Hick went to the back doctor yesterday. The doctor said he could give Hick another shot of the steroid in his spine, but he would rather just leave it at the one shot, and keep Hick on the gabapentin to block the nerve tingles. He thinks the nerves should calm down after a month. The x-rays he took after the shot last week played a part in this decision, though I'm not sure how. Hick said his back doesn't hurt, but his legs feel like there are needles in them. The doctor said he could give that other shot in # 3, since the last one was in #4. I'm guessing that's the vertebrae or between-space.
Hick had been weaning himself off of the gabapentin, taking it every third day. So now he'll go back on it. The doctor prescribed it for him 3 times a day, but Hick is planning to take it once, at night, since that worked fine for him before. He seems to be feeling okay aside from the needling. Getting around fine. Working on the Double Hovel, and keeping up with his regular Storage Unit Store and auction activities.
The Pony is having all his wisdom teeth removed on Friday morning. Hick will be taking him. Sadly, The Pony has declined our offer to stable him overnight, and keep an eye on him. He would rather cool his hooves at Pony House. Hick will check on him before starting home after his Friday afternoon bull-shooting session.
The Pony plans to shop for soft foods today, and says he can always change his mind and hitch a ride out here with Hick on Friday evening. He has been researching wisdom-teeth recovery online, and says he will follow his discharge instructions. He is aware that he cannot drink through a straw, needs soft foods that are not chewy, and should not poke the holes with his tongue. Also, that he will need to rinse his mouth with salt water.
I'm hoping my two patients are indeed medically compliant, and will speed down the road to recovery.
Regarding Hick's legs... isn't it amazing how a different part of the body is related to other parts? Good luck to The Pony with his wisdom teeth removal. I remember mine were so ready to come out, all I had was novacaine and were very easy to remove. The Pony sounds like he's making good preparations for after his wisdom teeth are removed.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's something with how the vertebrae are growing bone around the plates and screws from the surgery, pressing on the nerves in a different way than what was causing so much pain before.
DeleteThe Pony has already sent me a text this morning, worrying about if he'll have anesthesia, since they didn't tell him not to eat anything the night before. Genius had something that knocked him out when he had his wisdom teeth removed. I do what I can to reassure him, but sometimes I make it worse!
So The Pony will be having a few days of custards and puddings? Pureed vegetables baby food style?
ReplyDeleteYou overestimate the effort The Pony is willing to put into his not-steak-or-bread food! He has been dreaming of macaroni and cheese.
DeleteI am about to discover what the occupatuion I never wanted will entail, as my honey goes in for quadruple by pass, open heart surgery next week. prayers and good thoughts appreciated. Sending same for your guys.
ReplyDeleteThanks. You got it! I will send healing thoughts into The Universe for Bill. My dad had a triple bypass way back in the mid-80s, before they had the fancy surgical methods and gewgaws they use these days. He was fine. Recovery was gradual. The surgeon prepared my mom, noting that it would even affect his mental outlook for a while.
DeleteEven though I worry so much about Hick and The Pony, I have to keep reminding myself that these procedures are done every day, by people who are experts at it. Even though they might have a bad apple in the scheduling staff...
Facing back surgery myself, so this is all interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the surgery, I hope it helps you get more mobile. Hick was barely hobbling around with a cane for a month or so before his surgery. Now he's walking fine. They can treat the weird symptoms he's having now as his back adjusts to the surgical repairs. He had degenerative disk problems that were pinching his nerves.
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