeling likeI could scratch through my skin to the bone this time, as if I had been given corticosteroids, yet I was given lidocaine.

 I had hoped not, but it seems I might have developed an allergy

I saw the neurodoc today. He's sending me for an x-ray of my hand, which still hurts, is swelling & possibly a fracture or tendon issue. It's definitely been keeping me up at night w/ headaches, RSD leg is flared up, numbness, pain, burning, twitching, hip and back hurt.

Hoping to avoid surgery & if it is fractured, that it's all in place, yet not so sure. Adding a spl

I was in an accident & am still resting/healing.

I'll try to get back on soon. 

It's been a while since I've been on. Went through more PT for my shoulders, yet PT for my foot/leg was cut off, so I've had to do my best without it on my own. It seems that PT in the forms of swimming, etc.  would be more helpful than going through more injections under general anesthesia (surgical/procedures), yet insurance does what they do & still don't seem t

Hi all,

I saw the neurologist the other day. He said I'm looking/doing far better than he's ever seen me. The PT is still going slower than I hoped & yes, I'm still in pain, butI think we at least have it under far better control. I'm at least able to get some sleep, walking more than a block still takes me down for a couple of days and I'm still not able to do a w

I went to a local mall yesterday, walked about the equivalent of a couple of blocks, then to a friend's, my foot & leg pain was clearly elevated, as was the discoloration. My foot & legbecame purple (again, and even my "good" leg was a light tinge of purple. It was also VERY hot outside, was in a home with A/C most of the day, yet still woke up very dehydrated this morning

Hi all,

I haven't been feeling my best. Been freezing cold, despite it being in the 70's-90's here.  I put on 10+ lbs. in just a bout 3 weeks. Seems my thyroid levelis prolly low. I had some pretty good days in the last month, yet was in an area where the pollen & I don't get along well & my allergies have had me pretty messed up since last week.

Hi all again,

Well, the flash of skin heat stopped...In retrospect, I think the flash was from the Lidocaine spinal injection I just had & not the fish oil or vitamin D.  Either way, I don't want to repeat that again.

 I called the doctor's office about an error in my prescription & about the "hot flash" after the Lidocaine & mentioned the vit

Here we go again...

I'm not sure if I have the flu, an infection from the spinal injection the other day, another "bump" from the steroids I  was given last year or ???

Hi everyone,

It's been  while since I've been on, so I'll update.

Foot & leg are better overall when I look at the pictures & my notes. It seems the Ketamine w/ the last sympathetic nerve block without steroids worked longer than those with the steroids I got so sick from. I'm still losing hair, and what I have is so much less than before, but

It was a long day today. Trip to 3 doctors in one day. It was a lot longer drive than usual. I suppose holiday traffic?

Great news! no sleep apnea, so who knows what else is wrong in my med chartsfrom way back?

As for the meds, I'm only taking the bare necessities for now & we agreed to change my Opana ER to fentanyl patches instead & add an inferential (INF) unit (an ex

I woke up this morning not feeling well, then passed a stool with some blood on it. Not a lot, but with the symptoms I've been having, I was a little concerned. 

I'd called the GIdoc's office twice last week to try to get the results, so my other doctors could have them, and hoping the doctor would call me back, as I was told, in a day or two after the  test. It;s be

I took 1/2 tsp of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) with 4oz of water around 11pm last night, and had taken my pain med about an hour before. I also ate salad around 10pm. All of it came up again. I'm still waiting to hear from the GI doc. I know that the sodium bicarb crystals from the upper GI series I had made the pain meds work better, or seemingly so. I'm concerned about the level o

I'm in bed & can't believe how much pain I was in last night & this am. They say the crystals that make CO2 make you burp too... not me... just hurt all night, as did  my legs & L arm - not just my shoulder. I'm hoping to hear from my GI doc today. I need some pain relief... the meds don't seem to be doing much... I'm wondering if I'm digesting anyth

Hi all,

I'm still around, just had to take a break for a while. Was vomiting & seems had an intestinal blockage, so went in for an upper GI series today. I'd been vomiting& no BMs for about 3-4 weeks, then the day before thanksgiving, my doc friend thankfully wrote me for Creon (pancreatic enzymes). I'd cleared out my intestines with roughly 6x t

I woke up around 4:30am literally throwing up. I'd eaten a fairly good sized, heavy meal yesterday & I think it stopped up my intestines, or my pain levels were just too high. I aspirated someof it trying to get to the bathroom & wondered if I was going to get back to breathing or have to call 911. Scary. It was so acidic that it kinda burned my throat & made me horse.

