Man, I am sorry you are back in pain DM. Nothing is never easy but you are one brave gal. I hope the surgeon has some positive news so you can get back to your exercise routines. Sending you hugs!
5 Likes
JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME GOOD NEWS:
My latest A1c came back from my blood draw; 4.9% Yahoo. Seems I managed the steroid injections and my boluses well! Very proud of that! My endo was so pleased and happy for me.
7 Likes
That is a great victory! Congrats for the beam of light amidst the stormy times. Great job!!
3 Likes
@daisymae Hugs and prayers for you! Weāre all rooting for you that something helps to ease the pain, heal the impingement/slipped disk, and give you relief!
So glad to hear of your great A1c! Congrats!
3 Likes
Excellent, @daisymae!! Fantastic a1c not just with what you are going through but also no exercise! Amazing!! 
3 Likes
I am sending you the biggest, gentlest hugs. What a roller coaster youāve been on ā I am so sorry the cortisone hasnāt helped the pain and fingers crossed you are able to figure out a good plan forward.
Having gone through joint issues (and associated pain) with frozen shoulder for the past year and a half (and more), can I suggest evaluating gabapentin and tramadol if you havenāt already? They may not be appropriate for your condition, but were v helpful when I was deep in the intense mind-breaking pain of FS.
Have been thinking of you lots and send love and strength your way. xo- Jessica
7 Likes
youāre so sweet. So sorry to hear about your difficulties!! OUCH!
Tramadol and Gabapentinā¦Been There, Done That. No Go. 
But thank you a million for the suggestion and all of your healing prayers and well wishes. Greatly appreciate it 
4 Likes
I just wanted to mention that some people love to shop for clothing, some like to indulge in ice cream or sit around and eat bags of Doritos; some people drink a little too much wine or beer (etc)ā¦I seem to be addicted to pricking my finger tips with a lancet and test my BG all day long (AND I EVEN HAVE A CGM!!!) I must finger stick 25 times a day; I take notes, I write down my sleep quality, my stress levels, my activity levels, etc etc etc. I totally, obsessively, tirelessly anylize my BGs and trends. I cant seem to help myself. BUT HEY: if youāve got an addiction, at least mine is only to improve the quality of my life and my health. (Giggle giggle giggle 
) And also, I learn sooo much about my body, and its one of the reasons that I am able to eat whatever the heck I want whenever I want it and challenge myself in ways that I never dreamed possible. (But I had NONE of this before I joined the FUD Community )
Its all been worth the work!!! Call me crazy. I must be. But its a world of funā¦But I know that you already know this. 
7 Likes
YES!!! I have no doubt of your perseverance and āindulgenceā 
in your addiction (finger prick), too!!! Way to go, DM!!!
4 Likes
ANOTHER MRI, ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS, ANOTHER TREATMENT:
turns out I have a lot of things happening in my spine. I have stenosis, bulging discs, osteophytes, scoliosis, and sciatica. who would have thought that the pain in my hip was all coming from my spine? I sure didnāt. But my specialist was right on top of it when I happened to mention to him the shooting pain that was radiating down my thigh.
so, the next step will not be surgery, but another cortisone injection in my spine (epidural). Totally NOT looking forward to this. It does not sound comfortable, and I am not in the mood to have to readjust my Basal Rates, my ICRs and my ISF all over again. (of course, at least this time round I will be more prepared for what I will need from my insulin)
I am praying that I can have this performed before Thanksgiving but I somehow doubt the radiologist will have the availability. But, fingers crossed that its done ASAP 
thatās the latest scoop. Still taking pain meds and using icepacks. Hangin in there,
DM
5 Likes
Oh, DM, sorry you are still going through this. But I am relieved to hear there is the option of another cortisone injection over surgery. Hoping you get in to see the radiologist this week, and you start to get some relief! Hang in there! Hugs 
4 Likes
@daisymae Wow, all that! No wonder youāre a hurting pup! Hereās hoping you are able to find relief soon!
4 Likes
Wishing the best for you, DM.
