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Making Progress in the Back Pain Department

April 15, 2009 - 3:25pm 453 reads 0 comments

Today I am starting to make a little progress! I think we may have found something that is somewhat of a tolerable combination to take care of the pain! We switched up my long lasting pain reliever to take 1x every 8 hours from Oxycontin to MS Contin (Morphine).

I will be taking the Dilaudid for breakthrough pain. In addition, I am still taking Neurontin (used to treat nerve pain), decadron (steriod), and a new drug that I can’t remember the name, but supposed to help with the opiods. The Morphine that I have been taking over the past few days does help with the pain, but really makes me feel dosey.

I have a difficulties talking to someone for a long period of time without wanting to shut my eyes, even though I may not be that tired. I am hoping that my body’s tolerance will build up over the next short while and won’t be as affected. The last thing I want to do is walk around in a zombie- like state. It really sucks having to concentrate so hard to comprehend what doctors are saying.

I have to laugh though because I wonder if it’s just because I have heard most of what they are talking about before and our conversations seem to go around in circles. I have been in this hospital for way too long now. It’s funny because I now feel comfortable enough to walk down the hall by myself, help myself to the “staff kitchen” to refill my own water, get ice, graham crackers and other treats, and store food in the fridge like it’s my own house! Nobody says anything so I guess they don’t mind. They probably just look at me like, “Oh, there goes Melissa!” Everyone knows me on this floor by now.

I know I am starting to feel better because I don’t feel the need for constant naps during the day and am starting to feel really restless. My body feels strong and I have no problems walking for a period of time with the brace on for support. I walked tonight for about 20 minutes with Wes’s mother exploring the grounds of St. Joes. It felt good to get outta this room and stretch my legs. Most of you know that I am a very active person, so for me to not be able to workout or have any type of movement for MONTHS is killing me!

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