Fear

[cjsmith]

Today I am facing my fear that the surgery won't help.

It might do very little. Of the problems visible with MRI, only one will be corrected by surgery.

The way I face fear is by making plans. If the surgery doesn't help I will, in this order:

1. Ice a lot. Continue this while trying other steps.
2. Try a heavy dose of anti-inflammatories for a brief period to see what happens.
3. Ask Dr. O about causes/recommendations for the tendon and ligament problems (actual question probably asked earlier, at surgery time). Try injected corticosteroid if offered. Try physical therapy tailored to this problem if offered.
4. Try acupuncture.
5. Stop the ice and try prolotherapy.
6. Go to a pain clinic. This step is the end of the line for me, so the next step is...
7. Accept the problem as permanent and learn to love being a physically inactive person.

Comments

[portia.livejournal.com]

sorry to see you are struggling with this. i'd be looking forward to it! you -could- be free from pain once it's over with! that's a good thing!

i've thought of trying #4 for my headaches but haven't quite gotten the nerve to try it yet. maybe after we move away from hicksville... and #5 sounds interesting as long as they've really stopped using the red hot pokers!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, I *am* looking forward to it! That's the other half of my antsy nervousness -- I want it DONE! :-) This coexists only sort-of-peacefully with the part of me that's scared of the outcome.

I bet #5 hurts like fuck. (If all the pain is from inflammation *now*...) But if I knew it would work, that wouldn't stop me.

[portia.livejournal.com]

it's good that you still have all kinds of other options you are willing to try, but i'm hoping that surgery fixes you up right up!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)