Good Evening Everyone,
Well, D and I got back from the appointment with the neurosurgeon in the NE part of the state about 5 pm tonight. . Total miles to this physician was 416 miles. D is in horrid chronic pain as I am posting, I am just as bad. My days of traveling are very limited and numbered. I am not young anymore to do the mobile thing I did when I was 30 years younger.
D has been doing so-so in the truck. This particular truck has a ergonomic shaped seat with air ride, so its a little cushy for the ride. The pain get bad when he shifts the truck and that uses that left leg. But the chronic pain is a constant and after this neurosurgeon did his own MRI for his record and for D's work comp case, it showed what I knew was wrong.
The MRI revealed S-1 and L1-L5 damaged, and all disks are bulging and need to be fixed. I knew this when D was having pain and loosing feeling down the left side from the pain in the lower spine. My own spinal fusion is at L4 to L5 and I had the same thing pain
wise and numbness, so I knew. It was the company who he worked for who has, with their callous and uncaring attitude, and no medical care, has made D's ability to work until he could retire a pipe dream. The neurosurgeon was furious as to the uncaring of this company and basically told D that his workability is next to none, and so now it will be up to this particular physician, and D's general physician, D's attorney, the opposition's attorney, and the work comp court to decide now, it may not even get to that point, they may settle as it will be 4 years in January that this has been going on. This is the second opinion that has confirmed that D has a very severe spine injury and his days of capable work is pretty much done.
I am not going to worry about it. What comes will come. I have much to worry about with just trying to keep a roof over the head, a little food on the table and the utility bills paid. I am much more worried about D's spine and a possible surgery, which personally, I have little faith in, as my surgery did not work and the fusion failed. Spine surgeries are not guaranteed, at all.
It was nice when we left early this morning, but as we got off the interstate, and up into the north east corner, it got cold and very dismal looking. Heavy, foggy clouds hung low, and had an inpending look of a snow storm on them, but that was all they did, just looked ominious. We are however, supposed to have some snow here Wednesday afternoon, and maybe a possible snow storm for the eastern part of the state. I will know more as Tuesday morning rolls around and the weather is updated. Again, I will believe it when I see white stuff on the ground.
Some time this later this week, I am going to rack up my cherry brandy and bottle it. I am hoping that it turns out. I will try to get the camera to work to take a photo. I am wanting to order some different yeasts for wine and try the different types. I will learn as I go. I am also going to order a kit to make root beer and maybe try ginger beer or a vanilla creme of some sort. I also need to order some more glass jugs so I can start new batches and let wine age more. I am having fun just experimenting with it. Its fun.
I also have to do a black forest cake for my house neighbor for her table. I will then sprinkle some of the cherry brandy I made over this cake. I will have some of my cherries that were happily swimming in booze to make the topping for the cake. Should be good.
Well, I am just about to fall over. I am so exhausted so I will post later and try to have some photos of what I am doing here with cake and drunk fruit.
Hugs to All
Well, D and I got back from the appointment with the neurosurgeon in the NE part of the state about 5 pm tonight. . Total miles to this physician was 416 miles. D is in horrid chronic pain as I am posting, I am just as bad. My days of traveling are very limited and numbered. I am not young anymore to do the mobile thing I did when I was 30 years younger.
D has been doing so-so in the truck. This particular truck has a ergonomic shaped seat with air ride, so its a little cushy for the ride. The pain get bad when he shifts the truck and that uses that left leg. But the chronic pain is a constant and after this neurosurgeon did his own MRI for his record and for D's work comp case, it showed what I knew was wrong.
The MRI revealed S-1 and L1-L5 damaged, and all disks are bulging and need to be fixed. I knew this when D was having pain and loosing feeling down the left side from the pain in the lower spine. My own spinal fusion is at L4 to L5 and I had the same thing pain
wise and numbness, so I knew. It was the company who he worked for who has, with their callous and uncaring attitude, and no medical care, has made D's ability to work until he could retire a pipe dream. The neurosurgeon was furious as to the uncaring of this company and basically told D that his workability is next to none, and so now it will be up to this particular physician, and D's general physician, D's attorney, the opposition's attorney, and the work comp court to decide now, it may not even get to that point, they may settle as it will be 4 years in January that this has been going on. This is the second opinion that has confirmed that D has a very severe spine injury and his days of capable work is pretty much done.
