Category: Sciatica (Page 2 of 4)
It’s probably better that I focus on writing about sports today rather than bladder control and Depends. I will say that the prostate surgery went well, but I feel like Baby Huey in his signature plastic panties, primarily worn as a precaution. It will apparently be some time before my bladder returns to normal. In the meantime, I will begin a “pain management” program for my unrelated sciatica. Relief is on the way!
In an uncomfortable situation like this, I refer to the movie, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” where Steve Martin wakes-up-side-by-side in the same motel room bed with John Candy….”Those aren’t pillows.” They break the awkwardness with the words: “See that Bears game last week?” I’ll use that same distraction in avoiding details about my current health issues.
Da Bears did win last week and had this weekend off. It was the remarkable Indiana football Hoosiers that made my day. Despite record-setting trips to the restroom, I was able to enjoy the stunning victory over Nebraska and a 7-0 start to the season. Baby Huey’s Ducks also claimed the top spot in this week’s polls after crushing helpless Purdue.
After a quick trip to the toilet, I’ll try to finish. Purdue is already looking forward to basketball, where they are expected to win the BIG, while I.U fans can’t wait for the Bucket Game and have a chance for a title and major Bowl appearance. Basketball is not a priority for once, even after a taste of hoops during Hoosier Hysteria on Friday night, all part of the Homecoming Hoopla! The exhibition game against formidable Tennessee is only a week away.
Aside from my love of the Hoosiers, Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers have made it to the World Series with a ticket to play Aaron Judge’s Yankees. The two likely season MVP’s will get a chance to compete against each other head-to-head for a Championship. Ohtani’s move from the Angels have led to his very first postseason experience and a chance for the World Series MVP, the perfect cap to a sensational season.
IU’s QB Kurtis Rourke will miss next week’s Washington game with a thumb injury. Tayven Jackson replaced him in the second half of the Nebraska game and will be challenged with the task of maintaining the unblemished record. Michigan
State, Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue loom ahead on the schedule, followed by a Bowl game yet to be determined. The Ducks and Hoosiers top the BIG TEN standings, with what was unimaginable years ago before league expansion and the portal. There’s a lot to look forward to despite the Baby Huey Blues!
My last post was anything but humorous, but I’m feeling better this afternoon, more soreness than pain. I had an inspector look over some of the minor storm damage, while still expecting the screen repairmen. It’s great to have a home that can withstand such powerful, turbulent winds. I’m reminded of the story of the “Big Bad Wolf,” instead it was Hurricane Milton who huffed and puffed, trying to blow our house down. Fortunately, it’s constructed of brick, concrete, and steel, not straw or sticks and other vulnerable materials. I’m honestly surprised when they put up a wood-framed structure in our area.
I’ve caught up on all the TV streaming series, now that we have power. This afternoon, I watched the 4th season, final episode, of Slow Horses on Apple, and last night it was Murders in the Building on Hulu. Tonight, should be the wrap-up of Bad Monkey, also on Apple. The new Bosch season starts soon on Netflix, one of the few channels that I currently don’t have access. Prime Video was just renewed, along with Max and Hulu, now part of the Disney Channel, who can live without that? I also have access to most of the sports channels, something my wife could live without, so I give her the Broadway Channel. Max may soon be traded for short-term Netflix renewal, trying to stay within some semblance of a budget.
I had a big outing last night in my neighbor’s Miata at Farlow’s, one of the few restaurants in nearby Englewood still functioning after the storm, knowing I would be fasting tonight, recovering from surgery over the weekend, and catching up on sleep after a 5:30a start. To add to the torture, I also scheduled flu and Covid shots. It will be a quiet weekend of sorting baseball cards, watching the MLB Playoffs, IU football, and the NFL. An Indy friend is also stopping by for a night. He was there for my vasectomy 40-years ago and just in time to wave goodbye to my prostrate. That’s what good friends are for! My wife is tired of all my moaning and groaning, so he can provide some comedic diversion. I’ll return the favor, as I did all those years ago, when he’s tired of making frequent bathroom trips. Too much information?
For fifteen consecutive years, without fail, I got up every single day and did a run without much complaint. Nowadays, I whine of pain and discomfort – not the same person. There is no more running, just limping while wishing I could turn back the clock. My wife is sick of it, insisting that I’m not being proactive enough in dealing with the doctors. They too, seem to ignore my pleas for relief.
