Update on my PT - Day 2167 (Year 6, Day 328)

Zephyrhills, FL

Ok, I didn't think I'd write from this address again, but alas...

As you know, I've been going to physical therapy (PT) since March.  I started out going for the pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder for which I was on the 1-10 pain scale of a constant 9-10.  After a few weeks of PT, I felt relief and as of now, you'd never know I even had a problem there.

However, simultaneously, I was having lots of problems with my left hip.  I was well aware that the arthritis was bone on bone and nothing short of a replacement will solve the problem.  But I decided that since I have all these therapy sessions scheduled, I'd focus on the hip since the neck was resolved.

So I've been working with PT for the last 1.5 months.  Since we're moving on Monday, today was my last day at this location.  The outcome:  my therapist feels that I've made excellent improvement in most mobility.  There are, of course, certain movements I can't make without extreme pain due to the bone grinding on the bone, but for the most part, I do have improved mobility.

For now, the recommendation is the next step really needs to be seeing an orthopedic surgeon and planning a hip replacement.  The PT place does have an office near my new location but my therapist recommended to wait about 2 weeks -- to continue my daily exercises and see whether I'm feeling any relief, if it's gotten worse or stays the same before making an appointment for more PT.

So... stay tuned.

Feeling melancholy - Day 2164 (Year 6, Day 325)

Zephyrhills, FL

This is most likely the last time (after 16 months) that I will be posting from this location.  Next will be LOL (Land O'Lakes, FL), as G-d willing, with no obstacles, we will be moving out one week from tomorrow (Monday, June 1st).  When we first arrived here, after Mitch lost his job at the end of Dec. 2018 (we arrived at this location Jan. 4, 2019), we thought it would only be for a few months.  But we have faith that G-d has plans for us, and things turned out well when he landed a full time job (and I lost a lot of work from my clients) just as the pandemic hit.  If you've been following my blog, you know the reason we are moving.

I'm feeling a bit melancholy not only because I'll miss the aesthetics of this campground, but because of the friends I've made here, especially Ellie.  She also has a BFF here (Carol) who's been here for about the same amount of time (5+ years) and as it turns out, Carol is leaving on the same day we are (due to the virus, she lost her job and can't afford the rent here so needs to live with her children hundreds of miles away). Ellie also lost her husband a little over a year ago, so needless to say, this is a very devastating situation for her.

So we planned a special get together with us, Ellie and Carol yesterday.  Had to be outdoors so we could sit separated.  It was a very enjoyable evening, especially when Ellie brought out her guitar.

Thankfully, we'll only be about 25 miles away, and Ellie frequents a health food store that we also go to, which is about 8 miles from our new location.  So hopefully we'll still be able to see each other.

Anyway, will keep you posted from the other side of this adventure!  Confession: I really miss traveling!!!  But it is what it is.  G-d willing, someday we'll be able to retire, trade in our beast for something more travel-able, and really spend time in the rest of the country.  But, alas, plans are made in bubbles.  Just need to take one day at a time.

Moving? - Day 2144 (Year 6, Day 315)

Zephyrhills, FL

No real news since last time, but some updates:

Coronavirus - as of this writing there are about 1.2 million reported cases and about 69,000 deaths.  Of course, since there is still a lack of adequate testing, I'm sure those numbers are doubled or tripled.  There have been a lot of protests and many states are now re-opening, which I think is a huge mistake.  I guess all we can do is continue to protect ourselves (social distancing, hand washing) and wearing masks in public places so we don't infect others in case we're carriers.

Physical therapy - for the most part, I'd say the problem with my neck/shoulder is almost completely healed.  I have some stiffness sometimes but mostly you'd never know there was a problem.  I wish I could say the same about my hip.  The therapists have been focusing on exercises for that but right now (after about 3 weeks) I'm not feeling much of an improvement.  I definitely need a hip replacement but that clearly needs to wait until this coronavirus thing is over and the hospital staffs are better equipped to give me the attention I'll need (not to mention the risks I'd be taking even being in the hospital or rehab).  I'm sure I can find another doctor who's willing to do the surgery before I lose the weight, even though I've been doing pretty well with that.  Anyway, I have about 6 more sessions before we move so we'll see if there's any progress by then.

