Proud Owner Of A New Ramp, My Back Is At It Again

We finally broke down and added a ramp to the side porch, I'm spending more time in the wheelchair, figured it was time to get it in the house? The brother came and built the ramp, enlarged the patio at the end to give me plenty of maneuvering space as well. A friend from high school came and did the railing with his wife, thanks to them. Imagine my surprise when I wheeled up and the chair didn't fit through the door! Luckily another friend had a chair for sale that did, thanks to him. Last obstacle are the 4 steps up to the bedrooms and baths, sure we will be able to tackle that one too. Thanks to everyone that helped, George Bailey has nothing on me!

The time I spent down waiting for back surgery all but finished my legs, not much get up and go left in them. Think of how ticked off I was a couple of days ago when I got in the shower, turned to close the curtain and found myself laying on the floor! This last surgery lasted about 3 months or so, same problem is back with a vengeance. Now we have to decide what to do? I can manage the pain I'm tempted to do nothing, surrender to the chair full time, it's coming anyway. At what time are you excepting the inevitable or giving up?

Family Update, Social Media On Hold

A lot going on around here, more than I care for. The father and the sister both had cancer surgery, made out really well, but it was still cancer. I'm rehabbing after back surgery, the time I spent down really took it's toll. I had a ruptured disc, did it sitting on the commode, turned for something and felt it go. I need to come up with a better story, like it happened wrestling a group of terrorists trying to abduct a busload of preschoolers? Doing P/T here at home, the gal comes twice a week, can't believe how hard these simple exercises are. The father in law isn't adjusting well to life alone, 62 years of marriage will do that, breaks my heart.

I got off of all the social media like Facebook, hard to sit here and see what others are doing? Envy and such feelings really aren't aren't my style, but I was beginning to struggle with the things I saw my friends were doing, I didn't like it. Going to start blogging here again, working on gathering info for a project I'm interested in, even if it goes no further it will stimulate my brain, so that's a good thing. I will miss it, but it was starting to depress me more than it made me smile.

Gimme Drugs, and Handicapped Parking Abuse

Went to see the pain management doctor today, he told me I probably wasn't a candidate for the spinal injections anymore.  I said I wanted a second opinion, he said ok, you're ugly too!  But seriously, we are going to try and manage the back pain with oxycontin, party at my house.  Not crazy about drugs as the only option, but he's right, the last few injections only gave me short term relief, sometimes as little as one day.  I guess I should be happy there is something else to try, but at the same time saddened by the fact I'm at the end of my options.

When I got to the hospital today there were no handicapped spots open.  Here in Baltimore everyone and their brother has the hanging blue tags.  I never voice an opinion as to whether someone should have one, not my place, and I don't like it when people question me, but today burned my britches!  Three of the spots had the drivers sitting in the car, reading the paper, sleeping, waiting for their people to come out.  The plum was a young guy waxing his truck!  He must have felt guilty, told me he had brought his grandmother to the doctor, I didn't ask.  Common sense people, please.  You drop someone off at the door, don't take one of the spots, and don't wax your truck, no matter how shady it is.

Back Has Me Down, Vacation Bible School Time

the only place I seem to be able to get comfortable is laying in bed, not my favorite choice.  I went down this morning to listen to a Prairie home companion on the radio, one of my favorites.  I knew I was in trouble when I got halfway to down my seat and I just collapsed.  The next problem came when I tried to get up.  Combine weak, wobbly legs, with the back that is unsteady, to say the least.  Probably have to schedule another back injection, doesn't look like rest is going to do it.

the wife is still at church, setting up for vacation Bible school.  She's doing it again this year, takes a weeks vacation to do so, pretty cool.  She is the craft specialist, and like everything puts her heart and soul into it.  she has great memories of vacation Bible school from when she was a child.  she's a good girl, the kind that makes a difference for other people, she sure made a difference for me!

Back Broke Again, Parade Was Great, But Costly

So everything is going great, feeling good, dropping some pounds, even commented to the wife how good my back was feeling.  Yesterday I'm in the kitchen, just finished a fine snack of watermelon, reached for a napkin and bang!  I went down like I had been shot from a book suppository.  It's the price I pay for trying to get out and live life amongst the humans I suppose?

We rode in a 4th of July parade the other day with friends, had a ball.  Of course I had to dehydrate myself, stop taking the Miralax for a few days, all in hopes of not getting caught short.  Saw a bunch of people I knew, got to see the sights, and had a chance to wear a nifty hat.  Also baked in the sun, and will pay the price for days to come.  Seems like a lot to go through to ride in a car?

Back Continues To Be A Problem, To Wheelchair Or Not Wheelchair

Been paying for my pain management docs retirement home. I've had a series of injections, epidural, facet, and rhizotomy. Feels great when I have them, usually lasts a few weeks. We alternate between sides, 2 on the right, 1 on the left, you name it. Happy to have relief, but wouldn't mind if I could get a couple more weeks out of each one.

