On Dasher, On Donner to the Doctor we go.....

Ever feel like you spend a span of time in one place? That's what we feel like right now over at our house. Between my physical therapy three days a week and Rachel's still unknown issue, we're spending a great deal of time paying money to doctors and missing a lot of school or work between the two of us.

Let's cover Rachel first because it's the most interesting of the bunch. She had a MRI on Monday afternoon (in the middle of the day) on her right scapula and thoracic (sp?) area. It's early and I'm too tired and lazy to look up the spelling of that word. Anyway.... our follow up with her doctor was Weds. morning at 10:30 am which, Thank the Lord, was not a 2 hour ordeal like some of our other appointments with him. He informed us that that MRI showed everything was normal. Hmmm.... she has a healthy rt shoulder, healthy rt shoulder blade. Now... he's thinking that this pain she is suffering on her right lower shoulder blade is probably nerve related and may be stemming from a neck issue or something we haven't quite found yet. So... off we go to another MRI for a CSpine mri and then to the neurologist for an EMG/Nerve Conduction test (like I had) on her neck/back shoulder area to try to pin down the nerve that's causing the problem. He told us he'd like to have this done prior to Christmas! LOL... ok, let's just see if the other doctors/clinics can accommodate that request.

We were VERY lucky that the MRI clinic had a cancellation last night so we got Rachel over there for a 7:00 pm appointment. These people have to make a fortune - they are open every night until 11:00 pm!! AND they are booked solid and even on the weekends. Craziness. Typically takes us a week or so to get in there to the one that our doctor likes to use.

With the MRI done (no.. we don't know the results), the earliest we could get the EMG scheduled for was next Tuesday (12/23) morning. She's going to the same neurologist I see for my neck issues.

Again - a wait and see process. He mentioned nerve blocks at some point in the future when we finally determine what is causing the pain.

He hasn't put her on any restrictions or anything yet, which is good. High School Soccer season is just starting and she's playing goalkeeper and a field position so she's not interested in sitting on the bench. She wants to be crazy and let people kick a ball at her all season long. Hopefully, nothing he finds will prevent her from playing, but I suppose it's a possibility.

As for me... nothing terribly new. PT three times a week and I think maybe this week I'm seeing a little bit of results as my right arm/hand are not quite as numb/tingly as it has been, but it's only marginal really. It seems the traction apparatus at PT office seems to work the best for relief so my insurance has approved a home kit which I'm supposed to see sometime this week. Not sure what this will look like - guess I'll be hanging from a door!! :-) LOL... can't wait for a picture of that one. Geez.......

Have two big proposals at work to present/finish this week and then the Christmas break really begins for me! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! And chanting it over and over is the only thing getting me through this week. The kids are excited as they get out of school half day tomorrow, John's excited as he gets out half day tomorrow as well AND goes to Dallas for the Cowboy Game on Saturday and I'm excited because the kids and I are going to be doing Christmasy things this weekend!! It's been a stressful couple of months. It'll be nice to have a rest!

Have a great Thursday!

MA