Moving - you can see from my last post how very unhappy I am about moving away from this campground we've been at for the last 15 months.  I enjoy seeing the grass, trees, wide open spaces and the company of my friends here.  At the "other place", the site itself is extremely claustrophobic and there is nothing aesthetic to look at, either sitting outside or from the windows.  But Mitch's 1+ hour commute is very tiring so there is really no option (especially in light of the next paragraph).  I am extremely grateful, more than words can express - to Mitch for giving me an extra month to adjust to this fact.  He initially said it was to give us both time to see if there could be another solution, and despite my researching, no, there isn't one.  But thank you Mitch for allowing me the extra time to "grieve".  I guess (like it or not), I'm ready to move on.  So unless (G-d forbid!) some kind of obstacle gets in the way, move out day is Monday, June 1st.  It will be to Land O Lakes, which is about 25 miles SW of where we are now, and about 15 miles and 1/2 hr closer to Tampa where most of his work is.

So today I learned that Mitch's work schedule has changed a little over the next few weeks.  He has 2 days off a week, which for now are Fridays and Saturdays (so he's working Sundays).  He's also been working 8-5 daily (leaving home at 6:30am, coming home around 6pm).  Starting today and for next ?? weeks, he will be working M-Th 1-10pm.  So that totally screws up our schedule, especially in the evenings when our routine is: he comes home from work (6pm), we have dinner while watching some tv until 8:00 and then he gets ready for bed (in bed by 8:30, asleep by 9).  So now I need to figure out what to do about dinner and our tv watching.  Maybe I can adjust my own work schedule so we can watch in the morning?  When he was out of town, I'd eat whatever I could make real fast or not eat at all.  I'll need to force myself to still cook a nice meal for 2, even if I just eat it myself so he can have dinner (leftovers) for the following day.

Yes, I accept this challenge.  As I know I've mentioned in one of my much earlier posts, that one of my many character flaws was the need to have everything in my life planned out to the minute.  If anything went wrong that delayed the plan, even by a few minutes, I'd have a major anxiety attack.  Since living on the road, one of the first lessons I learned is that "plans are made in bubbles" - there will ALWAYS be something unexpected thrown in as a monkey wrench, and I've been learning to cope with that and accept it as a new way of life for me.  I'd like to say I've been mostly very successful over the last 6 years.  So, again, although Mitch's new (temporary??) schedule is putting a wrench in our daily routine, I will figure out a way to make it work.  In the scheme of things, it's really NOT A BIG DEAL!!!  I always need to remind myself how much things could be worse, take every moment to THANK G-D for all of our blessings, and just deal with "the small stuff."

Update - Day 2129 (Year 6, Day 300)

Zephyrhills, FL

Can't believe it's been 30 days since I last posted! (apologies to those who were waiting with baited breath for my sleep-inducing words).

The corona virus on still rages, with over 700,000 known cases and about 36,000 deaths (again, probably much, much higher as there isn't enough testing to know for sure. I'm convinced that there are millions more people who are infected and who even died, who weren't tested and therefore aren't in the count).  So far, thank God, Mitch and I are asymptomatic, although we're living as if we and everyone out there is infected and taking every precaution possible (my throat has been a bit scratchy for about 2 weeks, and I'm starting to have some breathing problems, but it's that time of year and I'm 99.9999% certain it's my elm allergies, as was proven last year.  Thankfully, I still have the inhalers left, if needed).

At the last post, I had just started physical therapy for the pinched nerve in my shoulder/neck.  I'm pleased to say that there is a 95% improvement now.  I have graduated from a level 9-10 constant pain to a level 1 mostly, with occasional zero.  PT really works!  My hip has also gotten to such a point where I can't even lift my left or straighten from a bent position (which makes climbing steps or getting into the car very difficult).  The physical therapist has just begun working with me on that so hopefully I will start seeing improvements soon.

