Getting evaluated for Home Health services today, specifically those related to a lymphedema pump for my legs. We're going to get medieval on my leg swelling, most likely. I'm not 100% sure what it'll entail - will report back.

#cosomedical

Had surgery today. Bilateral lumbar rhizotomy to kill lower back pain, done by my pain management doctor. Went well, except for the pre-and-post-op stuff (i.e., trying to get undressed and re-dressed). Couldn't have my wife in the room with me, and the nurses were reluctant to help me (and I'm too handicapped to do it myself). Finally got it done, though. Any surveys will reflect their helpfulness, or lack of same quality.

#cosomedical

Urgh.

Been in pain all day long. Knees, torn rotator cuff, carpal tunnel surgical scar, fused neck vertebrae, and now my right hip is in on the action so bad I can barely move it from side to side. My wife and I went to a Christmas breakfast party with my son at his wife's family's side today, and I needed help getting my right leg in & out of the car.

I've finally given up and taken a double dose of my pain medicine. It's helped, at last. No more double doses tonight, though.

#cosomedical

Got fitted for a new pair of hearing aids yesterday:

https://www.soundly.com/product/oticon-more-3

Can't wear 'em while writing music, since they distort sounds, but I wear them after to make sure I get the high freqs right. My low freq response is OK without them - maybe that explains my proclivity for writing bass lines. 😆

#cosomedical
#cosomusic

Latest medical news:

My wife and I are both getting new hearing aids.

https://www.soundly.com/product/oticon-more-3

#cosomedical

I've got another surgery scheduled, on Dec.27th. This is for a bilateral rhizotomy to relieve back pain that got really bad around the beginning of December, when my leg swelling really got to its worst. I've had this operation before, but not a bilateral one - wish me luck.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/rhizotomy

#cosomedical

Just got back from the vascular doctor's office. He's not 100% sure what's causing my edema trouble. He thinks I've got a combination of lymphedema and venous insufficiency, with some other stuff I can't describe thrown in for good measure. He's ordered a CT scan of my legs and lower abdomen to see what's going on. I've also got home health coming out to administer some wraps and some pumps of some kind to my legs. I'll follow up with the doctor at the end of January.

#cosomedical

I've finally heard from my doctor about my echocardiogram. The aorta and left atrium of my heart are enlarged, but not to the point where they're abnormal for someone of "my size." (336lbs/5'8") So, for my edema problems, he's checking me for vascular/circulation issues to see what's causing my swelling. It's apparently not heart related.

#cosomedical

Medical update 2022/12/15:

I've been contacted by my doctor's office about an "urgent" referral to a vascular surgeon in the wake of yesterday's echocardiogram. I still don't have a full readout of the echo's results, so I'm at a loss as to why. I've asked the doctor for the readout while I wait for the referral to go through.

#cosomedical

Starting to get preliminary results from my echocardiogram. Raw data shows enlargement of my left atrium and my aorta, but my doctor says these don't indicate heart failure and are more or less normal for my body size. Still, they worry me, since they're sudden changes over prior echo tests. Now waiting for vascular results to round out the report.

#cosomedical

Echocardiogram results are back, but without an interpretation by my doctor. From what I can tell, there's nothing that jumps out and says, "BOO!" at you, but there are a couple of concerning items on the left side of the heart and on the aorta. I'm not going to speculate more than that until I hear from a cardiologist or my primary care physician.

#cosomedical

I finally have an appointment for an echocardiogram, tomorrow afternoon with a doctor in Rockwall, TX. Here's hoping that everything stays together until then.

I don't know if I want him to find a diagnosis of congestive heart failure or not. A positive diagnosis would at least let me know what I'm fighting against, but it'd mean a lot more restrictions on my life. A negative diagnosis would be better in lots of ways, but it would still leave me wondering what's going on.

#cosomedical

So much stuff going on. Been trying to keep out of the ER again. Blood tests show kidneys and anemia tanking. Doctors think I might be headed towards Congestive Heart Failure, but I can't get in to have an echocardiogram done. Very frustrating. Leg swelling out of control one minute, under control the next. Tired all the time. Sorry I've been away so long, CoSo. I've had a hard time keeping up.

#cosomedical

Interesting day today. My chronic pain management doctor's office screwed up with several patients' appointments and didn't save them into the system earlier this month. Mine was one of them. So, since refills of opiates are only done during appointments, I'm left holding the bag. My only alternative is to present myself at the office today and get a urine test. If I do that, they'll release the refill. Damned inconvenient to be sure, but at least it's doable. Bleh.

#cosomedical

2/2

I'm going to undergo surgery for carpal *and* cubital tunnel syndrome on my left elbow/hand on Friday. I've posted about this before. My left hand is atrophied badly, and that's irreversible. The surgery will at least stop it, plus halt the numbness and tingling in my 4th & 5th fingers.

This goes down on Friday, Nov. 4th, the same day as my 4th album release! I'll post about it separately.

I'd appreciate any support I can get. Sorry again for being away.

#cosomedical

Health Update 10/6 -

Saw hand/arm surgeon on Monday. I'm going to need major surgery to fix the Carpal Tunnel & Cubital Tunnel Syndromes in my left hand/arm. Recovery is 8-11 weeks.

The muscle atrophy I've reported in my left pinky, ring finger, and thumb, plus loss of strength in my left hand, is permanent. No surgery or therapy will fix.

Surgery is set for Nov.4th, the release date of my next album. Not a good date. Sigh.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/25/22

Had my grip strength tested at my first physical therapy appointment recently in relation to my Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on my left side. The therapist said my hands shouldn't be more than 5lbs. apart in strength.

My dominant hand (right) gripped at 50lbs. My left hand? It should have been no less than 45lbs. Instead, it came in at just 20lbs. That's some serious muscle atrophy. Not good.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/19/22:

Saw shoulder surgeon today. Diagnosis: Full width rotator cuff tear. Solution: major surgery, 9 months to a year to fully heal. He said I need to see arm/hand surgeon first about Cubital Tunnel Syndrome to get left hand working before shoulder surgery.

#cosomedical

Medical update 9/17/22:

I've learned that my Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is directly responsible for my left hand wasting. Go to this link and read the bit about, "What happens if cubital tunnel syndrome goes untreated?"

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21997-cubital-tunnel-syndrome

That's what's happening to me.

#cosomedical

Medical Update 9/16/22:

Turns out I'm not going to need an MRI on my neck. Saw my spine surgeon yesterday about my left hand pain and numbness. He did some tests and - I swear I don't know how I missed this - he figured out that the muscles in my hand are wasting away! He diagnosed me with Left Hand Wasting, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome on the left, and Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I've been referred to an arm & hand surgeon.

#cosomedical