Early this morning, was dealing with severe pain, lasted about 30 minutes, constant really bad pain in my back, and off and on pains in my leg, the sciatic nerve, and numbness in my leg....  I was hurting so bad I was bawling, and I rarely ever cry....  finally got myself calmed down just a bit, tried to call my bf but he was out of his service area, called my friend in Boston cuz it was a little later on his time, figured he'd be up.   Was still trying to calm down, he couldn't even understand me at first, finally settled down just a bit, but was in such bad pain, he was tellin me to go back to the ER.  I told him I didn't want to cuz they won't do anything...  he said it's herniated, it's obvious now, to go and they should do something.  It started getting better, and he said he didn't care, go anwyay, told me to call my dad.

So I called my dad about 6:15 this morning, was crying on the phone with him too, so he knew I was in bad shape, he's the one that taught me to not show my feelings, he knows I don't cry, knew there was something wrong.  He came out here, picked me up, and took me to a hospital in Memphis, partly cuz its' a better hospital, but also cuz if they checked me into the hospital I'd be convenient for all the family to visit...

Was in such bad pain going out there, at first anyway, then was kinda numb all over with just some sharp pains off and on in my back.  He dropped me off at the door, cuz I had been able to walk a bit still, well, my leg was so numb and weak and I was so shaky, made it in there, leaned against the counter, gave them my basic info and sat down....  they got me in fairly quick, hooked me up to monitors and all that...  same as Friday - my temp, pulse, and blood pressure was way up.  Think my heart rate was actually 130 they said, when I came in. 

Got me back to a room and lying down, dealt with answering all the fun questions about how long I've been dealing with this, when it got worse, what the doctors in nebraska had said...  Thankfully this doctor did not ignore the problem with my leg, asked about the pain and numbness, it wasn't hurting constantly, but was numb all the way down the back of my leg, and on the top of my foot.  He said he didn't even need to run tests, was pretty sure it was herniated.  I'm allergic to the oral steroids I've tried, so I got 2 steroid shots, and a flexeril (muscle relaxer) while i was there, had to stay 30 minutes after getting the shots.... 

I've been up since yesterday at 9am, as the pain was easing up, I was gettin tired....  kept myself awake though calling people, letting people know I was ok...  then had to wait a whole nother hour to be discharged and dozed off a few times while sitting there.  But anyway....   was finally for once fully relieved from pain....  till the ride home.  But even then it wasn't so bad, started getting to me just a bit about 3/4 the way home, but is tolerable...  even after getting home and lying in bed, just a dull ache in my back, but it's ok.  Did go ahead and take a pain pill though, should hopefully be asleep before long.

Anyway, gotta get an appt with my regular dr this week, cuz I'll need refills of the stuff I got Friday (they told me to stay on it too), but waiting till I see the orthopedic doctor to have any kind of tests done.

I'm about to pass out, so gonna make myself get some rest...  just wanted y'all to know what's going on....  I really do appreciate all your thougths and prayers and just being here for me...  praying this will keep getting better, the dr said he recommends the shots over doing surgery....  so will probably keep up wtih shots for a bit, depending on what the new dr says.  Like I said, I'm still hurting, but it's not like it was, I can handle this, and just gonna keep taking it easy and getting plenty of rest...  but am hoping I'm feeling ok enough by Friday to get a ride to the meeting this week, really doubt I'll be up for it by Tuesday...

Love and hugs to all...

Lisa