Pain in the neck
Poor Jerry has been in pain for over a week now. On Thursday he called me and told me he needed to get to a doctor. I left work and took him to the ER. BIG mistake. It was 4 hours of him waiting in the waiting room before they even saw him. He was in agony. When they did finally take him back it was another 2 hours before they gave him anything for the pain. Basically what they did is rule out a heart attack, as it was left shoulder and arm that was having pain. So after 4 viles of blood, an EKG they decided that he was dehydrated. DUH! it's been 6 hours since he walked in the door and hasn't had anything to drink since 4 hours before that. So they gave him some fluids via IV and FINALLY a percocet. After xrays they decided it was a pinched nerve. Gave him a collar to wear, ordered an MRI and discharged him. They put the collar on and before we made it to the door, Jerry was complaining that his arms were going numb. By the time we made it to the car he was begging me to take off the collar. So I did. The percocet didn't take the edge off.
Next day, I call the imaging place for the MRI and they won't accept the order from the ER Doctor. This is where I panic. Jerry and I don't have a primary doctor. We both have medical issues that require us to see endocrinologist. Apparently you have to have a primary doctor to get an MRI. So I scrambled and got him an appointment on Friday with a PA with what will become our Primary doctor.
Friday, we go to the appointment. Jerry can barely stand the car ride. The PA examines him and says "Don't wear the collar, it will only worsen things" and starts massaging Jerry's back. Within minutes he finds a trigger point and explains that he has inflammation of a nerve bundle. Okay, great...now what. So he gave him a steroid shot in the trigger point and prescribed some muscle relaxers as well as some different pain meds. Also showed me how do massage his back with a tennis ball and some exercises that needed to be done. Yay! I felt like we hit the jackpot with this office.
We get home and of course Jerry is in TONS of pain as he had to sit up for the ride to the office and back. I dropped him off and went to get his RXs. Doped him up and I think he was so tired he finally slept a little.
Today, he is a little better. Still can't sit up, needs to be on his back but doesn't seem to wince when he moves as much. We did his exercises and I can see that he is getting some mobility back. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Next day, I call the imaging place for the MRI and they won't accept the order from the ER Doctor. This is where I panic. Jerry and I don't have a primary doctor. We both have medical issues that require us to see endocrinologist. Apparently you have to have a primary doctor to get an MRI. So I scrambled and got him an appointment on Friday with a PA with what will become our Primary doctor.
Friday, we go to the appointment. Jerry can barely stand the car ride. The PA examines him and says "Don't wear the collar, it will only worsen things" and starts massaging Jerry's back. Within minutes he finds a trigger point and explains that he has inflammation of a nerve bundle. Okay, great...now what. So he gave him a steroid shot in the trigger point and prescribed some muscle relaxers as well as some different pain meds. Also showed me how do massage his back with a tennis ball and some exercises that needed to be done. Yay! I felt like we hit the jackpot with this office.
We get home and of course Jerry is in TONS of pain as he had to sit up for the ride to the office and back. I dropped him off and went to get his RXs. Doped him up and I think he was so tired he finally slept a little.
Today, he is a little better. Still can't sit up, needs to be on his back but doesn't seem to wince when he moves as much. We did his exercises and I can see that he is getting some mobility back. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Awwww, poor Jerry. I hope those nerves relax soon. That sucks!!
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