For the past few weeks I've had severe pains in my legs. Actually this has been going on for years but it got much worse so I broke down and saw a doctor. They ran two blood tests and determined that I don't have any disease's. My cholesterol is a bit high and my blood pressure was up but that much was OK. This week I went to Forrest General Hospital for two more tests. These tests were to determine if I may have a blood clot or arterial problems. The doctor put me on blood pressure medicine and the tests appear to show no clots or currculation problems.
This puts us back to the beginning. After ruling out any currculation issues and taking an x-ray of my chest (which shows I have good clean lungs) then it can only be the pinched nerve I told them about in the beginning! Whew!
The issue is simple. I have one extra vertebrae. It is smashed against my tailbone. It is compressing a nerve there that is causing my legs to hurt. NOW FIX IT! (LOL)
Well, 10 years ago that is what I was told. Back then the only solution was surgery. And the Doctor gave me a 60/40 chance I would never walk again. I passed up the offer. I don't like those kinds of odds. Seems they have to cut into the muscles in the back to get to the offending vertebrae and those muscles may not grow back right, resulting in ME being carted around in a chair the rest of my life.
That sucks. I pass.
The blood pressure medicine and pain pills help some, but this week I've been staying off my feet and sitting down most of the day, working from a stool placed at the register at work. The "staying off my legs" part is helping the most.
I will go back to the Doc next week and maybe they have some new technology that can help. But suffice it to say, I cannot stand for longer than 10 to 15 minutes without being in horrible pain.
So now I wake and take a handful of pills. Blood Pressure, vitamin, fish oil, pain pills, aspirin. Geez!
Now anybody that knows me knows I am very anti-drug. I rarely have anything more than aspirin or Tylenol in my cupboard. These days my bathroom shelf looks like a pharmacy!
Now anybody that knows me knows I am very anti-drug. I rarely have anything more than aspirin or Tylenol in my cupboard. These days my bathroom shelf looks like a pharmacy!
I guess I'll end up being the old guy sitting in the barber shop carrying on about his rheumatism or some other such ailment. This too sucks.
All of which brings me to the inescapable conclusion: I'm getting old. There I said it. I'm an old fart.
Sheesh.
J.
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