Bipolar in the family Support Group

Due to a slip & fall on ice 2 winters ago, I have 2 herniated disks in my lower back that are causing great pain. One is sitting on my sciatic nerve and I also have facet joint pain.

This afternoon at 4pm, I am scheduled for a nerve block. Using X-ray as a guide, the doctor will inject a numbing agent into the areas surrounding my sciatic nerve and facet joints. This is supposed to last no longer than a week and during that time, if I only even get 1 hour of relief, they consider it a success and will then do a radio frequency in the same areas on Tuesday, the 20th. This is where they will actually burn the nerves and that will last anywhere from 2 months to a year.

Since I already suffer from anxiety, I am a bit anxious. My husband has had lumbar nerve blocks and I was always there with him (until he went into the OR) so I know what to expect, but am still nervous. I know that I will be given an IV and the medications Versed & Fentnyl. Versed will put me in a twilight sleep and produces an amnesiac effect, and Fentnyl is a pretty powerful pain killer so I won't feel pain. Hubby said he still felt a little pain, but the Versed made him not care much. That's what I'm most nervous about - the pain.

If you could please keep me in your thoughts/prayers that everything goes smoothly, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Hi Amy.

How are you and Brad? (I know, you're a little nervous!). It's ok, you gotta trust your doctor. It sounds like you've asked questions about the procedure, so that's a great start. Let them do their thing and hopefully you'll get some relief.

DON'T WORRY, OK????

Paul

Thanks Paul.

I'm trying to live up to your nickname and keep the faith that it will be successful and I won't freak out on them.

I'm just so darned hungry! I haven't been able to eat since 8am (8 hours prior to the procedure) and I haven't eaten since dinner last night. My stomach is growling so loud I am sure you can hear it over your way.

Thanks for the well wishes!

Good luck Amy!!! Hope it works out for you.....I went through all of that too.....Unfortunately it didn't help my case that much and I had to undergo surgery they replaced the disk in l4-l5 and put in 2 rods and 4 screws to keep everything in place. Would I do that again you bet it's ben 2 years and absolutely no pain I've been doing all of my normal activities golf skiing boating riding the motorcycle you name it. I suffered a year with pain running down my right leg and me on crutches and tons of percocet pretty much just a lump where ever I was placed for the day. We'll be praying for you!!!!!

Thanks so much! Ouch! I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, but glad that it took away your pain. I don't have a problem with my sciatic pain traveling anywhere - it just feels that someone is repeatedly stabbing me with an ice pick. Sometimes it gets so unbearable that my Vicodin won't even touch the pain.

Thanks for the prayers, I certainly appreciate all that I can get.

That's always my biggest problem, the not eating before a procedure. (I'm a known eater) It's easier when you have it in the morning because even I can avoid eating during sleep, but an afternoon procedure is tougher!!!

Just keep repeating "keep the faith" "keep the faith" "keep the faith".....

I wish I could have a morning appointment, but they keep those appts. for the diabetics since they have to eat.

I just cheated and had a tortilla chip with some cheese in a can. I waited until Brad wasn't paying attention. LOLOL

I won't tell.

I forgot that he posts here. :-p

Oh well, at least he isn't quite sure how to navigate through here so well, so he probably won't find that!

Well, I didn't get the procedure done today. I had been fighting a stomach bug for almost a week, and yesterday just started feeling better.

When the nurse took my temperature, it was 100.1 and they won't do procedures if you even have a low grade fever, because there is a risk that the infection in your body will get into your spine, thus making you really sick - example: Meningitis.

My procedure is rescheduled for Tuesday, providing I am not on a wait list.