Kelly's Korner Komplaints Kontinued (Again)

Well, Here is What I Know
I did get the report from the Doctor the other day, actually from the Physician's Assistant. He started out by saying, "Your lower back is a mess!" He proceeded to tell me that I had three "bulging discs" in my lower back. I guess if you are going to do it, do it right. I have, according to him, a small, and a medium, and a large bulging disc. The best I can gather from the internet, most of the time "bulging disc" is virtually synonymous with "ruptured disc," especially if there is any pain in the hip and leg, and the psiatic(sp?) nerve. I certainly have that.

If I have three now, then that makes a total of, let's see: 1974 - 1 disc, 1980 - 1 disc, 1986 - 2 discs, 1992 - 1 disc, 2003 - 1 disc, 2007 - 3 discs - a total of 9. I had surgery in 74,80,86, and 92. I had injections that helped it in 2003.

Before my surgery in 1986 Barbara asked the Doctor, "Can't you just put a zipper in? It would make it easier next time!"

The PA told me, however, that even in just the last three or four years that there have been new ways to treat ruptured discs that have come about. I have to say that I like the attitude of this Neurosurgeons office - surgery is only an absolute final, we've exhausted all other types of treatment action. Back in the twentieth century surgery was, it seemed, the first option.

I also am glad (I know, this is supposed to be a komplaint, but bear with me) that MRIs are now so available and possible. Back in the last century the Mylogram was the only available tool to make certain whether there was a rupture or not.

Let me describe a mylogram for you. Remember that you would not be having this done at all if it wasn't for the fact that your back and leg are killing you with pain (figurative expression there). So they put you on this table in the x-ray department and make you pull your legs up to your chest in a fetal type position, and proceed to stick a very large needle into your spine. Of course, they deaden the area. However, one of the strangest, and most painful, experiences I have ever had was when, in doing the injection, they touched a nerve and my leg would involuntarily jump. Of course, it felt I had stuck my toe in the electric socket. Then they x-ray you, and then tell you (at least this is what they told you back in the former century), "By the way, don't raise your head for the next several hours, or you will get a horrendous headache." So, you would spend the next several hours in one position, which, of course made your back hurt even worse. It was not a fun experience.

But now they do the MRI. It is amazing how much even they have changed over the past few years. I remember the first one I had. I was stuffed into the torpedo tube (at least that is what it looked like), from head to toe. They had a little air blowing, kind of like on an airplane, so that I did not feel totally engulfed. I am not a little fellow, (you know I am weight-challenged) so my arms were stuck beside me, unmovable. Then I would lay there for what seemed an eternity, listening to the weirdest bumping and roaring sounds. Again, I would be very sore by the time the test was done.

Last week, they took me into the MRI and it was what they call an "open" MRI. My head was not even in the machine. On top of that they gave me a set of headphones and played music so that the banging and roaring of the machine was minimal. I even went to sleep for part of it. I was still very sore by the time it was over, because you are not allowed to move, but it was much better than it was just a few years ago. I don't think it took as long either.

Anyway, the bottom line is that they said we are going to try other things besides surgery to get these discs to heal. I still wonder if Barb's idea of a zipper isn't a good one, however.

That's my Komplaint for today.
Have a good one.