Let's Leg It

My skin is doing much better. I feel very proud to have made something that helped it myself. I'm also feeling more confident and more "myself" since coloring my hair. But there's been something else going on that I haven't talked about. Leg troubles. I want to document it for myself here before I forget the details. 

In the last week of December (almost 3 months now) I woke up one day with what felt like a horrible shin splint in my right shin. It honestly felt like I had been running all night in my sleep. No injury. No trauma. It just was there. 

I tried resting it, icing it, putting a brace on it, keeping off it as much as I could. And every time I would think it was getting better I would get a sharp stabbing pain behind my kneecap and the process would start all over again. The shin splint pain changed to a radiating pain from behind my knee down to my ankle (and lately to my foot and toes.)

This cycle went on for about six weeks before I finally caved and wheeled myself to the doctor's. Sadly I couldn't get in with my usual doctor and even though the one I saw was very kind, she's not my doctor. I had x-rays done, an ultrasound and was scheduled for an MRI that's still three weeks out. 

Keeping off my leg as much as I can

But... my pain has been so intense that I messaged my regular doctor about it. He just saw me Monday. He was concerned and ordered labs and for me to see a sports doctor friend of his who knows leg anatomy like the back of his hand. Get it? Anatomy humor for you.

My labs came back mostly normal, but three indicated inflammation markers that concerned him. I had also shared with him that my immune system has been particularly off lately. Along with my complexion going to hell I've been getting hives off and on and red spots in different places. I'm managing it by taking anti-histamines and using topical hydrocortisone cream. My doctor thinks this might be connected to my knee.

The sports medicine doctor got me in to see him the very next day. He was a wonderful man who took his time with me. He examined me and agreed with my doctor that it is likely something autoimmune happening. He suggested I get a referral to see a rheumatologist. 

He explained that my leg pain sounds like it was muscular to begin with, but turned neurological over time. He expects it will go away on its own (which was a big relief to hear.) He suggested some CBD ointment. And if that doesn't help some CBD/THC ointment or/and tincture.

I appreciate how out of the box a lot of doctors think now and aren't just stuck on prescriptions. Even though he admitted I'm already taking everything he would recommend.

So that's where we are right now. My doctor suggested I take 650mg of Tylenol for Arthritis 3x a day along with Diclofenac 3x a day. (I use my prescription Diclofenac/Voltaren along with Penetrex 3x a day.) I just ordered some CBD lotion to try.

Next steps are waiting to hear back from my doctor and attending my MRI on April 4th. The thought of seeing a rheumatologist again makes me nauseous. The last time was when this all started with a bang. Sudden muscle weakness in my legs and me sobbing in the hospital parking lot. It will be hard for me to forget all of that and move forward. But pain is a good motivator!

Intense Week

Help Me Jesus!

That's what my Nana used to always say when she'd get stressed. Well, this week was for sure a "Help Me Jesus" kind of week. 

1. It was my first week working 30 hours. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all 10 hour days. I DID IT! I survived. Although I slept for about 15 hours yesterday to recover. But that's ok. Point is I did it.
2. I cleared my foot MRI. Now we know there's no sign of RA damage in my hands or feet. YAY!
3. I went through 2 MRI's in one week. Today's was a brain MRI. I didn't mind though because I'm seriously ready for some answers about this muscle weakness. I hope to get some soon. (Because I'm a sucker like that and always hopeful.)
4. I have an appointment with the wheelchair sales rep. Apparently they come to your house, measure you and tell you all about your chair options. This is a whole confusing new world that I have many emotions about. Sadness, grief, excitement, happiness, relief. It's a giant emotional stew.
5. I'm in love with my new medical case manager. She's seriously the best. Like a medical fairy godmother. Now while I'm at work she's following up on things for me and cracking skulls, making things happen and forcing them to happen faster. Thank goodness!
6. My son quit his job of 5 years. That was a bit shocking and worrying. 
7. I had a epiphany to let things go that I can't control (see number 6.)
8. My muscle strength and muscle fatigue got a little worse this week.
9. I learned my job is taking everyone to Hawaii in January.
10. I went back to church.

To celebrate my 8th MRI I had my husband take this picture of me with the statue at our medical center that has become a home away from home. It was more of a joke as it was Saturday and no one was around. Again, humor is everything!

