The Surgeon Calls

Earlier today I got a call from my prospective surgeon's office following up on the nerve root block procedure I suffered through endured just before Christmas. It went as I expected; the doctor wanted to know how much, if any, relief the procedure brought me, and I responded as best I could. It's difficult for me to judge such things because my perspective of my own pain level is skewed by modern pharmacology, but I told them that I think I felt perhaps 50% better after the procedure for about five days, and then maybe 20% better over the next few days after that, but then I was back at the same old level of pain as usual.

The office relayed the information to the surgeon, who in turn told them to tell me that the results mean there is a chance with surgery I could feel 50% better, but the decision to operate is of course up to me. I told the person who called, who's name is Jackie, by the way... a good omen there if I ever saw one, I told Jackie that I was hoping the surgeon would recommend another nerve root block. I told her that I wasn't real sure about how I felt afterwards because I had been so focused on the possibility that they had injected me at the wrong spot in my spine, and that I would have a better feel for my pain level if we were to do it again.

Jackie relayed that to the surgeon, and he thankfully agreed. So, because the first nerve root block was SO much fun, I have elected to do it again!

Go me.

Posted by Jeff at January 4, 2008 1:33 PM