Among other things, TB has spinal stenosis. Before he got laid off because of getting hurt, there were days TB could barely walk and one time his supervisor (or whatever his title is) said, "You don't know the meaning of the word 'pain'." Asshole. Yes, John, TB does know the meaning of pain.
Here's some information about spinal stenosis:
The disks between the vertebrae (bones) may become dehydrated, and the joints may become overgrown due to arthritis. Over time, these changes can also lead to narrowing, or stenosis, of the spinal canal.
Narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal pinches the nerves that go to the skin and muscles of the legs. Sometimes, the pinched nerves become inflamed, causing pain in the buttocks and/or legs.
Degenerative changes in the lower back also can diminish the ability of the spine to carry the load of the upper body. ...
That's why, in addition to the pain, TB's felt like his leg was going to give out from under him. Also, he noticed that it helped him walk around the grocery store if he had a cart he could lean on. It turns out that leaning provides some more room in the spinal canal.
The next step is for TB to get an appointment at the outpatient surgery center for an epidural steroid injection.
These injections deliver anti-inflammatory steroid medication directly into the spinal canal—straight to the pinched nerve roots. The injections can provide relief for weeks to months, and may allow the patient to participate in more aggressive rehabilitation. In some cases, they may enable the patient to postpone or avoid surgical treatment altogether. Epidural steroid injections are more effective than anti-inflammatory medications taken by mouth, and they may also have fewer side effects.
The doctor told TB that the injections have a 25% success rate which doesn't sound very high but TB wants it try it first anyway...it beats surgery! The doctor prescribed an antidepressant and more pain meds. Hopefully all of this will bring some relief soon!
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