Back Pain Community

Hey Tim -

Yep it's always good to meet new PA's - I love them too - the one I have is really great - though I've been going to same place since the end of 2008 and I know almost all the staff (big office with several Doc's doing different areas of treatment) they also have clinical trials for new meds etc. which they have asked me a couple of times to do it. it's for a new Hydrocodone med which I was not too impressed with it and kept asking how much of that med would I have to take to equal the amounts I take for morphine and oxycodone each day. I also reminded them I get cluster headaches so that pretty much threw me out of the trials as that is one of the side effects of this new med.

I saw my PA last week and yesterday I had appt to go in and get shots in my lower back - hate it when they feel my back as they press hard etc to find the "spots" cause I always end up in tears - but I got my pain shots (pain med mixed with numbing agent) and am glad I did. My hubby's niece her hubby and their daughter are moving in with us til they can get on their feet out here - moving from VA so I cleaned up one spare bedroom and got it ready. The other spare bedroom will be my hubby's and daughter's responsibility as it's mainly their junk in there!! LOL I got in our hottub last nite too so that really helped. Will do same tonite just to make sure I don't get too sore or hurt too much - so far I'm doing really well considering what all I did.

anyway - I know how you feel when you see a new PA - I can remember my first appt at this place where I saw the PA first then the doc. they both saw how I was walking where I dragged my left leg/foot so they had me see their one doc that does the EMG tests (he's one that does pain shots too) so he tested me and that's when I found out I have nerve damage. they sent me to get fitted for leg brace for left leg. So I was really impressed with their office staff.

I go back on Monday for another set of shots and then I will see the Chiro after that - my back is so bad right now. It's stiff as a board on the left side from the top of my T-discs down to L5 and some on right.

Then the following week I go in for my EMG test - Ugh hate those but glad they only last a short time - I have both parts of test done this way they can tell which disc(s) are causing more problems.

So anyway that's what I did all day yesterday - gonna take it easy today and not do a darn thing!! LOL

Hope ur doing ok today - take care~~

I like having a doc that knows me well. I saw previous pain doc until about 08. I loved him, but it was a 100 mile drive round trip. In the mean time a new pain doc started his practice about 5 miles from my office. I had two friends with spine injuries seeing him. After a year of good reports I switched. Both doctors I rank 10 on a scale of 10. My primary care doc has been taking care of me for nearly 20 years. He actually suggested I should quit work and take the disability. He's really nice and he is worried about my quality of life as I get older. I know he's right, it's just a hard decision. It's like boiling a frog in water. If you just keep pushing yourself a little harder you run the risk of not realizing you've gone too far until it's too late.

God bless you Joy and good for you taking care of family!

Tim