Me and My BLING

Carrying a Cane can be Dangerous for Others

Per popular request (well, truthfully for my blog, popular means a couple of comments!) I am showcasing my cane BLING tonight.

I started using a cane last spring when I started having foot drop and increasing disability from my plexopathy issues.  At first I bought the basic black aluminum cane, guaranteed to go with most of my work outfits and my sensible flat heeled work shoes.

Sensible shoes are sooooo boring. I had to give up wearing heels about 3 years ago because of the plexopathy.  Somehow the heels made me feel like a grownup in a grownup world.  I am a short little hobbit lady so anything that makes me feel grown up is a plus, because even at 51 I don't feel like an adult most days!

My coworkers decided that a plain black cane was too blah, and threatened to bedazzle the one I had.  I had nightmares of shiny rhinestones and feather boas hot glued to my cane.  I decided to circumvent their nefarious plans by buying the blingiest cane I could find.  I live in a fairly small town, so I don't have a lot of choice of shopping venues but I was pleased to find my cane of BLING at the local pharmacy.

BLING is a basic black cane (again this goes with my business attire and my sensible shoes) but it has silver shiney "scales" carved into the aluminum that catch the light and make it sparkle.  In traveling I have compared canes with fellow cane users, and none have seen the same model I have.   Many have admired it because it is like jewelry on a stick, but I can't tell them where to buy one. I have looked on EBay and online medical supply and cane suppliers and I can't find any that appear to be the same (I sorta would have liked to buy a couple more in different colors).   I am sure there is supplier out there somewhere, after all my pharmacy ordered it from someplace, however once I bought BLING they have not replaced that model. 

Carrying BLING makes me jolly about having to carry a cane and wear sensible boring shoes.  I am dangerous traveling with BLING because I forget I am holding it and wave my arms around with BLING attached.  Sometimes this is really handy, because people keep their distance, and sometimes it is kind of scary especially in airplanes:  BLING really starts hitting people in their heads and poking them on their shoulders and stomachs as I try to stow away carry on luggage.  I can't handle BLING very well on those moving pathways at airports either - I get it stuck while I am whirling away from it or I can't hold onto the handrail because BLING's handle is in my hand.  Shopping with BLING is a challenge because BLING gets stuck in the merchandise and trys to knock stuff off in the floor.

The Headache is not happy today, and The Hives starting popping out again yesterday because I've tapered off the prednisone.  My pancreas enzyme lipase runneth over normal - could have gone to the hospital this week, but I am determined to get better without being stuck in a hospital bed.  I have plans for once -   I am going to meet an old friend who is volunteering at the local MS bikeathon in town. I am sure The Headache and The Belly and The Hives and The Legs are conspiring against me having a nice relaxing visit.  Fie on you  - you rebellious body!  I will have fun regardless...and I will carry BLING with me.  All onlookers beware!

Nagging Neuralgia

No Sleep For Me

Drove two hours to a client Tuesday evening, walked and walked and walked and stood and stood and stood for the next two days, and drove two hours back Thursday evening.  The new cane did help some with being able to continue walking and to help with the standing.  The pain is about the same standing or sitting so I guess the only difference is that my legs feel really weak so standing requires more effort.  Had a pretty good day at work today, although in quite a bit of pain I was productive.  This evening is another thing entirely.

The sciatic nerve, which was put to rest for a few days by the solumedrol shot I got on Monday, is awake.  It is REALLY really awake, burning down my right leg and curling around the bottom of my foot.  I can't sleep for the durn thing.  Regretting my decision to not get more narcotics at the moment.  Soma alone is not cutting the mustard with this level of pain.  Too much walking, too much driving, too much standing and now I'm paying the price.  The pudendal nerve is acting up too...at least The Headache and The Belly are behaving this evening/morning.

No travel scheduled for next week, thank heavens!  I have travel scheduled the week after that though, and travel scheduled at the end of May.  Will continue to try to tough it out, but I don't think I'm quite tough enough.

Dysfunctional Legs

I Need the Ministry of Silly Walks

Another one in a myriad of doctor appointments today. Trying to see what can be done with The Legs. The Legs are still hurting and last Wednesday became extremely numb and weak. I quit taking the Soma and Percocet, thinking that was what was making me have the weakness, although I really wasn't taking very much: one pill of Soma each night, and one of Percocet every third day. The scripts were for much more, but I don't like to overtake these kinds of medication.

Saw my PCP today. I have no reflexes in my knees - none zero zilch. I can't push against pressure with my lower legs or my feet. No wonder I have been having trouble driving and standing and walking and going up and down stairs!  I did manage to climb a ladder last weekend but I couldn't really feel the rungs.  My feet are extremely numb, I don't sense where they are in space, so I walk a little funny. Feel as if I'm in a Monty Python skit! 

The doc said that the Soma wasn't causing the weakness, nor the Percocet.  I've got a lower dose of Soma now so maybe I can take it twice a day without being totally wackydoodle.  He thinks I may have something going on in my lower back.  I think my nerves are getting worse but don't think there is anything wrong in my bones - just the radiation damage kicking in again.  The MRI I had last year ruled out any disc or bone problems or cancer recurrance or nerve impingment.

Got a shot to reduce inflammation in my sciatic nerve, but if it doesn't get better in a couple of weeks, I will have to have a CT scan. Sigh.  The Legs can't be acting up now, I've got install after install this year to work through. The new software trainer needs to be trained before she is let loose to be on her own, but not quite sure how I will get this done.  I guess I will try and suck it up, as I have to go back to a client's this week and walk walk walk...sigh again.  I am truly dreading this, when usually I am excited by getting to work directly with the clients.

The doc said get a cane to see if that will help me take some of the pressure off the pudendal nerve and sciatic nerve when I have to stand a lot. I bought the standard black economy model aluminum cane with an offset handle. I guess that I'll see how it works. I'm not very good at walking with it, but I think I will be able to manage leaning on it.

I am worried about how I will fare this week. I am driving myself a couple of hours there and back, and not sure how that will work - hoping I will be able to drive home!

I feel I take two steps forward and five steps back. Everytime I get to working full time it seems something happens and then it costs me money plus time off that isn't paid. I am very frustrated because it is costing me almost as much money for medical bills as I am making at this point. Wondering what the purpose is in working, although my stubborn bull headedness doesn't like quitting anything EVER. Plus I just can't leave my bosses in a bind: it just isn't sporting.