I f

I had a better day the second half of yesterday & today.

My son picked me up for my & a friend's combined birthday party.

I got to see some old friends & meet a few new& catch up a bit.

It was nice to get out! We would have stayed longer, but my son was tired, so he had to go after a while, but it was really nice to get out of the 4 walls of my bedroom to

I'm feeling a lot better today. Yesterday I felt totally drugged... seems some of the meds got caught up somewhere & let go in my system yesterday. I'm not going to drive for a while untilI'm sure this is over-with. It probably is, but I want to be sure. I remember years ago having a surgery where it came back a few times over several days, and one of my earlier blocks I had it

The anesthetics are back. I'm not sure why meds do that with me, but they do.

 I'm having a difficult time typing, but my pan levels are down & I feel like I'm about as sedatedas I was in post-op.  I'm a bit nauseated & going back to sleep if I can. I wish this feeling would go away. I feel really screw up. 

Just wanted to document this...

Today I feel like a zombie. I remember going to the bathroom yesterday & it hurting ridiculously bad.

I'm still not sure what started the burning higher up my leg, but inpost-op, it felt like something went through my veins. I dunno what, but it still hurts & I'm still WAY out of it today.  

I know with the lidocaine injection I had, I was out for a

I slept a good deal of the 6th, was in a lot of pain. I was exhausted when I got to the office, the tech got me hooked up to all the wires, sensors, etc. & I was in a LOT of pain, even after takingmy pm meds when I got there. I wondered if the tech was going to get the data he needed. In the am he said he did. I told him I was exhausted & he called the doc from his cell phone. The doc t

I said I'd upload more pictures... This is from October 12th, just after 2am. Not nice to wake up in pain, even with new meds on-board (Ouch!) Both legs & feet are involved. See pics as it doesn't seem to be posting pics here.

Having adverse reaction to new med for pain - itching, occasional blurred vision, skin tingling started in face & upon getting up body wide & more.

 Why the FDA/Purdue seem to not have plans for those this new OP version of OC & states they have no plan B for their new formulation of OxyContin OP version is beyond me.

The American Pain Society is awar

I wondered why I absolutely felt SO crappy before & after my block on Aug. 30th. I wasn't able to go to PT a week before & when I did, I was back on my cane, not sleeping, sick,  etc. & couldn't wait to get in to get some relief.

As it turns out, the company that makes OxyContin changed the formula & my doctor changed me to another medication that I have to ta

I'm starting to feel some better from the Kenalog ordeal, but still in a lot of pain, in bed, still VERY tired/exhausted, am starting to sleep a little better & hurt a lot everywhere. I'm hoping the effects of that will disappear & soon! They say the corticosteroids only stay in your system for a few days, but I have to wonder how long the effects keep on for, as my past experie

I was able to hold down food yesterday afternoon & earlier today! :)  

 I woke up w/ heart pounding again/sweating/burning up around 8:30pm. I could have only been asleep for 3-4 hours, yet it seemed like it had been all night.

My R foot/ankle and leg hurt like he** when I got up to go to the bathroom.  Both are red, right is far darker.

I am having to proce

As long as I'm careful how I move, I'm... well better than if I do move much.

Going to neuro doc on Tuesday again - they tell me for joint injections. They couldn't tell me if I coulddrive after... hope they are open Monday, even with the holiday. Driving is well, a serious challenge at best right now...  The Toradol seemed to  settle things down a bit. I'm not t

I woke up about 6:30am here soaked & burning up. Temp is 97.7 according to my thermometer. I felt my heart pounding a little last night, although I'm pretty good at meditation/relaxation, whichdid help, it did concern me. I had a little of that when I was 3 sheets to the wind from the anesthetics. What concerns me most I suppose is that I wasn't concerned when I should have been.&nb

Hmm... Seems I injured my R shoulder around February. No knowledge of L shoulder injury, and didn't notice a problem until started PT... then noticed it immediately!

