My Journey Continues...

Today was the day for answers---or at least it was supposed to be.

I met with my neurosurgeon this morning to go over my MRI & X-ray results & make a plan from here.  I am going to attempt to explain this as easily as possible, but know that I haven't fully processed & researched some of this...so here it goes...

My disc herniation story 

My L5/S1 has healed significantly since Dec 2009.  YAY!  As the dr. had stated before, my pain is MOST LIKELY (common words for today) not from herniations.  Both my L4 & L5 herniations are small.  He felt they were more mechanical when I met with him 2 weeks ago, thus why I got my X-rays of my mid-back.

My X-ray story 

My X-rays did show slight scolosis, but this is MOST LIKELY not the cause for my pain.

"Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" Exodus 15:11


 

More of my disc story 

My discs are dehydrated, making them "trouble makers" (as he called them).  Dehydration is as common as crows feet & wrinkles.  It is how your body ages; however, mine are a little more degenerative that most ppl my age.  They have no findings of why some ppl have a faster or slower degeneration of their discs & why some ppl have pain associated with it & others don't.  He said some ppl have "ugly" MRI's & have no pain & vice-versa.

 

There is a possibility that the vertebral facets are causing the pain in my back too.  Basically he said that the bones could be rubbing more instead of the soft cartilidge allowing smooth movement.  So basically this would be arthritis. 

What about surgery?

It is possible that a fusion surgery would be in my future; however, he has a more reserved approach to surgery. He said that if I was older, this would probably be more of an option.  He said that there would be future risk of getting more surgeries done. The fusion puts pressure on the upper discs & then eventually causes them to degenerate.

He also talked about putting in an artifical disc.  He basically compared it to getting a hip replacement. After about 10-20 years they need replaced.  He said that studies show about the same success rates (compared to a fusion). 

Next Step?

He did order an epidural block (steriod injection) for my 2 discs & around the facets as well.  I will be making an appointment with my OSMC dr. for that soon.  I have to tell you that I dread it though.  They are so painful & so far have not worked for me.  I will have a couple down days afterwards, most likely.

What A Pain!

So...some GOOD news...but the realization that I have to learn to deal with this pain coming in & out of my life I am sure is going to hit me over the next day or so.  I am more concerned about how my family will function with this, especially Ben, when I have these times that I am down & out!  He really picks up a lot of the pieces, literally & figuratively :)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

We have a lot of praying to do, especially about me taking on any more pregnancies.  The dr. did say that they can't know for certain what it would look like, but that some pain meds & the injections could be given during pregnancy.  I'll be making an appt. with  my OBGYN for my yearly appt & going over some more of my questions with her.

We appreciate all of you that have been praying & encouraging us.  My Dad said something last night as encouragement to me...have faith in the doctors, that they know what they are doing.  I am truly thankful for the dr's that have come alongside me during this process, but I am also looking to the Great Physican for His strength.  I know that only He has the "play calls" book!  He has His plan for my life.  Lord just give us wisdom!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

My prayer lately is related to the idea of Cat & Dog Theology.  My friend Ann reminded me a few weeks ago that we so often think of God as the personal God who is there for me. 

"Ok God...I have a problem today...my back hurts...heal me....help me to feel better....let me just come to you with my grocery list of problems." 

Ann brought me back to the idea of Dog Theology instead.  I must instead think God is a personal God that I must live for & bring glory to with how I live my life. 

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31

"Ok God...I am strugglig today...my back hurts...give me the strength to endure my back pain... heal me... help me to glorify you through my circumstances...help me to point others to You...because you are the Almighty God who is worthy of my praise.

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Appt's Are Scheduled

Rachael's Appointments

Well...my MRI & X-rays are scheduled for Friday morning at 9:15AM.  We are so thankful that we weren't scheduled earlier this week.  We got a blizzard & the hospital was shut-down for 2 days for outpatient care.  They kept nurses & doctors there 24 hours until it started to clear up.  Leona is going to a friend's house b/c we have no idea how long it is going to take.  My guess is like 2 1/2 to 3 hours total.  You know how they like you to wait in the waiting room!  The MRI should take about 45 min. from beginning to end & who knows for the X-rays.