Remember what I said - you are New York tough.
4 Likes
Sorry to hear this. But you will persevere!
Silly question - have you tried naproxen for the sciatica and discs? That was really the only thing that helped me with my sciatica and herniated disc. Just a thought.
Anywho, thoughts and s that you get an appt soon!
2 Likes
I am currently taking 800mg Ibuprofen, 750mg Robaxan, as well as Percocet. I think I have tried everything. But thank you for the suggestion.
1 Like
I FORGOT TO MENTION SOMETHING IMPORTANT:
For several years now, I have lived with what I have assumed was Diabetic Neuropathy in my feet, lower legs, and my hands; all of which have been more prominent on my right side (like this problem Iāve been having with my hip)
I was informed by my specialist that it is entirely possible that I am having the numbness and tingling due to the bulging discs which are pressing against spinal nerves that is whatās causing the problem, and that it has absolutely nothing to do with my diabetes. So, it is entirely possible that if I do respond to this next epidural injection, that numbness may resolve itself.
no guarantees, but there is some hope.
9 Likes
Oh DM, this is a lot. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the numbness/tingling are caused by the bulging discs and not neuropathy! And wanted to recommend my favorite ENORMOUS ice pack for your arsenal (buy two to always have a cold one on hand! I love these things!) ā have been thinking of you and sending my best thoughts - xoxo:
4 Likes
Thanks Jessica. I tend to buy things in 3s when I like them bc I know that I will inevitably end up breaking one and then I can move on to the other one I have had stashed away without remorse.
As far as these ice packs go, I have a freezer literally filled with them. 3 belts, 4 mini squares, 2 large rectangles, and 1 very lonely and desperate small rectangle. Sometimes I even layer them on top of one another for an extra chilling freeze 
Iām going to check out your link though. I could ALWAYS use another ice pack!
4 Likes
GOT MY SURGERY DATE:
well, I am happy I have a date to put on the calendar for my surgery. But I am miserable that the earliest date I could get was an entire month away. Man oh man are these doctors busy with packed schedules. I was praying that I would be able to get top priority and squeezed in right after Thanksgiving. no luck there.
SO, when I calculate how long I should expect to be suffering in pain, it boils down to approximately 2 months (one month waiting for procedure, then another month for the full effect of the steroid to do its magic (if I even respond to it this time around) (many many prayers and fingers crossed on both hands and toes on feet ) Thats a lot of pain and a lot of prayers 
. What a Holiday season for this gal!
And now that the pandemic is surging again, the pool which had finally re-opened has now closed shop once again. Giuliani is making certain to keep NY as safe as possible. And donāt get me wrong; I truly appreciate that. I was just sad that I will not be able to be getting back into the pool any time in the near (or even not so near) future. I am hopeful that this CoVid vaccine will be effective and become available sooner rather than later. Now that we have a new president coming into office, I see some positive changes in our futures.
I am hoping that this time round things will work as they should and that I can get into PT again post-op and strengthen what needs to be strengthened, and then I can at least get back to speed-walking. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK UP A GOOD SOLID SWEAT AT LEAST 4 TO 5 DAYS A WEEK!!! and even though my latest A1c was 4.9% (which is outstanding, I know) it can be much easier to micro-manage when my body is in motion for at least 2 hours each time I work out. I become less insulin resistant, I can eat whatever the heck I want with relatively no BG consequences. Since I havent been able to be active (as even gentle walking is very challenging) its been much more effort to keep my BGs in TR from day to day. And, there is always a blissful and welcomed mood change for me when I am exercising regularly. Donāt get me wrong; I am no exercise junky, I just miss it terribly.
anyway, Iām babbling now, so Iāll finish up here.
Hope everyone has a healthy, safe and joyous Thanksgiving Holiday.
signing out,
DM
6 Likes
That is great, but I thought you were going to try another cortisone injection first?
Do you mean De Blasio??
I so agree! I canāt wait for you to get back to your normal exercise routines!!! Wishing you the best for the surgery and recovery!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
3 Likes