Pain management = nothing exciting

So on my last appointment with my pain management doctor nothing exciting happened. I got my scripts refilled and a couple shots in my back. Same stuff I've been getting. Except he put my next appointment two months out. That's the only thing that changed. I think he feels that I'm stable maybe. I don't know but I don't like that this is it. Pills and shots?
I feel like he's a good doctor but as he stated pm only treats the symptoms.

Grrrrr I wish there was a more clear resolution.

I'm not stable damn it!

Recap - Degenerative disc disease

Just to recap for those who do not want to go through all my posts to find what all I have been going through and doing, I will just give a quick run down.
For starters I live in the U.S., I got me a doggie, I am married and I still work.
I have 2 discs that are gone or at least appear to be in my MRI. I have huge boobs, but I made a consultation for a reduction hopefully it works cuz these suckers are huge!
I have a slight bulge and a slight slip over my coccyx.
Work is, ehhhhhh well work. I do nothing strenuous but sit and talk on the phone....for me and some others it's a nightmare. Just the thought of sitting all day in one spot without the opportunity to lie down, CRaZY.
My husband and puppy are amazing both of them are very supportive of me :)
Now for the medical stuff.
I have had problems forever and a day, since I was like 13. Got diagnosed at like 28-ish. I always thought I was a hypochondriac and my back was just my imagination or something. Probably it was my boobs.
Dr. wanted me to get a double fusion when I was 30 however insurance denied it. He was opting for an ALIF. It is where they go in from the front.
Referred to pain management after that all got denied. I'm now 31.
I see my doctor about every month.
I do physical therapy twice a week.
I get steroid and anti-inflammatory shots, 4 different pills and I recently got my at home tens unit.
Therapy is different. I see different people so they are all trying different things. The latest was cranial sacral method. Feels fine for like a day then back to pain. My previous therapist worked more on strength and core and that seemed the most helpful. I try to do exercises at home but its just not the same. I need to get into a serious regimine maybe that will help.
So that's what I've been doing in a nut shell. I have another post comming up here in a few days after I see my doctor until then I will be trying out my exercises.
:)

No Improvement?

Since probably 2 doctor visits ago I have seen no improvement. The last time I seen my doctor I told him everything felt like it was plateauing. This month I feel like absolutely no improvement has been made. I do know I slacked off on my exercises and that does seem to help. Maybe I should make it a point this month to get back into it. My physical therapist thinks I am strong enough. Other than that I am not quite sure what is going on. If I have just reached my point of wellness or what.

Side Note: I might be getting rid of these BOOBS!! Yay!! I made an appointment for a consultation in August so we shall see! They are so big I am hoping they will be like yeah those puppies are going bye-bye, lol.

I am wondering if everything will feel so much better after they are gone. I have been noticing difficulty in bending forward to pick things up off the ground or chairs or whatever. Not that it has ever been super easy but yeah know.

Anywho, I noticed I have not posted this month. It has been such a busy month. Such as, we went blueberry picking this morning good thing we got kids around. There are so many berries around LOVE IT!! Cherry picking will be on Monday for sure. Gotta get in on some of that sweetness.

Well I will update after I see my doctor on Tuesday. My goodness such a mix up with my gabapentin(neurontin) last month. I had to get it switched to a 90 day supply otherwise my insurance would not accept it. It took forever and I had to pay out of pocket for 21 pills it cost like 25$ ....STUPID INSURANCE.... I guess I really can't live without my insurance. I wish I lived somewhere with free but good medical care!! I feel like I pay enough in taxes that I should just be taken care of all the way. :)
Alrighty new post probably Tuesday or Wednesday!
Take care for now!

Ultimate 5 TENS unit

So last week I did not post I was kind of lazy about it. My nephew is staying with me for the summer so I was preoccupied with that. But anyway I went to the doctor last week and he gave me a tens unit. It is an Ultima 5.

If you are not sure what a T.E.N.S. unit(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is I will explain. A tens unit is to help block the pain signals to your brain. Sometimes in physical therapy they will casually call it e-stim for electronic stimulus. If you have had it done in physical therapy it is basically the same thing just a portable unit.
There are 4 pads that are less sticky than a bandaid those get put on your body where the pain is. Those get connected to the leads that transport the electronic signal. I have two pads pictured below.