I am scheduled to see my neurosurgeon next Wed. for all of the results & to make a plan from here.  I  really feel like the small herniation in my L4 might be more severe than last year & going in the opposite direction causing the pain in my right leg & that my L5/S1 herniation has had no healing, but we will pray & hope that my thoughts are not correct.  We'll see what the X-rays of my mid-back show too.  I am thinking that it is muscular & not bone related.

Leona's Appointment

Leona will not be going to Riley's for her GI appt.  She'll acutally be going to Peyton Manning's Children's Hospital.  How cool is that!?!?!?!  She is scheduled for April 5, so we have awhile to wait on that.  Her appt. is early in the morning so not sure how we are going to work that out.  If they decide to schedule her for a scope I think that is an all-day event too.

Continue to pray for Leona's Medicaid renewal.  Our case manager is not the brightest bulb on the tree & has made a pain out of this whole renewal process by filling out several things incorrectly on her forms.  Pray that she can work it all out so that we don't have to appear before a judge for an appeal.

We are praising God for His recent provisions lately & just praying that the Lord continues to take care of our financial, spiritual, emotional & physical needs.  We know & trust that His plan is make us more into His image!  Thanks for your prayers & support!!!!

Gathering Facts

Well, the appt. with my neurosurgeon was this morning.  After waiting over an hour for our appt, I realized why I like this dr.  Dr. Schnittker is AMAZING!  He is really intelligent, very experienced & makes me feel so taken care of. 

He has ordered a MRI of my lower lumbar since my last one was Dec 2009.  He also ordered some X-rays of my middle back & lower lumbar.  He wants to gather all of the facts & take it step-by-step.  He sd that my symptoms are not completely adding up to the herniation.  Obviously we will make a plan after all of the tests come back on what is next for my recovery process.

It seems that my orthopedic should of taken some of these steps, but we don't really know why my orthopedic didn't suggest some of these tests---maybe he thought this dr. would know more about what steps should be taken next.  Anyways---Dr. Schnittker sd that some of the next steps could be chiropractics (which was so good to hear), physical therapy & possibly injections.  He really won't know until he sees how large the herniation is at this point.

I held off on asking some of my questions until the results come back---one of them being having another pregnancy.  Pray that we will have wisdom in what steps should be taken & who to see for PT or Chiro if we go that route.  Also, please pray that we will trust Him for our finances.  We are still feeling behind from our year of 2009---between my health, Leona's birth, her time in the NICU, my tests & my surgery. 

Ben reminded me that God is in control & will provide for our needs.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34



He is so right.  I am not merely a flower or a bird that the Lord take care of, but his daughter.  May I praise you & trust you for everything I need---including more faith as we continue to walk this hard road of health.

A Long Day at the Hospital

Well on Friday we spent over 3 hours at the hospital with Leona!

Leona was scheduled for an MRI at 10 AM. We arrived & signed in! We got to the radiology department waiting room. After waiting about 10 min. we were off to a waiting room.

We were nervous at how all this was going to go. I mean, how in the world do they keep a little 1 year old still for a MRI?? Well...they knock them out!! We kept her busy walking the little hallway until they were ready for us. Many patients loved watching her Be-bop around the hall!

She got MANY comments like...
"Oh how cute!"
"She is so little!"
"She is such a happy baby!"

After 2 1/2 hours of waiting we were ready for the sedation process. They gave me the oral sedation medicine to give her. She was so good! She just sucked it down for Mommy & Daddy! In about 10 min. she was snoring away!

The MRI process went well. She did twitch for 1 test that they had to re-do. Even asleep she doesn't sit still!!! HA! Afterwards she was still zonked. It took about an hour to get her up enough for the nurses to check her so we could finally leave!

SO---I am sure you are wondering if we got results. I called the pediatrician's office this morning. The nurse said that the dr. had written an exclamation point & NORMAL MRI

We are just praising the Lord for His goodness to us! Now--we just have to face the trip to Riley's July 14.