July 14, 2009

Back Update

For all those who wanted to know....

I went for my final testing (nerve and muscle testing) yesterday for my foot tremors and pain. The doctor mentioned he was performing the last test to check for ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) , which was news to me, but shortly after the test said my leg did NOT show signs of these diseases or any NEW damage...I could of told him that. He said I haven't lost weakness in my leg but I have in my toes.

Soo, because the damage is in the nerves of the pelvis, they won't do surgery unless there is a tumor. Otherwise surgically there is nothing you can do the the damaged nerves in there.

Treatment with meds is the only method...I have SO been there, and didn't want to return. I asked him if I could progress and get worse?

He said no.

I said how come I have new symptoms then, like the toe weakness and foot tremors and leg pain....those are new.

He sat there for a moment and said it would be rare....hmm. At this point I had little faith in his abilities, realized I was in a small town and probably sitting with a neurologist who graduated from a community college in hoe dunk town at the bottom of his class....(I love small towns, except when it comes to health care)

That didn't sit well with me. Then he proceeded to give me another new prescription that "may" make me drowsy, which I didn't fill. These doctors all sound like broken records, do they ALL end their sessions writing prescriptions for meds that "may" make you drowsy...I have yet to get a prescription written for me that will give you great energy and make you feel like a million bucks....and I know marijuana was out of the question...

I went home very confused and felt like I was back at square one. I thought a lot about how I got to this point, and what worked for me in the past. I know that the damaged occurred from having the three pregnancies in 2 years, however I don't think it would have happened if I had been in better shape in my core and could handle that much strain. Thus causing all the damage in the first place

So if damage occurred from lack of strength, maybe bringing strength back to those areas can improve my pain level, it has worked in the past when I trained for the triathlon. However the limit I can go is hard to find. I don't know how hard I can push.

So in conclusion, like before, I am going to fight this myself without the help of prescriptions that make me loopy drowsy or "Dori" like.

I wish I could just have them cut me open and fix it. However I am finding I am going to have to work hard on my body myself to get it to where I want it to be so that I won't get weaker or more fasculations and become one of the rare.

Thanks again for listening....or reading.

6 comments:

Simply, Sarah said...

I'm with ya on the figuring out how much or what kind of exercise you can tolerate. Trainers at the gym would constantly "encourage" me to push myself harder because I was staying with the same routine. But, I knew that if I did weights AT ALL, I would end up with my previous medical issues. Even my doctor suggested I improve on weights lifted, but I didn't do it.
By not pushing myself more, I was still exercising, not straining myself, and I didn't have the awful blood loss I had experienced before! Go with what you feel, and you won't go wrong!

Swedish Rose said...

Jenn,
I feel for your pain. I wish there was a solution to your pain, that would be easy to fix. I guess we need to do something together. Let's start kayaking or something...love you.

Grandpa said...

I fully support your analysis of the situation. I fully support the idea of reigniting your training regime. One benefit will be the endorphins which make you happy not drowsy. As to the doctor's skills is does make a huge difference as Shauna has proved coming to UBC from poor help at Calgary.


Love ya

MOM XXXXX OOOOO said...

Hi Sweetheart. I so wish they could find the problem. I hate seeing my girls in pain Love you MOM

Shauna said...

Jenn I can understand your challenge with doctors. I pray for you that your pain will be less. Love you.

Ames said...

Jenn, that is so frustrating!!! I'll be praying for you.