Pain relief a diagnostic torture

 

In the end of October I visited the pain relief doctor. Nice word for Scrabble or gallows I just thought of. I was scheduled at the end of the afternoon and, as an expert by experience, I know that after a half-hour walk out you get a painful butt from sitting on the wrongly designed chairs which are specially designed for modern waiting rooms. When I am finally called in later I will be offered a cup of coffee immediately I hope (to ease the pain of waiting?) That hospital humor has never really suited me and I also think it is just schadenfreude really. The pain relief doctor has already explained at the consultation what the intention is. I will get a ultrasound guided Nerve Intercostal Block . I also went through this whole process in 2008 and the treatment is not very exciting although there are some risks of hitting a lung.

Back to the call and pain relief consultation for a moment. I was called if I could be at the hospital in half an hour and have a physical examination. Yes no problem I live ten minutes from the hospital so hop in the car and report. The doctor introduced herself and immediately started to write down my appearance (statuesque man, just a little too fat and pain on the left rib and of course), as it should be, a round of psychological questions was done. This is done to check that it is not imaginary pain. Quite a few "healthy" people seem to suffer from this these days. (I too use the Internet to look these things up).

The psychological examination was completed and we moved on to the physical. After explaining where the pain areas are located, they check pretty hard where exactly it hurts. I could cry and felt like I was about to go completely out of the conscious world. And no I am not very squeamish. I was seemingly able to convince the doctor quickly enough that I was going through hell and the examination was stopped for a while. It was moved on to the back to see if something could be wrong here. A number of suggestions for treatment were made and I had already indicated myself to have it treated as soon as possible. For this I will be referred to the pharmacy for pain relief medication to get through the coming time and some so-called blocking will be done on the rib on the left side at the end of the month. Once I left the hospital, I almost choked with pain in the car and we drove home. I could cry.

And then of course you have to keep eating, after eating a plate of macaroni, I vomited it out into the toilet bowl within 2 minutes under heartfelt apologies. The all-consuming pain couldn't even keep my stomach contents in place. Like being stabbed and the wound just wanted to remind you.

If that pain alone can be cut in half then I am already happy. After so many years I am quite used to it, I must say, and I have always told myself that my environment should not be a victim of my problems. But God Almighty what a pain.

 

 

And finally yesterday we had our adventure at the pain clinic and I must say it is just a strange idea, that for once it doesn't hurt anymore like it did for more than a while. It remains to be seen because at the moment there is still residual pain because the syringes have been inserted and this gives a more severe pain than before but as a reasonable positive guy I am hopeful again, after a week I should be able to do everything again. And then soon I will finally be able to throw myself into some light housework again without complaints afterwards.

I have been sweeping the room whistling a song again that did not happen for many years. And that's quite an amazing sensation when you've had to put the brakes on yourself for so long. I feel like a full person again although I will remain a "cripple" to the rest of the world. But yes, I can only rejoice and put on my old-fashioned bad boy costume again. I am going to do lots of naughty things again. The doctor did warn me not to overestimate myself now, and that it is not certain until the prednisone wears off. It is and remains junk but yes if it makes life less painful. (In the physical sense.) Now to deal with the aftermath of the pain which will be there for about a week as they stick a big needle in you which will give some pain as they shoot in some anti-inflamatorial meds and after this my life will be a big party again. Mentally seen there will be some party poopers and of course the medical bills will not be very small luckily we are insured for this. Anyway there will be those other pen licking ass- #@#$&@@#$ like the tax authorities for example have to cooperate a bit. So there will be some challenges during the holidays.

To give a bit of a picture of what the treatment is here is a link to a You Tube movie:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m--qyUUzH5U

 

The Old Sailor,