After you connect the leads to the pads you then connect it to the actual unit.

I have used it a couple of times the instructions are not really clear on the different modes. It seems to work well. The pads are smaller than the ones used at physical therapy. That does not seem to take away from what it can do.
If you have never used one before the first time is a bit different. My therapist says it feels like little tiny ants crawling on your back. I feel that is a pretty fair description. However, I feel that sensation changes the higher you turn it up, it starts to feel better. The lowest level is almost irritating because it is a lighter sensation. But then too high might be too much. It is all about personal preference.

Well I can't think of anything else to add about the tens unit today.
Until next time ...

Doing too much

My goodness, last week one of my dear aunts passed. So besides working, btw I got that reduced back to part time thank God. But besides working I have been driving family around and preparing things for the service. The service was held yesterday. Well my back started to bite yesterday before the service. It seems like all the extra stuff was slowly creeping up on me. I didn't remind myself at all during the week to slow down. The slower I got the more the sadness of a lost aunt would creep in. She was such a good woman. She went through so much. I am going to miss her loudness and her smile. I am going to miss her welcoming spirit. She just loved for people to come over and see her. She always wanted you to pick something up for her whether it was a cold pop or a treat. I remember she used to love reese's peanut butter cups so much. I am going to miss her cooking, she always made such a big meal on all the holidays. All the things she went through made her turn her life around for the better. I was glad I got to know the goodness in her heart.
With all that aside...
My advice for the future me or others out there with this issue is to SLOW DOWN! Even if it means facing reality and having a cry. Even if you are having fun and the time just seems to slip by, slow down. Doing too much causes flares, as we all are well aware of. But sometimes it just helps to have someone virtually yell at you to remember your body can't handle all that.
It's funny one of my cousins said jeez Jenny you sound like an old person with all those pills and your pill box..little do they know I am an old person on the inside.

Until next, time take it easy!

One or the other...

So in seeing support groups and reading what people have to say about DDD, I've concluded you're either happy or sad. The happy people are content in their life and find ways to beat the pain and give others sound advice. The sad people complain a lot and not to knock ANYONE'S pain but try to convince people that they are way worse off than anyone else. The happy people turn to another outlet religion or other hobbies to take the focus off their disease. The sad people sit online all day in various support groups and talk about what a horrible position they are in.
The happy people maybe found good doctors that try to support their position and give them good care. The sad people probably never found a good doctor. I've also noticed that the happy people follow the doctors orders and follow through with physical therapy. The sad people say everything is a waste of time and try to find a magic pill to take it all away.
I am not saying I am one or the other. Frankly I feel I am somewhere in the middle. I have bad days and I have really good days. I just notice this trend of people being either always on the up or always on the down. I feel bad for the ones always down. I don't ever want to get to that, where I just see no light at the end of the tunnel. I want to always be happy. I just don't know the secret.

Just hanging out...

So I got over that whole dramatic evening. I think you need one of those every once in a while. Everyone knows a good breakdown at night makes for a good morning. I mean its just common knowledge. No really I don't know anyone who says that. But it sounded good, right?
So the days of this month are dwindling down and that means I will be back to work full time here shortly. I am really nervous about that. My body is just getting used to the part time. Which means the transition will be really hard for me. I love the thought of working full time. But I live in a body that doesn't want me to. It will be so difficult to live on just my husbands income and with no insurance that wouldn't get me very far at all. Why does life have to be so darn difficult!
On a brighter note I am getting a tooth pulled on Friday! Oh wait... I guess that is not a brighter note :) LOL
But really it is a good note I have some baby teeth still that do not have adults over them so they have just been hanging in there all this time. Eventually they will all have to get pulled. So, its not really a bad note or a good note, its an expected note!
Well my back is sore so maybe I should go take some meds and maybe I will venture out in the rain to the farmers market with my dog. She hates the rain but loves food should be fun!
Till next time!