Pardon me if this post is a tad rambling

Or sort of incoherent.

Three days ago, my left calf, and behind my knee, and hamstring, and my annoying fused back started hurting a lot. I wasn't worried, because I had an upcoming visit with the physio, "Simon The Sadist" for a session.

To say my physio session rushed would be an understatement.  Yes, they were trying to clear up all clients before the up coming long holiday, and he, personally, was taking some time off. Good for him, but I felt I had been given the bums' rush. And I was charged $61 for the privilege.

Today, when I got up, I was in worse shape than I was BEFORE session. Tried to do some of my rehab exercises, and for all my efforts, I almost fell over, my knee kept giving out. I left comment on the "PhyApp" regarding it.. before I took something for the pain. Meds I haven't had to use October last year.

Yes, I hurt that f*cking much. With better living through (legal) chemistry, the acute pain is now just a dull ache. I can deal with that.

Well, shit..

The osteo-surgeon who did my TRKR three years ago is retired from surgical practice, so he referred me to Dr C. to see what's to be done with my left knee.

I got some good news and some bad news.

Good news is I don't have to go under the knife. (insert muppet cheer here)

Goodish news is there is something to be don. Dr C. said yes, I do have mild arthritis in the knee, but the structure isn't in need of surgery.

However (here comes the bad news) the compression injury from Loki jumping on my knee, combined with the arthritis has cause acute nerve pain. Oral pain meds dull it slightly, but that stuff makes me groggy and fuzzy headed.

Treatment for the knee: rhizotomy. Injections around the front of the knee, under the kneecap, to sever/burn out the nerves. I asked him "If I can't feel pain, will I over do it and cause more damage?"  He said no.  So, my NEXT referral is to a pain management center/doctor.

I'm being referred, seen, referred, seen.. round and round. 

Up before the dawn again

Sometimes, I just can't get the right leg comfortable enough to sleep well through the night.  Was up at 4:43 am (checked my watch, so know the time is right).  Let Keito and Loki into the back yard to 'dig holes in the sand'.  Checked on Ziggy, as she and Trance had another dust up yesterday.  Once again, Trance was on the losing end of things.  Ziggy is ok, though.

Fed them all around 5:30.  Keito got his insulin on time.  Ziggy, from having to groom self after the fight with Trance, hurked up her food. Of course ON the sofa. (Preen OxyAction to the rescue)  There was a HUGE clump of fur.  After I cleaned it all up, she demanded to be fed again.  Tossed some things into the washer, and they are currently hanging out on the line.

Knee feels a bit thick and stiff this morning, but there was no sciatic pain.. at first.  But when it showed up, it did so with a vengeance. Immediately did the routine Matt gave me. First five.. gritting teeth. Second set, not so bad. By the time I had finished the 3rd set of five, the pain was manageable. Have taken pain meds, and the anti-inflammatory.

One really doesn't appreciate the absence of pain, until it hammering away at you.

Physio Visit

I gave Matt the rundown of what I have been doing to alleviate the pain in my shin/ankle.  Nothing seems to be working. Even starting up the rehab exercises didn't help.

After some questions, then some pushes/pulls/twists/pokes/prods we did find out it's nothing wrong (aka, no damaged bone, or DVT). It's mild compartment syndrome, pinching the sciatic nerve that runs over the outside of the fibula, down over the ankle, to the arch of the foot. I still have some swelling from the knee replacement, nothing like it was before, but still there, and it's causing pressure on that nerve. 

Been told to continue with the pain meds as needed, and to NOT SKIMP or skip. Given some exercises/stretches to reduce the nerve pain.  Go back next week for a follow up.