Energy level at an all time low. Stopped doing a lot of things, just don't have the giddy up anymore. Things like cooking have gotten tough, combination of it hurts to stand for too long, and the fatigue. Have an electric wheelchair out in the shed, is it time to bring it in the house? Thinking it would be better to get a really comfy chair to work from in the kitchen, keep my recliner at command central.

Laundry For The Homeless, and 3 Falls In The Yard

Went for wash day with the homeless dudes, only one showed up to do laundry, and one to visit, have to admit, a little disappointed! Way too many lunches as well, I think I had like 20. Was able to get a few people to eat with me, they told me they didn't need them, just hated to see them go to waste. Also saw the worst example of parenting I've ever seen. Young couple came in, he had to go someplace, she said well I ain't watchin him, and she didn't! Twice I kind of herded him inside, 2 years old, mom said not to worry, he pretty much can take care of himself. Hopefully next week will have more guys show, if not may have to rethink the every week schedule.

Fell yesterday, actually it was like 3 times, all back related. Was doing a couple of things out in the yard, bent down for my cane, and boom, boom, boom, out go the lights! It's like somebody flips a switch and all control goes out, I collapse like all my bones dissolved. Got almost to my feet and it happened again, then again getting into the pool. I survived it, but I hurt my knee, got it pinned under me when I went down, hoping it feels better tomorrow. This is getting old, I want to use my get out of jail free card, with whom do I speak?

Multiple Sclerosis, Back Pain, Depression, and IV Steroids

Can you say exacerbation? I can, but I needed spell check to make sure it was spelled right. I am in full bloom with one right not, waiting to hear from the nurse tomorrow with a time to put another IV in. A lot going on, a rhizotomy scheduled for tomorrow, feeling bad, physically and emotionally, fatter than a sumo wrestler, I tell ya, a lot! Add to it subtropical weather and I'm finished. Find out tomorrow if the doc will do the rhizotomy whilst in an episode, hope so, been hoping to have this done for a good while.

Road Wash Out, and Weather Related Crop Damage

Man did it rain today! Went up for my spine injections, they went well, thanks, but the rain was unbelievable! My friend took me, the wife was disinterested, and the ride home was a true adventure. The road in front of us washed out, a lot of debris, a lot water, all from a little babbling brook you wouldn't even know was there, until today.

With all this rain we've had, some of my plants have taken a beating, especially the things I grew from seed and transplanted. My bag tomatoes took a real hit, may need to replace them with plants from Richardson's farm. Need to go up and check the church garden, they were nice sturdy plants, don't expect any problems. Why are the plants I grew from seed in my basement not as strong, they all had little, spindly stems? I think next year I will sow the seeds right into the ground, cut out the middle man.

The Center For Pain Management, and Lottery To See Who Gets To Drive Me

Spinal injection today, they are doing the other side, can't wait! The Spine Center is my injector of choice, been with them a long time and the wife does their marketing. So far they've done a great job, and that's where my loyalties are! One more of these and I think I'm having a rhizotomy, something the father had 30 some years ago, said it was the most painful thing he ever endured. Good thing is that was 30 years ago, it's painless now, right? I want the doc to just do a spine-ectomy, take the part out that hurts, or kill it, simple enough, right?

The wife can't take me for my injection today, she is choosing to work over taking care of me, I see where this is going! This is like the time I had chemotherapy and she took the kids to Ocean City, MD. Me laying there in that cold, dark, damp, dungeon like facility while she cavorted on the beach with the cabana boys. Luckily I have an unlimited supply of very close, very dear friends who just simply adore me! OK, I actually do have a lot of people who would do things for me, but today it's just one, and she got the short straw, so I must try to be on my best behavior, though that is almost impossible for me.

Idiot Garden Underway, The Wife Is On Vacation

The idiot garden is off and running. I have potatoes in my trashcan, yellow onions and garlic in my bathtub, onions, mesculin, 2 types of chard, shallots, and tomatoes in my bag garden. I have lettuce in my lettuce table, duh, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and tomatoes in my idiot tubs. I have a 6x8' raised bed planted with a 3 sisters garden, corn, squash or pumpkin, and beans. Seeds are sprouting, transplants are flourishing, we will be eating healthy and local in no time.

The wife is off for 9 straight days, it will be great! We are going to cook good meals, try some new recipes, play with our kitchen set. She is going to clean one room each day, then move onto the next. I'd help her, but I have a bad back and MS, so you know. I'd love to have her home all the time, trying to talk her into moving up to the mountains, to Cumberland, but she is slow to make change. I told her we could move downtown, open a tea room, and live happily ever after. For now, I'll settle for 9 straight days off.

Libraries As Haven For The Homeless, Back Pain Causing MS Like Weakness In My Legs

Went this morning to the library, a lot of the guys from the shelter congregate there, had a few things planned to try and help with paperwork. Thought that was an odd place for homeless dudes to hang out, how repulsive was that thought? The library holds as many things for the homeless, maybe more. Libraries are a good place to charge cell phones, use a computer, get warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and oh yeah, there are books there too.