On another note, we had been considering moving to a place closer to Tampa so that Mitch's commute could be lessened (it currently takes him about an hour).  There were a few places we looked at, but they all had waiting lists (one has a 2 year list!).  Well, one of the places just opened up and they had 3 sites available. It's really more of a trailer park with a few spots for RVs squeezed in between the homes.  We took a look at the sites and chose the best of all evils and left a deposit.  But, quite honestly, I'm extremely unhappy.  If nothing else, I enjoy looking at nice scenery out the window (or outside) while I'm working, or when I have leisure time to sit or walk outdoors (it soothes the soul).  The only scenery this places offers when I'm sitting outside is facing a rusted shed and other worn down trailers**.  Although I feel I would be totally miserable living there, it does cut Mitch's travel time down very significantly, so feel I have to grin and bear it and accept that is one of the trade offs we make in a marriage.  Which is more important - the lesser commute or the need to see serene things out the window?

** We couldn't really spend too much time that day because (1) we were with the park manager, and (2) it was raining and we were riding around on her golf cart.  So we didn't really have the ability to get out and digest the site.

Mitch is out in the field today (yes, on a Sunday).  He said that before he comes home, he will return to the park, go to the site and take photos of what the view will look like from sitting outside and looking out the back windows.  I'm praying that when he sees what I think he will see, he will agree that it's too much for me to bear.  Then again... trade offs!  Whose needs are more important - his to have a shorter commute or mine to have a pretty view?  That is the question.  Stay tuned...

Yet Another medical update - Day 2099 (Year 6, Day 270)

Zephyrhills, FL

I'm mentioning this for prosperity, as I know all my readers are fully aware of the global situation right now -- the coronavirus pandemic.  At this point in time (and things change on a daily basis), many states have declared mandatory quarantines -- what they're calling "social distancing."  Pretty much all schools have been closed, as have restaurants, bars, concerts, anywhere where a crowd might gather.  Even Broadway has been cancelled, and the news staff (anchors, even weathermen) as well as talk show hosts are live streaming from their homes.  Everywhere is like a ghost town. There have been thousands of deaths in China and all over Europe (with Italy being hit the hardest).  It has reached the US, but as we all know, the US is very far behind where it should be in terms of mitigating and being prepared, including testing. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are starting to get overwhelmed and are severely understocked (mostly due to people hoarding masks, gloves and sanitizers). So while the infected and death counts seem very low right now, it's only because only a very small percentage of people have been tested. We're certain there will be millions affected by the time this is over.

As for us... for me I can't really say the self-isolation is affecting me in any way due to my lifestyle.  Since I work from home, my daily routine hasn't changed at all.  And since my severe hip arthritis makes it difficult for me to walk, and now the pinched nerve in my neck (still not 100% sure of that diagnosis but something's going on causing severe pain in my upper back, neck and down my arm) makes it even harder to get around, going anywhere "fun", even out to eat, is something we haven't done for a while either.  The most I'm able to do is sit outside (which I'm doing right now, enjoying looking at the green leaves of spring, the blue sky dotted with a few fluffs of white, and listening to the birds chirping and the gentle flow of water from the fountain of my neighbor's koi pond).

For Mitch, he started his new job last Monday and with the exception of 3 days, has mostly been at home doing online training.  Even when he's out in the field, he's repairing, maintaining or installing ATM machines, so he's not in a situation where there are other people around, other than his 1 coworker, and they try to keep their distance.  We are both being very vigilant with using hand sanitizer or washing our hands.

As for my health, I has my first physical therapy session yesterday.  Mostly my therapist (Lucas) did an assessment by doing a lot of pulling and prodding and massaging and manipulating.  He agreed partly with a pinched nerve but feels there may be something else going on the shoulder area.  In any event, he said it's not their job to find a solution, only to help with the symptoms and alleviate the pain.  And that's fine with me.  I left with 6 different exercises to do.  While in the initial stages where it's very painful, I'm confident that this will help tremendously in the long term.

