1st injection sceduled for Friday, Dec. 20

December 17, 2002

My first injection into my neck is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20. I am glad to

get one done before Christmas. It will help me to function better, I'm sure. I

have to be at the 3rd floor of Wadley Tower at the Pain Management Center on

Washington Ave. (part of Baylor Hospital) by 7:10am. I see Dr. Dera (the dr who

is doing the injection, not my orthopedic surgeon) at approx. 7:40, and I get

the injection/procedure done no later than 8:00am. The procedure will take less

than 1/2 an hr, but I will NOT be able to drive myself home/anyplace else. I

will be able to walk, but my judgement as far as driving will be impaired. (more

than usual? )Morphine and other strong painkillers do tend to have that effect

on people! I'll have to rest for the rest of the day, period, and possibly into

the next day some. I should be up and around and hopefully with less pain after

that, and better able to finish Christmas shopping (in my wheelchair, of course

) The nurse explained to me that a person can have no more than 3 of these

injections per year (wouldn't you just know they'd ration them?!?! , and the

length of time they last depends on lots of things: baseline pain level,

severity of spinal stenosis (deterioration), etc. I did advise her that people

with EDS tend to need more local anesthetic than " normal " people. She said she

made a note, and for me to definitely tell the dr. The main thing she wanted to

know was if I was taking aspirin regularly or if I took blood thinners. I told

her I don't, that my IBS won't permit such. I did tell her that I take

Proamatine, a blood volumizer, though. She said that was ok. I am not afraid,

just looking forward to some additional pain relief and perhaps increased

mobility as a result.

Love,

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