1/31/08

As I approach the 6 week mark of my epidural injection and the 4 month mark of the return of back pain on this last day of January 2008...I can note several things>

The Blood Pressure is back more near normal....the past couple of days in the 135-75 range, sometimes a little higher, but still better than it was earlier in the week.

The back(buttock area) still has daily pain, but for the most part, I can do normal activities...especailly if I rest lying down for 15 minutes a couple of times a day....ready for baseball season? That I'm not sure of yet....we will see if the improvement continues, or I need another lumbar epidural.

Hopefully more improvments are on the way...........

1/28/08

BP has been up since yesterday...as has the pain, especially nerve endings.....

BP was 151/77 with a pulse of 64 this morning....yesterday was worse, 170-180/80....not sure if it's diet, pain, or ?

More reason to drop some weight, which I need to do....and drop more salt/fats from diet....started that this morning.

1/25/08

Friday....BP was 123/71 with a pulse of 63...not bad!

Back is manageable....but far from perfect....will drive 250 miles round trip to Nappanee, Indiana, and back today...will see if any effect.

1/21/08

BP was a little off this morning 140/71 but settled down to a 118/76 mark with a 69 pulse rate....back pain=not much yesterday, this morning had some buttock pain, but as of noon, it settled back down.

1/16/08

Back to Doc Bergman today for the one month follow-up visit concerning Blood Pressure....all looked good, came in and the office reading was 117/70....will keep me on the mild BP meds until my next check up in 6 months.

Pain is manageable today....time to get back to waking(or stationary bike) and some light weights....question is....can I get rid of this case of procrastination?

1/15/08

Blood Pressure was 130/70 with a pulse of 70 this morning.....hip pain has returned to buttock....though not as sever as before the epidural...did have marked up pain last night when I went to bed...probably result of up and down movements at dartball last night/

Back to regular doc tomorrow to see what he thinks of BP and improvements.....will he keep me on medication? Probably! I have no problem with that as it seems to be working well with no side effects.

1/11/08

3 weeks today since the lumbar injection(epidural)....pain in the left front hip this morning(a regular thing of late)...a little worse this morning, but manageable.

BP is good, 30 days on the Lisinopril-hctz mix, BP read at 8AM 116/64 with a 64 pulse....take my low dose aspirin in the evening with the daily Vitamins....usually a couple of doses of Ibuprofen in the AM and after lunch.

The movement is better than a month ago, but still waiting to see what the next days/weeks will bring, if it stays as is, I can press on...if it gets worse, I will need to do another visit to Fort Wayne.

1/09/08

BP was a very low(for me) range this morning...in a 10 minute span it ranged from 119-125/61-65 with a pulse of 71-75(on the high average range)....little pain in the left front hip(the usual spot in the morning)....hanging in there.

Tuesday 1/08/08

Have not taken blood pressure for a few days.....will do that tomorrow, see how it is after a few days of not taking it. Visit the doc next week, for a check up, will resupply the BP meds tomorrow.

Went back to work(my twice or three time a week gig at the Honda location) and the back is fine, nerve endings in the hips are still an issue, but taking 15-20 minute rests on the bed usually take care of the pain.

1/4/08

Pretty much ho-hum, which isn't all bad, on the back front. Still not where I want it to be, but it is bearable at this time.....if I rest and lay down for 15 minutes a couple of times a day....I can get done what needs done.

BP was 134/68 and a pulse of 73 at 3:45 this afternoon.

1/3/08

BP is at 135/74 with a low pulse of 63....

Some pain in left front hip, manageable.....

1/02/08

BP was high when I got home from Indiana...150/80 pulse at 68....after the pill it's back at 125/73 so recovered from the beer, food, and cigars.....back feels pretty good, as it did yesterday.

New Years Day 2008

137/79 with a pulse of 68

some pain in the left front hip this morning...yesterday was probably the worst day pain wise since last weekend after the epidural.....I am still standing up straight, but it appears movement will be limited at times, unless we go another route.

At this time, I will continue to work on this in a conservative manner....I am not ready for open back surgery(not that it is a solution for spinal stenosis anyway).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!