The Spinal Epidural

My sister of the soul took me for a spinal epidural injection of steroids to calm down the issues in my neck. I popped the first valium before she arrived and took the second 1/2 hour later, as directed to do prior to the procedure. We arrived at the office, were ushered in, and the doctor walked into the room for a mini-pre-conference.

"Tell me, where is your pain?" he asked.

I pointed to the bulging blood vessel outside my wrist and the swollen lump inside my wrist.

He looked perplexed and then asked me why I was there for the scheduled procedure because it's not going to address the issue in my hand! He said, "You need to see a hand specialist."

I felt like leaping into the air and shouting hurrah, but I simply laughed and said, "How about you communicate that to a doctor who is convinced that my hand problem is simply referred pain from the condition of my cervical spine?"

He looked a bit taken aback and asked me to clarify, so I briefly described the medical history since last May, all the while he was shaking his head. When I finished, he told me that the doctor who has prescribed this treatment may be on to something, but he's not sure I'm going to have the desired results in my hand as what he sees (and touched) appears to be a hand issue that needs to be addressed, not a cervical spine issue.

With nothing to lose, I asked him if he can do the injection today, do the follow-up next week, and then --if both he and I are correct and this is a waste of time, energy and medical resources -- get me in to see the hand specialist with whom I had an appointment that was changed without my knowledge and/or consent?

"It's a deal," he replied, adding, "and I'll ride up in the elevator with you to make sure you see him."

Hurrah.

If this injection works, I should notice results perhaps by the end of the day tomorrow, so my neck and shoulders, as well as my spinal column, should feel better, even if my hand doesn't. For the past 3 days, the pain in my hand is constantly a 10, the swelling obvious to the most casual observor, and I've been so cranky dealing with it that I am not fit for human companionship (were it to be available).

We'll see what happens between now and next week, when I call back and either say this worked -- give me the other 2 injections -- or please get me in to see a doctor who can actually diagnosis what is wrong with my left hand!