Last week Hat Trick!

The week started at SOAR with an MRI of my Sternum and Rt Clavicle Joint. Followed by an injection to put my arthritic pain to sleep as this 13 year old reconstructed joint needs TLC from time to time. 

After this I was off to Stanford to be evaluated and receive a updated digestive health plan in hopes of avoiding surgical intervention. That went better than expected. 

The week ended at SOAR with a MRI of my Rt knee that left me with the news of bone on bone on the medial aspect and a option for a patella release and debriment procedure. As my symptoms are not constant I chose to hold off for now. 

I feel I now have a good grasp of my current health needs and my current treatment plan is meeting my needs. That's a big achievement in itself. For now I will focus on my diet and my family more. It's time for me to live and enjoy life and all Gods blessings more. 

My Angel and my health

Another trip where my Angel and I turned a procedure into a adventure. After several stressful weeks taking care of my father we were finally able to break free for a few days to get my colonoscopy completed. It went well. I had to have a little extra care due to my health background so I had it done at Stanford. After we spent a day resting on the Monterey coast watching the whales. Unfortunately I returned to Stanford 48 hours after my procedure only to find out I will need to have more testing as my abdomen is very quiet. I was given a scrip for some meds and a strict diet and told to return on the 11th to see the specialist. 

We then traveled to SOAR medical to see DR. Dillingham to check up on my sternum and clavicle and shoulder. All was great but my sternum so I'm getting another MRI to see how stable the reconstructed joint is and what's causing the pinching pain I get? Possible bone spur. My Angel has been amazing through this all. I am very grateful we got to spend a quality afternoon and full day on the beatiful sunny Monterey coast together. 

Rt Shoulder - Clavicle Spurs removed July 5th.

Resting after surgery 

2 days Post op. it's ugly but it's done. 

Dr. Dillingham went in while I was sedated but awake. He identified multiple bone spurs and removed them from my rt clavicle near my rt shoulder. I had to move my arm during the procedure as he felt around inside to identify and locate  additional bone spurs. Check that off my bucket list. 42 operations. I pray this will be my last but knowing I have more issues at my sternum clavicular joint I may be back in again to do some more work later. ***sigh*** I just want to be done with this constant repair and physical therapy program. 

A Bone Spur and Arthritis & ???

It's been 6 weeks of PT since Shoulder Surgery. Pain started to get bad two weeks ago. I got X-rays last Monday. Discovered a bone is growing in my shoulder and it hurts. So now another Surgery is scheduled for July 5th to remove it. Doctor Dillingham said some of my pain is from my neck injury again. 

Dr. Dillingham is going to review my Stanford procedures and start looking at doing another study to identify the exact areas of trauma causing my pain and develop a plan. The goal we agree is to keep my pain under control to where I do not depend on medication to manage it. 

May 10th Right Shoulder Surgery

Sick of doing this but it's done. Had a few small issues in the rotator and arthritis thanks to trauma injuries so a little debri-ment and cleaning to smooth things up. It's been 5 days and I feel much better already. I'm hurting a little but the arms out of the sling and moving well. I expect to be strong and doing well in a month or two. I really don't know what to expect regarding the arthritis? I'm just going to do my best to take care of my body and not reinjure it. Proper diet and safe modified exercises. 

My wife is busy working her business these days. My daughters wedding is just a few months away. Everything seems so crazy. I feel like I got robbed of my career and I want back in but It's not going to happen. Something else is about to happen. A revelation or a gift or something obvious. I'm not sure. But it's going to happen. I just have to wait and see what's next. Whatever it is I pray it's a blessing that helps me move forward. 

Small set back

3 weeks after my procedure I took a little trip to the coast and camped in my van. It was lovely. But I started getting a new pain in the end of my rt clavicle and the top of my rt shoulder. A week later as it had gotten worse and I was only making it hurt more trying to do my physical therapy I visited my orthopedist Dr. Dillingham at SOAR in Tedwood city. He ordered a MRI. Over the next few weeks my pain got worse and I started having pain in my upper thigh that later moved to my calves and got so bad I could not walk for a few minutes when I got out of bed or a chair. I was also no have tremors over my entire upper body. I went to my primary doctor who put me on Ativan and ordered blood labs. Like Magic the Ativan worked and my leg pain and tremors stopped. I also started treating my shoulder pain with a lidocaine patch. I guess I'm so use to being in pain my not treating it allowed my body to go into shock causing me the issues with my legs and the tremors. I should have known better. Now I'm waiting to get a call to go see Dr. Dillingham and find out what he has planned for my rt shoulder pain. At least I'm stable and this two shall pass. 

40th operation celebration

I had my 40th succesful operation at Stanford on Feb 15th. Before the procedure I was told a different technique than what was planned would be required to reach the nerve causing my pain in my right arm and shoulder. The continuous radiofrequency of the nerve worked. My pain is 90% gone but I'm still healing so I expect it to get better. Unfortunately I lost some mobility of my right arm and more than 70% of the strength. 

My back has healed up nicely from my prior RF procedure and I have no pain there now. I still need my cane to walk as I have no feeling in my lower left leg and I have some weakness in my rt hip and balance issues. 

I'm going to celebrate not having to take pain medication. For the first time in nearly 13 years my pain is under control. I now have a way to manage it with RF procedures should it return. My plan is to be very careful and protect my injuries by not doing anything that may inflame them. Walk gently. Smile big. Thank you Stanford Pain Management Center. 

My pre Valentine update.

As Valentine's Day nears I awake again riding my rollercoaster of pain. My loving wife gets me coffee and something for my pain. I have had wonderful progress in Physical Therapy as of late. I also have had some success with my treatments to better control my pain at Stanford over the last year. I have my 40th procedure scheduled for this following Wednesday. Cryo ablation on my rt shoulder to reduce that pain. After this I may be good for up to a year before I need any more procedures outside of anything that can be accomplished in a office visit. 

It took just over 12 1/2 years to get me to a point to where my pain will not be the number 1 thing on my mind 24-7. I can not wait until this Wednesday and this is done. 

Moving forward I will need to remember to be careful as the injuries are still there and the pain has only been killed at the nerves. I will use this time in physical therapy to strengthen my legs, arms and my core as I have not been able to due to my pain in the past. 

To think I was 37 when this started and now I'm 51. I am scared to take chances that may set me back and I'm scared that if I don't I may miss out on the opportunities and experiences that I truly have a desire for. 

Everything that could possibly be done has been done. What happens in my future is a mystery. 

Wishful Thinking

Ahh, three key factors in life we all may like to achieve and maintain. But for me I have made Health a priority. Without health it's hard to earn $ any significant wealth. 

In my new physical therapy program I have found some success but I have also been met with hard limitations that I have yet to overcome. 

I leave for a consult and preop at Stanford tomorrow. I have a radio frequency ablation procedure scheduled for my rt shoulder. One more shot at pain management. 

I continue to think of ways I may possibly be more productive on a regular bases. But when I test my ability to function for more than an hour In a capacity that would produce I find myself falling short physically. I consulted with several doctors on this and none of them can offer me a cure for it. All they offer is ways for me to manage my issues so I can be a little more comfortable. 

Productivity comes in many shapes and sizes. For now mine comes in a voice and my short writings.