That's it for now.  Everyone stay safe and sane!

Another medical update - Day 2089 (Year 6, Day 260)

Zephyrhills, FL

Saw my PCP yesterday.  He said the nodules were nothing to be concerned about.  He did seem convinced that I have a pinched nerve being caused by the arthritis in my spine.  He showed me some images of how the nerves are attached in the body and I could clearly now see how it IS very possible that the pain in my shoulder blade and down my arm is being caused by a pinched nerve in my spine.

The treatment plan at this point is for physical therapy (I start next Thursday) and then an EMG test (earliest appt is April 20th) to determine exactly which nerve is being pinched.  From there, I would have an MRI which will tell if it's in the muscle or bone (if bone, then I'd need surgery).  Meanwhile, I will have completed 4 weeks of PT by the time the test is scheduled, so things may even be better by then.

He also suggested I increase the dosage of the nerve medication, which I did and it seemed to give me a bit more relief.  So as of today, I still have pain but not to the level where I'm crying, so definitely an improvement.

As for Mitch, he got his company car (a mini-van: it's actually a rental until his real car comes in).  So many great perks with this company!  And it's work he enjoys doing.

Medical update - Day 2082 (Year 6, Day 253)

Zephyrhills, FL

First, Mitch officially starts his new job with NCR on Monday, March 9th.  It couldn't come at a better time as we're at the limit of the credit card and have just incurred close to $8K in new medical bills (explanation below).

I have been suffering greatly for almost 2 weeks now with excruciating pain in my upper back (from shoulder blade, horizontally outwards, and down my arm to below my elbow).  Pain level is mostly at 10 on the scale (lowest has been about 8) and is just about 24/7 and doesn't matter if I'm at rest or moving.

I went to Urgent Care on 2/26 where the PA I saw didn't even examine me.  He asked where the pain was and when I showed him, he immediately diagnosed torticollis, gave me a steroid shot, and rx of Prednisone and muscle relaxants and recommended Tylenol.  When I got home and looked this up, I think he pulled that diagnosis out of his tush as it didn't even come close to my symptoms.  Naturally, none of this helped (and Tylenol never does anything for me, ever!  I don't think my body can absorb it).

In any event, by Sunday (3/1), I was still screaming in pain.  A nurse friend suggested it could be cardiac related and I should go to the ER instead of trying to get an appt with my doctor (and at the risk that he'd recommend a different dr and I'd get bounced around for a few weeks).  So, I took the advice and got a full work-up at the ER.

Thank G-d, cardiac was ruled out (they did chest xray and CT Scan).  The diagnosis was that (in addition to the bone on bone arthritis in my hip and knee), I also have arthritis on my spine which is currently causing a pinched nerve, which explains the pain.  I was given a medication for nerve pain as well as 2 different pain pills (1 narcotic but only 9 pills total so that's not for the long term). 

Although I am still in great pain, I do see a slight improvement.   For example, when taking the meds, the pain level goes from a 10 to about a 6 (although it only lasts about 2 hrs max).  I also slept thru the night last night for the first time in almost 2 weeks rather than waking in the wee hours in pain (although I was screaming in pain when I did get up).

I have an appt with my doctor on Monday (3/9) so we can discuss next steps: chiropractor, orthopedist, PT, other??  Meanwhile, just need to keep taking the meds, heating pad and resting as much as possible.  Not doing too much client work (I'm so far behind right now but they are very understanding that I'm only working on time critical items right now, in between meds when I'm at the 6 pain level (which is now as I'm writing this post instead of working).  But the pain has crept back up so I'm going to cut this short now and go back to bed.

Just one other item I need to watch for... the CT scan revealed 2 other things: a hiatal hernia and nodules on my adrenal glands.  Dr. said nothing to panic about but I should definitely talk to my dr. about it.  So watch this space for future updates.