A Bit of Advice

Ok....do NOT watch youtube videos of surgical procedures you are about to undergo. Icky! Made me very nauseous! Still, it is very interesting & fascinating...just nauseating. lol. I suppose it's because I both fear and welcome this procedure. I also have great hope that it will help alleviate some of my pain & allow me to be more active once again. I haven't even been able to enjoy a walk with my dog because I hurt too much. It can be very depressing if I let it. However, optimism is my new goal. I've discovered several "good news" websites out there & I'll share the links with you.

There's far too much negativity and fear mongering going on in our world today. I know there's good things happening and darn it, I want to hear about those things, not doom & gloom!

I read a facebook post from a dear friend yesterday that read:

"Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day. I think I wanna go back to being 6 again."

My friend makes a very good point. I think I'll go in search of a "joke of the day" website. Anyone know of a good one?

 

In the past several months I've begun to practice yoga & self meditation. Both have held a lot of interest for me & I hoped they would help me with my pain.

The power of the mind is absolutely amazing. The meditation/prayer is a fantastic way to calm & center/ground ones self. I've also found the yoga to be especially beneficial. It's helped my range of motion and, although I am usually sore from the session it's a different kind of pain. It's the pain one gets after exercising...it's a good thing. =)

I will admit that as the lower back pain has increased my yoga sessions have become fewer & farther between. I've decided however, to push myself to do them...I'll just take it a little slower & won't over do it. Every little bit of "therapy" I can manage has it's benefits.

BRRRRRRRRRR! Good evening all, it would seem by the feel of the breeze and the smell of wood smoke in the air, that Fall is definitely arrived. I'm watching It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown on ABC....I love Peanuts! This and The Wizard of Oz have always said to me that Fall is finally here!

This is the first day in several that I've been coherent enough to interact with others. I've been battling migraines since Sunday. My meds knocked me for a loop this time for some reason. All I've been doing is sleeping until the dog wakes me to let him out. 

I've had trouble with migraines since I was 25. After years of trial & error with meds; most of which didn't work, I've found Axert, craniosacral massage & medical marijuana, (MM is legal here in Michigan) to be the keys to relief for me.

I saw my pain specialist on Tue. to discuss a procedure to help alleviate some pain in my lower back related to my herniated discs. They call it Disc-FX and it is a minimally invasive procedure to repair or remove damaged discs. I've included a link to the info page for anyone who may find this procedure beneficial. 

http://www.elliquence.com/patient.cfm 

Potential Benefits of the Disc-FX^® Procedure:

• Minimal Access Procedure
• Out-Patient Procedure
• Minor Skin Incision
• Rapid Procedure
• Multiple Treatment Options
• Local Anesthetic
• Target Access to Damaged (Diseased) Area
• Treat Multiple Disc Levels
• Early Anticipated Return to Normal Activities

Disc-FX^® has been shown to:

• Offer a safe and effective treatment option
• Provide improvement in quality of life
• Treat multiple disc levels with one surgical procedure

I'll keep you posted on the outcome.