On Monday, I had my MRI, which was a bit unnerving. I'm not claustrophobic by nature, but being slid into a tight, tiny tube while strapped at the waist DID cause my heart to beat a little faster. I was able to relax (I was on my back for 40 mins) and they got good shots. Apparently, about 30% of people can't get their MRIs done in the tubes, since the panic--I can totally understand it. I had to really "mind over matter" it to do well.
Today, I got the prognosis (finally, something less than diagnostic)-- a previous nerve injury healed after I "toughed it out" (Translation: was an idiot) and in the process, developed an arthritic lower back, specifically two bones. The nerve is still clenched between either bone and cartilidge or bone and bone, so tomorrow I get the EXTRA BIG NEEDLE OF PAIN directly into my spine! It's a shot of steroids that does SOMETHING, not sure, to alleviate the pain and get the nerve in the right place.
So wish me luck! If I'm walking around at X-mas, things will have worked nicely!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz X. Gruber. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original.This here may be the best version of the song to date! Click here to give it a listen!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Boy, this would be pretty darn sweet to have under the tree come Christmas! Heh--
A boy can dream, right? If Christmas is too close of a deadline, my birthday is exactly four months from now!
A boy can dream, right? If Christmas is too close of a deadline, my birthday is exactly four months from now!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
It's always bad when the doctor mumbles under his breath, "I've never seen this...Interesting". It's the same thing my mechanics have said about four of my cars, my vet said about my cat, and now the Dr. about me. Apparently, my PT is baffled as to what causes my back pain. No motion related tests triggered the pain, even the ones he had me do like 40 times. Only one thing hurts it, ironically, the one thing I really need to be able to do: hiking uphill. I hit the treadmill and low and behold, back came the pain. Adding to the oddness: the weaker leg is more flexible, which is truly bizarre.
Nothing in my life ever has any vaguely obvious solutions, whether they be electronics, cars, pets, or my own body. It's always some bizarre case, some singular instance that no one can figure out. I guess I'm just a mystery hidden in an enigma wrapped in bad wiring.
Nothing in my life ever has any vaguely obvious solutions, whether they be electronics, cars, pets, or my own body. It's always some bizarre case, some singular instance that no one can figure out. I guess I'm just a mystery hidden in an enigma wrapped in bad wiring.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
HAHAHA! Been a while since I "LOL"ed in real life--
Enjoy the fun here!
Yesterday, I had a somewhat obvious fear of mine confirmed: I have a slipped disc in my back. It's true, a rogue piece of cartilidge has gotten out of line and wiggled it's way from the comforting confines of the spinal column. My doctor speculates that it has been this way for upwards of 5 years--which I also knew, but had no way of getting it checked out pre-health insurance. My gimpy, limpy, pain in my leg has created an imbalance in strength, meaning my left leg is now considerably weaker than the right. I'm not sure how long I'll be out of action, but the plan for now is to take giant Ibuprofin pills until I can get a steroid injection into my spine.
If I had to speculate when the disc intially slipped, I would guess sometime around 1998. I remember feeling the distinct pain when hiking up Mount Mansfield on my second trek up the fabled Vermont peak. A slipped disc is a weird thing, it's not so painful that you can't function, yet it's irritating enough to deter you from enjoying things to the fullest. And I'm getting tired of people pointing out the limp I didn't even know I had.
In any case, I'm actually excited to get it repaired. I hope I can be 100% for my hikes this spring and summer for my book.
Enjoy the fun here!
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Yesterday, I had a somewhat obvious fear of mine confirmed: I have a slipped disc in my back. It's true, a rogue piece of cartilidge has gotten out of line and wiggled it's way from the comforting confines of the spinal column. My doctor speculates that it has been this way for upwards of 5 years--which I also knew, but had no way of getting it checked out pre-health insurance. My gimpy, limpy, pain in my leg has created an imbalance in strength, meaning my left leg is now considerably weaker than the right. I'm not sure how long I'll be out of action, but the plan for now is to take giant Ibuprofin pills until I can get a steroid injection into my spine.
If I had to speculate when the disc intially slipped, I would guess sometime around 1998. I remember feeling the distinct pain when hiking up Mount Mansfield on my second trek up the fabled Vermont peak. A slipped disc is a weird thing, it's not so painful that you can't function, yet it's irritating enough to deter you from enjoying things to the fullest. And I'm getting tired of people pointing out the limp I didn't even know I had.
In any case, I'm actually excited to get it repaired. I hope I can be 100% for my hikes this spring and summer for my book.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
While it's pretty easy to say George Bush is the worst president in my lifetime, the stakes get raised when his name is mentioned for the worst president in the history of the USA. I happen to know a little about our previous commanders-in-chief, and I had actually heard that many considered James Buchanan to be the cream of the crap. William Henry Harrison certainly didn't do much but he was only in office 30 days. In any case check out this interesting read. You don't have to be a rigid political follower to find this a little thought provoking.
I've found in this day, it's hard to talk intelligently with people who support old W. I always get a hoot out of Bush supporters who point to Clinton as being an awful president based soley on the fact he had an affair with an intern instead of his solid political track record. We live in a really weird country, a place where "freedom" claims to be our highest value yet large majorities of the populous constantly rally for restrictions of choice, national religious stances, and offensive military actions. Though to be fair, we lead the world in monster truck based entertainment.
I've found in this day, it's hard to talk intelligently with people who support old W. I always get a hoot out of Bush supporters who point to Clinton as being an awful president based soley on the fact he had an affair with an intern instead of his solid political track record. We live in a really weird country, a place where "freedom" claims to be our highest value yet large majorities of the populous constantly rally for restrictions of choice, national religious stances, and offensive military actions. Though to be fair, we lead the world in monster truck based entertainment.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Man, it's windy here in Boulder. I got hit by a plastic garbage can AND a cardboard box while walking about. Contrary to Marc's hope, the garbage can did NOT make a River City Ransom style sound.
Oh, and I'm working from home since the wireless is out at the office. Oddly, I've actually been doing work all afternoon (except for this). So that's all the news for today.
Oh, and I'm working from home since the wireless is out at the office. Oddly, I've actually been doing work all afternoon (except for this). So that's all the news for today.