I am not going to worry about it. What comes will come. I have much to worry about with just trying to keep a roof over the head, a little food on the table and the utility bills paid. I am much more worried about D's spine and a possible surgery, which personally, I have little faith in, as my surgery did not work and the fusion failed. Spine surgeries are not guaranteed, at all.
It was nice when we left early this morning, but as we got off the interstate, and up into the north east corner, it got cold and very dismal looking. Heavy, foggy clouds hung low, and had an inpending look of a snow storm on them, but that was all they did, just looked ominious. We are however, supposed to have some snow here Wednesday afternoon, and maybe a possible snow storm for the eastern part of the state. I will know more as Tuesday morning rolls around and the weather is updated. Again, I will believe it when I see white stuff on the ground.
Some time this later this week, I am going to rack up my cherry brandy and bottle it. I am hoping that it turns out. I will try to get the camera to work to take a photo. I am wanting to order some different yeasts for wine and try the different types. I will learn as I go. I am also going to order a kit to make root beer and maybe try ginger beer or a vanilla creme of some sort. I also need to order some more glass jugs so I can start new batches and let wine age more. I am having fun just experimenting with it. Its fun.
I also have to do a black forest cake for my house neighbor for her table. I will then sprinkle some of the cherry brandy I made over this cake. I will have some of my cherries that were happily swimming in booze to make the topping for the cake. Should be good.
Well, I am just about to fall over. I am so exhausted so I will post later and try to have some photos of what I am doing here with cake and drunk fruit.
Hugs to All
I remember too well the worry about weather in WY as it affected riving conditions and I know some parts of NE aren't much improved in witner--just fewer mountain passes to negotiate.
ReplyDeleteBack pain is such a discouraging thing. Our son has kept his CDL although not driving for several years now, as has J. Once they have that license there's always the possibility of needing it in the future.
I have little faith in worker's comp or lawyers, sad to say, but can hope the best outcome for you and D.
I too suffer from back trouble, but nothing like you describe. I feel for you! 400 miles to see the doc'; that seems an awful long way.
ReplyDeleteOh my Denim ~ What a long, grueling trip for both of you. I'm sorry for the pain both of you suffer and hope you get a settlement that will ease some of the burdens you are under.
ReplyDeleteThe black forest cake and drunken cherries sound yummy. I'd like to try some of these wines that you are making too.
Love and hugs to you both ~ FlowerLady
So sorry for the back troubles of both of you. My husband has had 3 spine surgeries including one neck fusion. I understand a little of what you are dealing with but have not personally experienced the pain. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThose wines and brandy sound great! It is good that you are keeping something fun and creative in your days. I'd love to learn how to do that. Maybe someday.
Hugs my friend :)
This is why I rock along with my L4 and L5. Treatment has not helped. So as long as I can still function, I will cope with it. I do stretches. Seems like staying as active as I can helps but the line between that and doing too much is vague and I cross it sometimes. Don't know how I'd get along without my moist heating pad. I haven't seen improvement in people who have had surgery, but if the pain gets bad enough, what else can you do. That's a really, REALLY long trip, even without being in pain. Bless your hearts. Keep in mind that those disabiity folks sometimes have you watched. They look for you to be doing stuff you're not supposed to be able to do, according to their opinions. So be mindful of that. Sometimes they follow you as you drive to your doctor appointments and watch how you get out of your vehicle, so on. Hubs was on Disability for a short while before he was old enough for Social Security. His knees were shot. He was approved first rattle out of the box because the Work Comp people paid for him to have braces (we didn't know that in signing acceptance of the braces, he released them from further action on his behalf -- those jerks.) But his appearance, with those braces on, for his hearing were probably what blew them out of the water. We could not believe that his approval came so fast after that.
ReplyDeleteCorporations use people up and spit them out. We were lucky Hubs had worked in a small welding shop and they did everything they could, once they discovered what his physical condition was, to help him through. We spent several months of touch-and-go, after he couldn't work. We didn't have insurance, either. I was terribly worried about whether we'd be using up all that we had saved and end up having to sell our house, and so on, if he didn't get approved. And even then, it was a whole year before Medicare kicked in. I found a job, and the bill for his drugs every month took most of what I made. Life is hell. And it's scarey. We got through it. You hang in there, you will too. XOXOXO