My pain is easing a bit so the Lyrica must be doing something. Right leg is still "odd feeling" but not numb or feeling cold. My left leg is still weak and I stumbled a few times yesterday at work. I only have to work 6 hours today but I'm on call this weekend and I hope no one calls in b/c weekend nurses do 12 hr shifts and I know I can't do those.
I have a discharge paper around here somewhere that listed all the diagnosis' from the pain dr. and if I remember degenerative disc disease was one of them but I'm not sure. On my first visit there, dr said "lose 20 lbs, quit the soda, quit smoking and walk 4 miles a day". HA. I could barely walk then too but I did do physical therapy that helped, lost nearly 25+lbs, weaned off my Mt. Dew addiction and started walking. I was up to 3 miles a day walking but quit when the treadmill died and the weather got cooler. I did feel better so I guess I ought to get back on track once I can walk better.
Since I'm not sleeping well, I'm back on the soda but not as bad as before and my weight is stable. I thought about another MRI since a co-worker in therapy said nothing was wrong with her either (hers was negative) but symptoms worsened and she had surgery after an ER trip where they did a standing MRI which showed compression that didn't show up on the first MRI lying down. Something to mention to the dr. anyway.
I sent out my resume via fax as requested to three offices but didn't hear anything back. I've checked a few times online, no new jobs posted. I'm not really "actively" looking, I just saw them and figured it wouldn't hurt to submit my resume. Some of them had been on there over 7 days, so they may have interviewed/hired already but didn't remove the ad. I need something not as physically demanding but 1) I don't want to have a medical insurance change while this is going on and 2) I'd lose my option for FMLA as most employers say you have to work there for 12 mos. to be eligible and 3) I'd lose my short term disability ins. for whatever time limit the new employer has for new insurance to be effective. I think I need to stay put for now but am keeping my eyes open just in case a "dream job" comes open somewhere then we can weigh the pros/cons.
Kathy