My upper back h as been bothering me for a while. I haven't been sure if something new is going on, if it is referred pain from elsewhere in my body, or the pain was hidden by the horrible pain I had in my lower back until the successful procedure where nerves were killed off in my lower back in June.
Last week I broke down due to back pain and called my pain doctor. I thought I wouldn't be able to get an appointment before October because it usually takes that long. They said 'how about next Tuesday'. I said 'sure'. So I went.
We have never treated my upper back before because it has not been a problem. Its not rheumatoid. Its not cancer metastasis (the first thing that jumps into any cancer patients head). It could be fibromyalgia. It could be myofascial pain. Or it could be something else.
The doctor, after pushing on my back to make it hurt, suggested trigger point injections where he makes a series of intra muscular injections on my back in the painful areas. He has done this before on my lower back and they relieved a fair amount of pain.
There were five measly injections which he said would cause a pinch... and they were followed by deep pressure pain causing me to breath slowly out of my mouth instead of crying. The nurse came in to check my vitals after (they do that so patients don't pass out as they leave). When I got to my appt, my blood pressure was 123/78. After the injections it was 103/66.
I nixed the trip to Kohls and the trip to the gym after that adventure and came home to sit with my giant ice pack. I gave my husband two choices for dinner - he cooks or takeout. The delivery guy showed up on time with dinner.
So today I feel like a human pincushion. The doctor did say to take it easy for a day or two. I will see how it goes today at work. I am supposed to meet a friend for a walk this afternoon but it may be one of those days where I can't walk. But I hope that when the shots stop hurting, they will make my back stop hurting.
Showing posts with label injections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label injections. Show all posts
A needle free future
I am elated, no, overjoyed, on cloud nine, jumping up and down with joy (as much as I can jump up and down these days) at this news. Companies are now trying to figure out ways to deliver drugs WITHOUT needles.
I hate needles. I see no need for news programs and commercials to show people getting shots. If I have to have a needle near my body, I tell the doctors and nurses that I hate needles and can't look at them. When I had injections under my kneecap (I get chills up and down my spine just writing that), they were very good at distracting me.
I have a coworker who is so petrified of needles he gets freaked out by doctor appointments. I am not that bad but still me and needles do not get a long. Every time I need blood work (every two months now) I tell them I hate needles, have tiny veins, and they have to use my right arm which has the tiniest veins so they use little kid needles on me. Which still pinch!
When I started chemotherapy I told my oncologist that there would never be a day where I would inject myself with anything. Then with rheumatoid, my doctor muttered something about injectable options and I let her know my opinion of needles. I am still on oral medications but my RA is not under control so that may need to change. (My husband has since agreed he would give me the injections if it came down to it.)
When our cat had diabetes, I refused to learn how to give the injections. Then one day my husband was sick and slept through the injection time so I had to give the cat the injections. He never even felt them but it was traumatic for me.
Now these brilliant, brilliant people are coming up with ways to deliver drugs orally instead of through injection. It involves capsules, micropatches and all sorts of technical things that sound expensive but they do not include needles so I am happy. Its just two or three years away from clinical trials.... So I will try to be the patient patient for now.
I hate needles. I see no need for news programs and commercials to show people getting shots. If I have to have a needle near my body, I tell the doctors and nurses that I hate needles and can't look at them. When I had injections under my kneecap (I get chills up and down my spine just writing that), they were very good at distracting me.
I have a coworker who is so petrified of needles he gets freaked out by doctor appointments. I am not that bad but still me and needles do not get a long. Every time I need blood work (every two months now) I tell them I hate needles, have tiny veins, and they have to use my right arm which has the tiniest veins so they use little kid needles on me. Which still pinch!
When I started chemotherapy I told my oncologist that there would never be a day where I would inject myself with anything. Then with rheumatoid, my doctor muttered something about injectable options and I let her know my opinion of needles. I am still on oral medications but my RA is not under control so that may need to change. (My husband has since agreed he would give me the injections if it came down to it.)
When our cat had diabetes, I refused to learn how to give the injections. Then one day my husband was sick and slept through the injection time so I had to give the cat the injections. He never even felt them but it was traumatic for me.
Now these brilliant, brilliant people are coming up with ways to deliver drugs orally instead of through injection. It involves capsules, micropatches and all sorts of technical things that sound expensive but they do not include needles so I am happy. Its just two or three years away from clinical trials.... So I will try to be the patient patient for now.
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