My chiropractor is at least sympathetic, saying that I’m a good sport about it. With my pessimistic nature, I rarely hear that about myself anymore. He called my doctor, requesting an MRI of my lower spine, where the pain seems to originate, before it radiates through my left leg. Sometimes, it feels like a cramp in my thigh, while other times it can be debilitating. As the day goes on and it loosens with activity, the intensity diminishes, until I start to relax on the couch before bedtime. It’s been going on now since I stopped running, just before my open-heart surgery in mid-January. Ever since then, my body has resisted recovery by rendering my left leg stiff and useless.
The Ultrasound revealed no circulation problems, and the pelvic MRI showed arthritic deterioration in my lower spine, but the report suggested a second scan, as was initially recommended by the chiropractor. The doctor didn’t think so, consulted a neurologist, and they stubbornly proceeded with looking primarily at my pelvic area. Wrong – thinking like too many others that chiropractors are uneducated quacks!
The doctor did put me in a pain management program, but it’s been three additional weeks of pain, and I’ve yet to have gotten in to see him. The chiropractor’s steroid doctor, another futile side-step, provided some pills that gave only temporary relief, but didn’t solve the problem. So, I wait another week for my consultation, where he will probably suggest getting the second scan and I’ll have to struggle another two weeks waiting for insurance approval. I was simply trying to get that process moving forward before the consultation, but my doctor once again ignored me in favor of waiting for her man to see me. Easy for her to patiently recommend, while my pain persists!
My body is slowly falling apart, fulfilling the fear that this would happen if I stopped running. I have out-patient prostrate surgery tomorrow, a taped-up right shoulder from a bicep tendon strain, and an injury to my right heal from apparently overcompensating from the pain in my left leg. That leaves just my left arm that I’m typing with this morning. At least, I can express my frustrations though this blog. Thanks for listening, hopefully your hearing isn’t getting worse like mine!
The sky is an eerie color, but the storm has long passed. Once again, we were fortunate, very little damage in our area despite howling winds, blowing rain, and a tornado warning. Tally and Fosse were obviously glad it was over, as I collected three full bags on this morning’s outing. They spent some time with us as we took shelter in the master closet. My wife thought the power went off, but it was only the motion detector doing its job. Once she moved, the lights came back on.
I did get to the fitness center early in the day, but mostly we just sat around watching TV and working our devices. She got restless and started decorating for Halloween, so I hauled out the storage boxes, and put batteries in dancing Snoopy, dressed in an orange mask and skeleton costume. He’s been with us for about 25-years, a treasure we picked up at the Hallmark Store. One hand holds a fortune-telling globe that lights up, but if you grab the other hand, he begins to dance, playing his popular theme song.
I guess Snoopy is a lot like me this year. Even with fresh batteries, he doesn’t dance any more. I tried to play surgeon to see if there was a wire loose, but to no avail. We’re now two of a kind, struggling to move. I hope he isn’t in pain. The theme still plays, but there seems to be a problem where the battery pack wires run up his spine. I can easily empathize. As we get older, parts begin to malfunction. I’ve certainly had my share of that this year.
Because of the storm, my doctor’s appointment has again been delayed, but the MRI report suggests a more thorough examination into the spine. Hopefully, they can get working on an appointment since it takes several weeks to get insurance approval. In the meantime, Advil continues to ease my soreness, even the discomfort from my recent cystoscopy that revealed a need for prostate surgery. Scheduling that procedure has also been delayed because of the storm.
Dancing Snoopy only sits like I do, waiting to perform again naturally. I may need to get a replacement for him, as I continue to evolve into the bionic man. Then, maybe we can both dance again?
A Category 3 is headed our way! Batton down the hatches, Helene is coming soon! It may very well be our first hurricane while living here in Florida. We were traveling during Irma and Idalia, but our home held up. The pups were staying near here while we were gone, so at least Tally is a veteran, Fosse was yet to be born, but her doggy-parents endured the winds and rain at Tally’s side while staying at “Schnauzerville”. We’ll spend the next few days, charging phones, securing lanai & yard items, and stocking up on propane, water, and other essentials. We do not have a generator like most of our neighbors, so it could be hot and uncomfortable living for a few days. The outdoor kitchen will come in handy for food preparation.
Our house of concrete and steel is built like a fortress, with hurricane windows, and a tile roof. It held up well during Irma, and even better with Idalia that packed less punch. I will be worried about the lanai screens and surrounding cage structure. Several neighbors lost theirs during previous storms, but this entirely depends on the direction of the wind swirls. We’ll do what we can to properly prepare that may include lugging the heavy ceramic plant vases and fountain into the garage. Neighbors pitched in to do this the last time in our absence, comfortably on an Alaskan Cruise.