I've come to the decision that right now I'm having more trouble with my back than I am with my MS. Been very discouraged with the weakness in my legs, did something I get mad at doctors for, assumed it was from the MS, and thought no more about it. Then I had a couple of the spinal injections and the weakness wasn't as bad. The back still hurt, but the pain was different, don't know that I can explain? The pain from my back was zapping the strength from my legs. I need to get my back fixed so I can build some strength back up in my legs. Will see how this theory plays out....stay tuned!

Back Pain Is, Well Back, And Mens Shelter To Close

It's been a madhouse around here! How can a guy that doesn't work be so busy? Not sure I've actually been doing anything, but for putting my dentist and pain management doctors children through school. Back back to being horrid! Back back, I know, take a minute. Had a triple spinal injection yesterday, something called a lumbar facet joint injection. So far so good. Have another of those on the other side next week.

The shelter I have been working with is closing this Saturday, very sad. Of the 16 men from the shelter only one has left with housing, looking more and more like the others are out of time. For them most will return to the camps, shanty towns in the woods, no running water or electricity. A few have tents, a few don't. Most are on disability, hardly enough to survive on in our area. I'm hoping this thing picks up momentum and is a year round thing next year, in its own place, with a stronger support structure for the men.

Doctor Thinks Everything Is OK, But He's Not Sure

Went to the pain specialist today, had a few questions about the medications. I have my doubts about if the non narcotic Tramadol is doing the trick for me, or if it is of a high enough dose. Also curious if some of the hand issues I'm having, cramping, stiffness, and general weakness are being caused by the Baclofen. I got my all time favorite answer to both, it very well could be. WHAAAAAA? All those years of college, all those years in a specialty and the best you have is, I dunno? All things considered I think we came up with a good plan, we increased both and are going to see if it changes anything, yay.

A Good Night At The Eastside Mens Shelter On A Frigid Night

Just got home from the shelter a while ago, all went well. The wife went with me, she prepared last nights meal, did a great job, as usual. She had a hard time with how young a couple of them were, not much older than our son. I go again on the 18th, going to talk about a couple of things with our Pastor, like taking breakfast food, and coming home after the men are asleep and going back at around 5 am? It seems like such a waste for me to be there when everyone is sleeping, and there is a paid staff member. Bigger than if it's needed is if it's going to kill my back? By the time I get home I can hardly walk, HA! Good one, well it made me laugh.

Is It MS Or Back Pain Short Circuiting My Legs?

I have discovered that I have a point of of return. Not sure what it's actually called, but I'm pretty sure it's back related, not another plum of having MS. My epiphany is that I can no longer squat down to pick things up...wait, that's actually not true, I can, but I can't get back up. I just went out to get the mail, dropped an important letter addressed to me, or current occupant, and bent down to get it. The next thing I knew I was sprawled out in the sedum, Laughing, but I didn't drop anymore mail! I'm close to being able to pick things up, that's what keeps getting me in trouble, I keep trying. Sometimes I get it, sometimes my back short circuits my legs and timber!

Regimen To Help Escape Chronick Back Pain and Multiple Sclerosis, Sysmptoms

Back's feeling pretty good, knock on wood. Wish I knew which of the things I was doing was responsible, but more importantly I'm just happy to have some relief. Been doing my stretching exercises, riding my bike, also been popping my Tramadol and Baclofen. I went out in the yard and planted my garlic today, took it easy, but still got it all done. Have to make sure I do the stretching and the bike, have to build up muscle again. It's nice to feel like I have some control over the beast!

Baclofen and Tramadol For Treating Multiple Sclerosis

Let us speak of drugs. Been taking Baclofen for a few weeks now, up to 30 milligrams a day, seems to be helping with both my legs and back. Taking a new non narcotic pain med too, Tramadol I think it's called, that's working pretty good too. The Baclofen was better this time, took it in the past, thought I knew what weak was back then, funny actually. The cramps are so much better, that cycle of cramps that comes rolling in about dinner time, hoping they stay away. Don't know what will happen, but I'll take a few days of less pain.

No More Physical Therapy For My MS, A Waste Of Time

Went to physical therapy today, did my part, they did theirs, then I told them I wouldn't be coming back. Here's the thing, I'm looking for exercises to help me stay limber and fit, they were experimenting with what to do. Had a student therapist today, she thought maybe some time on the hand bike would help, told her I wasn't there for occupational therapy, only for my back and legs. She thought the gentle side to side action wold help loosen my back up, CHECK! I asked for the exercises to do from home, they gave me a list, almost as big a waste as gym in school!

Physical Therapy For Back Pain and Multiple Sclerosis Symtoms

Went for my first physical therapy appointment today, doctor wants me to do 2 a week for 3 weeks, therapists wants me to do 3 a week for 3 weeks, big surprise. I hate physical therapy, think it's a waste of time. Just give me the exercises, let me do them at home, and keep your hands out of my wallet. The wife wants me to go, thinks it will do me a lot of good, and I agree, it will do me a lot of good, if I do it for the rest of my life, not just the next 3 weeks. If I can get my rear in gear to go to therapy that often I can do the exercises and ride the bike too, and nobody has to take me. I hate every second of this reality, hoping Einstein was right.