 I have to laughre: the vision thing. I'd told me neuro doc my vision had changed a diopter & a half in less than a year. His response was that I should see an eye doctor... LOL Anyone else get this? ROFL

Last night was a very long night. Pain still off the charts, so called my PCPs & my neuro doc's offices to find out when they'd be in today. I recalled in the short-term, and rather rapidly, Toradol worked wonders... found a nurse prac. was at the PCP's office, then called the neuro doc to be sure it wouldn't cross with anything he gave me in surgery on Monday, & got the

Felt pretty out of touch with just about everything today. Had a VERY rough night & day, but managed to get some rest. Still in a lot of pain. Gal that helps me took the bandage off this am - noband-aids this time - gauze & paper tape. Seems I was red under that tape. I asked for a Tegaderm (breathable clear sticker used generally for IVs to hold the catheter in for those not famil

Hi all,

Had my 4th block yesterday. Anesthetics wore off & I'm VERY sore everywhere today - especially my legs, feet, shoulders & neck.  I wish the anesthetics didn't wearoff until the Kenalog kicked in. So I'll keep this short. I felt great yesterday, foot is feeling better that before block, but legs, shoulders hurt more, hips too. Can't wait until this pain

OK, I should have gone in sooner. Block #4 scheduled for later this month. Foot & ankle far more swollen. Hurt head to toe. Trip to doctor 2.5 hours each way was too much, so going to have to geton top of this thing.

Was going pretty well. PT is tough & wears me out easily, but it feels good to get into the 95 degree water. We pushed it last Wednesday, I'm sure to see what I a

Had a rough day on day 4. Started high doses of Valtrex - 1GM/ 3x/day and  K citrate -didn't tolerate it well at all. Lot of jerks, twitches, etc. Stopped both.

 The symptoms allbut stopped about 24 hours after stopping the Valtrex and potassium, which I did stagger from each other and my other meds.

 Will maybe try one or the other when I have a day of nothing to

I went to the mail box again today without crutches. YAY! 

 I also tried to put my foot in my tennis shoes... I could get it in there, but after 2 steps it hurt like heck and still not as pain-free as it was. Hoping some elevation, and maybe heat will help? 

 I was able to walk around the house a little bit as well, and need to stay up for 1/2 hour with a couple

I saw my endocrinologist today. We changed the type of calcium (citrate vs. carbonate)+ vitamin D supplement, added potassium citrate 2x/day (both to keep the kidney stones at bay - I've had quitea few over the years) + Valtrex 2 times a day for EBV, HSV &/or HHV-6. I've had recurring EBV infections over the years.

 I didn't really need my crutch today, but used it mo

I saw my endocrinologist today. We changed the type of calcium (citrate vs. carbonate)+ vitamin D supplement, added potassium citrate 2x/day (both to keep the kidney stones at bay - I've had quitea few over the years) + Valtrex 2 times a day for EBV, HSV &/or HHV-6. I've had recurring EBV infections over the years.

 I didn't really need my crutch today, but used it mo

I had my 3rd block today L2-L3.The surgery went really well. I just got home. I flinched when the nurse or id put a blanket over me and went on my foot after surgery, but to my surprise, it didn't hurt. Was an awesome experience. Doc said they had a contrast dye other than iodine, which I may have had a slight reaction to in the past. I was able to walk almost a block when I first got out o

Last night I realized I have a yeast infection (overgrowth). It's tough when you have one to notice the symptoms, as when they affect different parts of you, it can affect you in all sorts of ways. After it drags you down with aches and pains everywhere like a bad flu, then drops your core temperature enough to affect your thinking too.

 My temp that was high is now 97.4.  <

A friend reminded me that I was around a friend's kid's who gradfather was sick about 3-4 days before my block... not sure what with.. tummy's ok, but still feeling hot occasionally.

Seems the timing is right that I caught something before I went in for my 2nd block. My foot's feeling a lot better still, so the block is still holding! :)

Those that have read about my 1st, very successful block & about my 2nd block SEEMING to not be as successful & SEEMED to be a reaction...

Turns out I seem to have what seemsto be a flu-like bacterial infection, or something similar, and am getting better now.

I had been exposed to something before I had my 2nd block! The gal that works for me wasn't feeling w

OK, its late here,and I finally found the link again to add to my diary, so I apologise if someone is followig my post..

Was a VERY rough block. Felt like I fell a long way when I woke up. Then a few days of burning up head to toe - like a niacin flash, only more intense, and long story short, back to about square one again.  Foot & even up my ankle and leg is purple

I started feeling my back pain coming back night before last, and especially Saturday morning, including even the small incision sites to a much smaller degree. I want to get answers, not just for me, but for everyone who has RSD/CRPS. I wrote another gal about collecting info about RSD/CRS to find some more answers about treatments - successful and not successful.  I really wonder about t

This ordeal with RSD started on October 20, 2009, when I woke up to go to the bathroom, had be very ill with the flu (presumably H1N1, as I'd been exposed a a friend's children who had justhad the live nasal vaccine. This was  October 5th, 2009. I became ill about 3-4 days later.

On the 20th of October 2009, I got up  to go to the bathroom & my right foot was so pain