I've been having sciatica issues for a long time, probably dating back to the early 2000's, caused by deterioration in my lumbar and cervical areas of my spine. Ain't genetics and DNA wonderful? Mostly the lumbar, which can be excruciating, but some in the arms as well, most of which was handled by a chiropractor and lots of PT at home. I've also had rotator cuff surgery twice on the right shoulder, and once on the left, but otherwise, I've had a fairly healthy life.
As far as the rotator cuff surgeries are concerned, what they do now is a vast improvement over what it was less than 10 years ago, when I had the right one done the first time. That was some pretty brutal surgery, despite the tiny incisions at the surface. The procedure then was to stitch the tear in the labrum, then arrest the arm for nearly 5 months. Being right handed and having the right arm tied to the side of your body can create some humorous moments, especially when it comes to doing things you NEVER do left-handed. When I had both done in 2020 (RH in June, LH in October), they'd changed the procedure. It's a little more invasive and leaves a much larger scar, but, it knocked about 8 weeks off the healing time (40 weeks down to 32). They now use some kind of mesh patch with t-cell technology that the torn tissue will grow into, not only healing the tear, but making the labrum stronger than it ever was. Yes, they actually left a couple rags in me on purpose. Not to mention, it eliminates the need for the typical tenodesis that goes along with it. I think that was probably what hurt the most. Having a 1/4-inch hole drilled in the humerus and a large ceramic screw put in it HURTS. This time, though, I was moving my arm quite well in less than 5 weeks, let alone 5 months, and that was the only reason the doctor would schedule both back to back in the same year.. Glad it worked out that way. Pretty much fully recovered now and good strength back in both. A few permanent issues that are common for repaired shoulders, but nothing I can't live with, plus, all the arthritic scale is gone off the ball on both humerus bones. Less likely to tear the labrum again, and no more bursitis in the shoulders.
However, I'm not so sure that the advancement for epidurals is really that. This was my 9th one since 2008 or thereabouts. Up to now, the procedure was to knock me out with amnesiacs and just enough sedative to make me think I was sleeping. I learned about anesthesia from a cousin who was Chief Anesthetist at a nearby hospital, and I figure he knows the science. He told me that adults cannot be sedated like children because they tend to have HORRIBLE hallucinations. Instead, adults usually get a cocktail of sedative and amnesiac and muscle relaxers that make them forget they were actually still awake and if you don't remember, it didn't hurt, right? This, up to now, has been the case, then they could have their way with me. I wouldn't care and wouldn't remember.
Today, though, that is NOT what happened. Instead of general anesthesia, the doctor just used local anesthesia, which he told me he's been doing for about 2 weeks now, "because it's better". Needles don't really bother me, but LONG needles get me a little worried. They're about to go through a LOT of muscle tissue and other things that typically are not used to needles coming through. Today, I got to experience TWO 4 inch long needles going in my back while I was fully conscious, and then feeling steroids with the consistency of peanut butter being shoved in around the nerve opening in my L4 and L5 joints. I didn't enjoy it. Before now, I've had ZERO pain from the injections, tonight, it feels like someone kicked me this morning, and I know it's the puncture wounds that are hurting. It's a given fact that if you relax, a needle puncture doesn't hurt nearly as badly. It's hard to relax when someone's waving 6 of 'em around behind you (4 for the local anesthesia, 2 for the steroids) and you KNOW you're gonna get stuck. A LOT. My back was not relaxed, quite the opposite. "You're doing very well" I heard him say 3 or 4 times. He obviously didn't see the bite marks in the edge of the operating table. I have a pretty high threshold for pain, and I know to be still when the pain is necessary, but the procedure this morning tested my limits. Tonight, my back hurts. Maybe to the point ot taking one of the pain pills he gave me a couple months ago for the sciatica. I'm not having fun, still. The sad part is this really isn't a cure. It's just a crutch to 'get me by' until I really need surgery.
Hoping I feel better tomorrow. Got too much home brewing activities to do to be sitting around all day again.
As far as the rotator cuff surgeries are concerned, what they do now is a vast improvement over what it was less than 10 years ago, when I had the right one done the first time. That was some pretty brutal surgery, despite the tiny incisions at the surface. The procedure then was to stitch the tear in the labrum, then arrest the arm for nearly 5 months. Being right handed and having the right arm tied to the side of your body can create some humorous moments, especially when it comes to doing things you NEVER do left-handed. When I had both done in 2020 (RH in June, LH in October), they'd changed the procedure. It's a little more invasive and leaves a much larger scar, but, it knocked about 8 weeks off the healing time (40 weeks down to 32). They now use some kind of mesh patch with t-cell technology that the torn tissue will grow into, not only healing the tear, but making the labrum stronger than it ever was. Yes, they actually left a couple rags in me on purpose. Not to mention, it eliminates the need for the typical tenodesis that goes along with it. I think that was probably what hurt the most. Having a 1/4-inch hole drilled in the humerus and a large ceramic screw put in it HURTS. This time, though, I was moving my arm quite well in less than 5 weeks, let alone 5 months, and that was the only reason the doctor would schedule both back to back in the same year.. Glad it worked out that way. Pretty much fully recovered now and good strength back in both. A few permanent issues that are common for repaired shoulders, but nothing I can't live with, plus, all the arthritic scale is gone off the ball on both humerus bones. Less likely to tear the labrum again, and no more bursitis in the shoulders.
However, I'm not so sure that the advancement for epidurals is really that. This was my 9th one since 2008 or thereabouts. Up to now, the procedure was to knock me out with amnesiacs and just enough sedative to make me think I was sleeping. I learned about anesthesia from a cousin who was Chief Anesthetist at a nearby hospital, and I figure he knows the science. He told me that adults cannot be sedated like children because they tend to have HORRIBLE hallucinations. Instead, adults usually get a cocktail of sedative and amnesiac and muscle relaxers that make them forget they were actually still awake and if you don't remember, it didn't hurt, right? This, up to now, has been the case, then they could have their way with me. I wouldn't care and wouldn't remember.
Today, though, that is NOT what happened. Instead of general anesthesia, the doctor just used local anesthesia, which he told me he's been doing for about 2 weeks now, "because it's better". Needles don't really bother me, but LONG needles get me a little worried. They're about to go through a LOT of muscle tissue and other things that typically are not used to needles coming through. Today, I got to experience TWO 4 inch long needles going in my back while I was fully conscious, and then feeling steroids with the consistency of peanut butter being shoved in around the nerve opening in my L4 and L5 joints. I didn't enjoy it. Before now, I've had ZERO pain from the injections, tonight, it feels like someone kicked me this morning, and I know it's the puncture wounds that are hurting. It's a given fact that if you relax, a needle puncture doesn't hurt nearly as badly. It's hard to relax when someone's waving 6 of 'em around behind you (4 for the local anesthesia, 2 for the steroids) and you KNOW you're gonna get stuck. A LOT. My back was not relaxed, quite the opposite. "You're doing very well" I heard him say 3 or 4 times. He obviously didn't see the bite marks in the edge of the operating table. I have a pretty high threshold for pain, and I know to be still when the pain is necessary, but the procedure this morning tested my limits. Tonight, my back hurts. Maybe to the point ot taking one of the pain pills he gave me a couple months ago for the sciatica. I'm not having fun, still. The sad part is this really isn't a cure. It's just a crutch to 'get me by' until I really need surgery.
Hoping I feel better tomorrow. Got too much home brewing activities to do to be sitting around all day again.
!