I understand that the noise can be deafening as the storm blows through. My son’s family, that lives nearby spent a couple days at a shelter. They did have some roof damage, that two-years later, claim payment is still being processed. I’m not sure that the property owners and insurance companies can financially withstand another devastating setback, yet people continue to flock to Florida and buy homes.
In the meantime, more storms were brewing in the stomachs and bowels of Tally and Fosse. Fosse is beginning to rival her predecessor, Tinker, as the “Poopingest Pup on the Planet.” Tally’s stomach has been growling and treats have been limited to rice with chicken stock. We had to go out and buy more Spot Shot, and I’ve hauled out the carpet shampooer on more than one occasion.
My wife also has restricted her diet with concerns about diabetes. Low-carb meals are in my future that will certainly aid in helping me lose that post-surgery flab. The scale read 199 yesterday, so progress is being maintained. Advil continues to ease the sciatica pain, as I wait for MRI results and potential treatment. I was up with the dogs in the middle of the night and again just before sunrise and was able to get around comfortably on both occasions.
The two of us went to see Train and REO Speedwagon a few weeks ago, so given the circumstances of hurricanes and diarrhea, all I can think of is the song, Riding the Storm Out!
“Ridin’ the storm out, waitin’ for the thaw out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter
My wine bottle’s low, watching for the snow
I’ve been thinking lately of what I’m missing in the city
And I’m not missing a thing
Watchin’ the full moon crossing the range
Ridin’ the storm out, ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’ the storm out, ridin’ the storm out
Lady’s beside me, she’s there to guide me
She says that alone we’ve finally found home
The wind outside is frightening
But it’s kinder than the lightning life of the city
It’s a hard life to live but it gives back what you give
And I’m not missing a thing
Watchin’ the full moon crossing the range
Ridin’ the storm out, ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’ the storm out, ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’ the storm out, waitin’ for the fall out
On a full moon night in the Rocky Mountain winter
My wine bottle’s low, watching for the snow
I’ve been thinking lately of what I’m missing in the city
And I’m not missing a thing
Watchin’ the full moon crossing the range
Ridin’ the storm out, ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’ the storm out
Ridin’, ridin’, ridin’ the storm out”
Songwriter: Gary Richrath RIP
Data from: Musixmatch
Could something as simple as switching from Tylenol to Advil be the temporary solution for my sciatica pain? For two out of three days since making the change, I’ve been able to maneuver relatively comfortably with the dogs in the morning. I also haven’t gone directly from bed to the freezer for an icepack. Now granted, other changes have been made in my routine, like keeping my left leg straight in bed rather than curling into a ball and staying off soft cushioned stairs to provide more lower back support. The combination seems to be working. This morning, I will deliver a disc with my MRI results to the chiropractor, while my physician supposedly received them directly over the weekend. They will both analyze the results and prescribe treatment in the next few days.
I’ll continue to do my fitness center routine, that has also been modified over the weekend to include mile-long walks back to the house from the workout. In the past, the walks have been longer, up to two miles, but with the support of treadmill rails or the dog buggy, relieving pressure off my back. The problem seems to stem from the base of my spine and then along my left side, moving from upper thigh to calf to toes. There’s obviously a pinched nerve somewhere!
The other hassle I’ve been dealing with this weekend is the timer on my landscaping lights. I’ve had a repairman out on several occasions. We replaced lights and made adjustments, but the timer clock that’s set to turn on the lights at dusk gets stuck at midnight, so they never shut off. Before I have him install a costly new timer, I’ve reset the system this morning to shut-off just before midnight to see if that helps resolve the issue. It’s always something!
We loaded up on Costco items this weekend to earn a $50 savings card. The new store is just down the street. As a result, there’s now enough shampoo in the house to last until at least 2017. It was simply a matter of spending money to make money. I also shampooed our outdoor furniture over the last few days because of all the construction dirt from the addition behind us. This project ensued because both dogs were having diarrhea, so I had to haul out the carpet/upholstery cleaner to handle both issues.
We even had a hassle for “Date Night” this week, stopping at three different restaurants before we found one open or willing to serve us. We ended up at the Lighthouse Grill on Lemon Bay and enjoyed a beautiful sunset and some BBQ, so it all worked out. The night before we dined at Dockside with friends. We then finished Season 1 of Bad Sisters, while I watched football and baseball the rest of the weekend.
Today, I need to stop by Eyeglass World for the fourth time to resolve my on-going prescription hassle, and then create a new hassle by setting an appointment at Xfinity to upgrade my phone. I also have to do a late night pick-up of my son from the St. Pete/Clearwater Airport, so I hope his flight goes smoothly. All in all, retirement life does not run exactly like clockwork!
