So, there were lots of needles yesterday. BIG ones. I don't recall them hurting that much last time. AND I was sedated at the time.
Usually, when I go for one of these things, it's on the third floor of the hospital, in the relatively laid-back area where they do endoscopies. Because there is an intense shortage of OR and equipment time, my pain guy, the beloved Dr. R., will occasionally schedule in the regular OR.
Let me describe how this goes...
This type of procedure is done first thing in the morning, so we were asked to arrive by 5:30. Yes, 5:30 a.m., for a 7:15 procedure.
- Sign in.
- Wait.
- Get called back.
- Turn in the sample that proves I'm not pregnant.
- Get nekkid, and put on the silly gown.
- Add booties, this time, for some unknown reason.
- Answer questions, previous surgeries, allergies, medications, etc.
- Blood pressure, pulse, and pulse ox measured repeatedly.
- 1st attempt at starting an IV.
- 2nd attempt at starting an IV.
- 3rd attempt, by different nurse, and finally a successful start of IV.
- Wait.
- Talk to anesthesiologist.
- Surprise appearance of Husband (I don't like to talk before the procedures. It makes me nervous. I told them so, but he must have looked forlorn out there or something).
- Dr. R. comes by with the spiel. He knows I know it, but it's the routine, so I listen. He's very reassuring.
- Time to roll from pre-op to OR.
- Transfer from gurney to table with pillow under belly, to take the curve out of the spine. That way, all of me is the same distance from the fluoroscopy thingie. Now, I am pretty much buck-nekkid to a roomful of people, and it's about 50 degrees in here. The warm blankets arrive fairly soon, though, and I am accustomed to mooning the OR crowd. This was the fifth procedure since September 1st.
- First dose of sedative, which does nothing. They know it, I know it, it's procedure.
- Cleaning of the site (in this case, my lower back and upper boo-tay) with the COLD stuff. Dang.
- Second dose of sedative, which feels like a beer buzz, but that's all I'm gonna get. I need to be awake to tell them about what I can feel.
- Three needles are placed near the right sacroiliac joint nerve outlets. I can't tell you how much this part sucks. The needles need to be wide enough to accommodate the electrode wire, so they are BIG.
- Low voltage is sent through to make sure I can feel the zap, but NOT make muscles twitch, in which case, the needles need to be repositioned. Thank God Dr. R. always gets it right the first time.
- FOURTH needle is placed (yes, there's more!) at the nerve outlet between the lowest lumbar vertebra and the sacrum.
- Repeat the voltage step, while I cringe.
- FINALLY, I am put out with IV sedation. I have been known to say witty things as the sedation takes over. Yesterday, I was hurting enough that I don't even remember it.
- Wake up in post-op and beg for coffee. At this point, my behind is very sore (and still is) but mostly from the injection sites. The nerves have been cauterized, but the area around them has suffered insult, so it's tender. I am using ice, drugs, and a horizontal position to help out.
Now, it's a waiting game, to see if it worked. Unfortunately, this part takes a few weeks. The one they did in July for the lumbar area has been awesome, and I am hoping for the same good results this time.
