Denervation – Living life the MegaSpecial way!

Denervation day!

Myles came to support me yesterday for my ‘Denervation & sacroiliac joint facet steroid injections’ at University hospital Coventry but was feeling a little nervous about going into day surgery & wouldn’t get out of my bag!…

Whilst I was getting settled in my hospital bed for the day Myles was checking out his surroundings…

It can get very boring waiting for your turn in theatre so we had a look at what we could do to pass the time…

After having a little read of the book Myles then decided to have a go at a sudoku puzzle!…

Myles wasn’t very happy because he wasn’t allowed in theatre with me but was over the moon when I came out and took the opportunity for some selfies!…

I always try and stay positive & with as ManySmiles as I can! How could I not smile with a cup of tea in my hand and a bear on my arm!…

I had a few things done yesterday, one procidure called denervation (pronounced De-Nerve-Ation) the consultant puts needles deep into my lower spine and attatches a machine that litterally burns the nerves at 80°c! This procedure stops the pain messages travelling from the nerve to the brain!

During the other procedure the consultant injects steroids into both of my sacroiliac joints (where the hips join the spine)

Image courtesy of cooldesign at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This time he did denervation higher up my spine as well because the pain was stopping me from being backwards!
Phew!
The procedures took just over an hour & I was awake for all of it!

Last 2 times I had it done, I could only stand him doing one side so had to go back another day for the other side to be done!
This time i managed to bare the painful procedures and the consultant did it all in one go!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A weekend to remember!

So last week I was like…

Then last Friday, thanks to being able to return to exercise after having my back procedure-surgery-thingymebob I was all like “let’s…

And I over came another obstacle when my MS anxiety kicked in due to ‘Change’

I knew that my normal pilates instructor wouldn’t be teaching on Friday, a different lady was filling in for Kate!

I’m so glad Kate told me about this!
I had a choice, face up to my anxiety of change or let my MS win and ruin what kept me so positive through the physical pain of the week before….

I did it! I attended pilates and I took my normal space, at the front of the class next to the instructor!

I’m so glad I didn’t let my MS win! The instructor ‘Hannah’ was lovely! It was a different kind of pilates, different is good! Change IS good!

After the class Hannah asked me to hang back and wait for her.
She had been asked by my wonderful pilates instructor/guru to walk with me down the stairs. How lovely!

Due to the combination of my MS tremors after exercise & then the heat from outside of the air conditioned dance hall, I get quite weak so Kate always walks with me to my car. She had asked Hannah to do the same & she did. So kind!

I chatted with Hannah & a friend of hers for quite a while. They wanted to know all about me, my MS & my journey. It was great to share my story with them both, I think I did a good job of raising MS awareness!

That was Friday, a brilliant day that really lifted my spirits!

I had know idea what was planned for the rest of the weekend & neither did my partner.
Neither of us knew that the next day was going to be possibly one of the most exciting days of our lives, well mine for definite!…..