Even though I'll be getting a chair soon, I'm sure I'll still use Meg most of the time. What would I do without her? She's my BFF.

I did learn however that I can't get that beautiful turquoise "Fold and Go" chair that I had my eye on. My insurance doesn't contract with them. But I'm confident that whatever I get will be what was meant to be (and I'm sure I'll think of the perfect name when I see her.) And if I hate the color I read about some people taking their chairs into auto painters who paint it for them. Hmmmm...

Planning for the work week is KEY! This is my go-to lunch. Some gluten free seed heavy crackers, low fat Italian salami, grapes and boiled egg. My work also has snack cheese available for us to munch on, so that's a welcome addition. 

This week I was craving rice krispy treats. My husband made me some that used chocolate krispies. YUM! I enjoyed them all week. See!

Here I was enjoying it while doing paperwork. It tasted like love and kept me going through the day. 

This week I also modified my office a bit for safety. Like taping this throw rug down. Aside from needing it down for Meg and my office chair, I like my space to be the best ADA space it can be for others. I didn't want anyone to trip. Problem solved!

Going to church on Sunday was nice. I told my husband I enjoy having a dedicated time and space to sit with my thoughts and meditate. I often have helpful realizations about my life when I'm there and things I can do differently. This Sunday was no exception. 

Now I'm waiting on the brain MRI results and processing my feelings about the chair. And napping. There's never enough time for naps. 

Back Breaking Work

My back MRI results came in very quickly. As for the MRI itself, let me just share that it was my second experience ever of having my back hurt so much that it went into spam. A 90 minute full back MRI is no joke. I used every self-soothing resource that I had in my big bag of tricks and still almost had a full panic attack (just from the pain.) I'll be avoiding those in the future as much as I can. But, the results were useful.

Always make yourself a "cheat sheet!"

My back isn't much worse than it was 17 months ago. The biggest changes were in my lumbar area. I have a fissure (that's new) and a "disk protrusion" that's hitting a nerve. That's coincidentally the most painful spot in my back. 

The results can be very hard to read, so I found "mapping it out" on a spine printout to be really useful. I'm not a doctor and always have to look up what all the words mean and turn it into English. Then it goes into my personal medical binder for future medical appointments.

The bottom line is that they found nothing that would explain my muscle weakness and muscle fatigue. That means it's likely not coming from back problems, but from something else (like RA?) 

This Wednesday I see a new neurologist, so hopefully she'll have some more insight into the mystery that is my body.

My Lucky Day!

A picture can be misleading. Despite that evil grin on Jack Skellington's face, today really was my lucky day. Why? I'm glad you asked!

One reason is that today (well, yesterday) was the first day at my new job that wasn't just training. It was me... doing what I love... and it felt wonderful. I'm very happy at my new place of work and I think it will fit me wonderfully. I feel fortunate to have found such a great place. The hard-earned next step in my career. Also, working and keeping busy takes my mind of more stressful and painful things. I feel a lot better when I'm busy. 

Another reason was I treated myself to a little bauble. Etsy is one of my favorite places to shop. I love supporting small businesses and artists. And I feel VERY lucky that I have the means to do so. 

Beautiful little jade sharks

Yes. I love sharks. Call me a hipster, but I loved sharks WAY before "Shark Week" was such a big thing. I find them beautiful and terrifying. Just like life, right?

It was also my lucky day because after my REAL work day I got to come home to a family dinner. The crock pot is a fantastic invention. We had delicious chili that my husband claimed was my "best chili yet." Enjoying a comforting meal with the two people I love more than anything on this planet left me all warm and tingly all over (and no. That wasn't just the neuropathy.) 

So yeah, my key snapped in the lock. And no I haven't gotten my MRI results back. And yes, it looks like I'm on another very long wait list for a new neurologist (that's IF they even get back to me, but I'm sure I'll have to chase them down every few weeks.) But I also have a family who loves me. A job that appreciates me, a warm house full of love to come home to every day and resources to indulge in. So YES! I am very lucky, fortunate, blessed, favored, charmed... And I'll try my best to see that every day.

Totally unrelated 

My new favorite dessert.
GF bread with french butter and wildflower honey.
Actually it is related because it looks like a "liquid luck" potion from Harry Potter to me.