Sunday, December 21, 2008

Back Epidural-One Year Later


On December 21st last year, after a 2 1/2 month battle with severe spinal stenosis, I finally got my Epidural Injection at Fort Wayne(Indiana) Orthopedics. Another 3 months that followed saw my back and my blood pressure return to normal, or whatever can be considered normal for a 59 year old semi-fat man(5'11" 205). Since last March, I have umpired and officiated about 130 sporting events, the blood pressure has bounced back and forth between normal and high normal, and the back pain has eased to allow me to live life close to normal.


Now, normal back condition for me always involves some degree of pain, and a little lack of mobility...however 1/4 into my first basketball officiating campaign, I can't complain.....and will continue to plug along. I still have some issues with a little numbness in the finger tips, which is probably a result of the stenosis, and most days I do have some minor to moderate back pain, as well as elevated BP on occasion. If the back issues flare back up, I am not opposed to getting another injection, the fact that this one has eased the condition for a full year now, is better than I could have hoped.
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The weather is on the verge of turning Artic-Like. Right now it's windy and about 5 above zero...temps are forecasted to drop the rest the day, with chill factors approaching 20 below zero by tonight. The good news is, the ice and snow have melted in west Ohio, so we will not have the blizzard conditions that Patricia's family is going to get in southeast Wisconsin and elsewhere in the middle west and north east.
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That's the short news for today....will take some time this afternoon and visit the blogs that I have not gotten around to much of late.....then maybe take a nap....with the recent cold and major coughing I have been doing(especially at night) a few hours extra sleep may be on the agenda.


back later>>>>>>>>>

8 comments:

Sarge Charlie said...

Damn this global warming....


We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

PRH said...

Back at you and yours Sarge!

MERRY CHRISTMAS...HO...HO...HO!

Grandpa-Old Soldier said...

I know about back pain,, thanks in part to the vacation Uncle Sam sent me on back in 68. Seems to get worse as I age.. Oh well no knives for me, I'll deal with it. Merry Christmas to you and yours Pat. Stay warm.

AmPowerBlog said...

Wow, that's some intense stuff about the back and epidural. Hope you're feeling well, and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Buck said...

I'm glad the epidural worked and is holding up for ya, Pat. Back pain ain't NO fun at all.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat,
Wow, that wedding photo could be my husband and I, circa 1974! How funny!
Merry Christmas to the Houseworth household, and best wishes for a very happy new year!
Trish McNamara

FHB said...

Man, I hope the back and everything else takes a good turn this coming year.

Harry J said...

Pat, been there done that,last March I also had an epidural for a leaking spinal cartledge pressing on a nerve in my leg, since the shot I did well till last week when the ole back went out again. You know it take a tough guy to get old. Merry Christmas again Pat to you and your family.....

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