Email Update

I've been emailing back-and-forth with Dr. JS and his nurse for a couple weeks, with the intention of trying to get my left hip PAO done sooner than later.  At this time, Dr. JS felt it would be in my best interest to hold off for a little while until the timing was right.  There are still a few things that he would like me to accomplish before undergoing a PAO on my left hip.  

His response was honestly not what I wanted to hear, but honestly what is best for me.  So, I will work on what he needs me to accomplish and go from there.

Flip Flops or Sandals?

Last summer, I wasn't able to put on flip flops without pulling my big toe through, as my big toe was "dead" from the Drop Foot.  I also wasn't able to keep the flip flops on my feet once they were on.  You don't realize how much you use you toe muscles and such to keep your shoes on, until you can't! So, I purchased sandals with straps around the back of my heel to keep them on.  

This summer, I attempted to put flip flops on again.  I can do it easier and pretty much don't need to pull my big toe through.  I have to think about it, and it takes me longer than my left foot, but I can do it! I can also keep the flip flop on easier than I could last year.  However, it's still not an easy task, as I need to focus on my walking even more so I don't trip.  So, I still use my sandals with the straps around the back.  I'm hoping by next summer, I will be able to wear flip flops again! 

Left Hip Pain

My left hip has been becoming increasingly more painful.  Every night I've been having to use my "Elasto-Gel" Cooling Wrap (btw, best thing ever) around my hip to calm the pain.  I can't lay on my back or my sides to fall asleep, I have to be on my stomach.  It's just weird how much it is hurting me "at rest" now, and not just when I am active.  On a positive note . . . I can't measure my foot, but from the looks of it - I think I'm raising it a few more degrees!

I wrote Dr. JS's nurse an email over 1.5 weeks ago .... pleading that I need this surgery soon than later!  Last week (Wednesday), she responded that she would talk with Dr. JS and get back to me.  I haven't heard anything yet, but I'm hoping for a good response.  I can't keep living like this.  I limp in pain while at the grocery store, the park, etc. I can't even chase my kids.  I can barely lift my leg to put on my pants, socks or shoes.  I literally have to lift my leg with my hands to do these tasks.

My right hip - PAO - was a success! I have little-to-NO pain! It's unbelievable.  All the years that I grew up thinking that a little pain here and there was just normal pain.  It wasn't.  And, now that the pain is just unbearable on my left side, and now that I know that there is a surgery that can take all that pain away - that's all I want! Yes, my first PAO had a few complications - that's with any surgery! But, I got through them and am now living with a newly reconstructed hip.  One that has no limitations, like if I got a "hip replacement."  Which I am so happy that technology has come so far that, they were able to preserve my own hip, and have only a few artificial screws to hold it place.  Which, by the way, could potential be removed.  I am still blown away by the surgery that I got, and love explaining it to others. 

Crystal Healing and Massage

Two weeks ago I got a massage at Amoterra in Townsend, WI.  I haven't seen Phil (from Amoterra) all winter as we didn't go up north since fall (until Memorial Day weekend).  I missed getting a massage!  I forgot how much it helped my foot when I saw him.

We went up north again this past weekend and I tried something new! Phil suggested I see Joe for Crystal Healing.  I never heard of Crystal Healing before, or if I did, I don't recall.  But, he basically had me lay on the table, put a few stones in various spots, and explained the process.  The ultimate goal was to reduce the pain in my left hip (that still needs surgery) and heal my drop foot.  He placed a few crystals in his hands and did a knitting-like wave in the air above my body, and would explain my problem areas.  At times, I felt a spark-like feeling, especially in my right "dropped" foot. At the end, he explained that it may take up to 24 hours for the healing process to complete.  

Afterwards, Phil gave me a massage and focused on my left hip and drop foot, but also gave me a bit of a relaxing massage too!  He kiddingly said, "someday I'll be able to just give you a relaxing massage instead of deep tissue/muscle" - aka: ouch! - but, I know it'll make me feel better later, and it does! ;-)

http://www.amoterra.net

Epidural Steroid Injection

On October 21, 2013, I fell and busted my knee pretty bad in a parking lot.  I got an X-ray of my knee because I thought that I broke it (but, I didn't). Since the fall my balance has been off, I got numbness and tingling/falling asleep feeling in my feet, and more pain in my right foot.  I thought that the CRPS was flaring up because of the cold (since it was at the start of winter).  But, to be on the safe side, Dr. JS sent me in for a MRI of my back in January 2014, and that's when they discovered the bulging discs in my lower back.  

On April 3, 2014, Dr. Patel gave me an Epidural Steroid Injection, to try to reduce the pain that I was experiencing as another plan to my treatment process.  Today (4/24), I got another Epidural Steroid Injection.  Today, they put the injection in right at the bottom of my spine.  When I received the injection on 4/3, they injected it higher up on my (lower) spine.  Also, today (4/24), the injection was more painful than the one on 4/3.  I didn't notice any relief from the injection on 4/3, so I'm hoping that the location that this injection was put in will do the trick!  Time will only tell!  If it does work, then I won't need to return until my scheduled office visit in another two (2) months! 

UPDATE:  Monday, April 28, 2014:

I did get pain relief from the 2nd Epidural Steroid Injection!!!  I've been able to sleep without socks on since Thursday night!  I have not been able to do that since my fall in October.  If anyone enjoys sleeping in a clean bed, shaved legs and no socks . . . it's me!  It's been killing me since October that I couldn't sleep without socks on.  Even though we have a 'heated mattress pad' I still needed the socks, because warmth was the only thing that took away the pain.  For me, I didn't need pills, I just needed warm socks, boots, heated blankets/mattress pads . . . anything warm!  So, the great thing about this last injection . . . MY FOOT IS NATURALLY WARM now!  I'm not sure how long the injection will last to keep my foot warm, but I am sure loving the relief I am getting.  This injection gave me about 85-90% relief - the fastest and most immediate relief that I've ever gotten!



UPDATE:  Tuesday, April 29, 2014:

Last night I noticed that the pain is just starting to creep back up on me.  My foot isn't as warm as it has been and almost needed to put socks on.  But, I was stubborn and put my feet in-between my husbands legs to warm them up!  I also turned on my heated mattress pad.  It seemed to do the trick last night, but not sure about tonight.  I really enjoyed my warm feet while it lasted, and knowing that this injection worked gives me hope!  

Sympathetic Nerve Block Injection

Went to see Dr. Patel for another Sympathetic Nerve Block Injection early this morning.  This past week or two I've been experiencing more pain than normal in my right foot.  I've had lightning bolt, stabbing, and almost like a snake bite feeling in my right foot.  I've also noticed that when I've been showering, part of my leg has been turning a purplish color again.

I showed the above pictures to Dr. Patel and he agreed that I may be having another flare up of the CRPS.  He went ahead and gave me the Nerve Block and it went very smooth, as always.  Although, it almost felt like the first time I got a Nerve Block.  The "pressure" as he did the injection seemed more intense today, more than normal.  And, my rear is hurting a little throughout the day today.  They always tell me to expect side effects, but I typically haven't had many since my first few blocks.  Other than that, I seem to be having the normal warming sensation that I typically do in my right foot.  We have another scheduled for next week to get the CRPS under control.

Stationary Bike

We bought a new stationary bike about a month ago to assist in my recovery process.  Since I still have Foot Drop, it is difficult to walk fast or obviously run.  I still needed to get some sort of cardio in to continue physical therapy at home (on my own), so we felt like the bike was the best option at this time.  Here it is . . .