March 23, 2018, 11:30 a.m. Today was a follow-up appointment with Francis, the physical therapist from the Pain Clinic. Once again, he spent a full hour with me. The first thing he said was to confirm his approval of the inflatable neck traction device I had sent him a link to and which is available…
Author: Jacquie
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, pet co-parent, web designer, copy editor, type 2 diabetic, migraineur, and chronic pain warrior. In seeking to reverse diabetes, I have become in search of healing for myself and my family.
Office Visit with Dr. Kalra
March 22, 2018, 2:00 p.m. I put way more angst into anticipating this visit than I should have! How many times had I rehearsed and re-rehearsed everything I was going to say to Dr. Kalra?!? I wrote down carefully in my notebook the three things I wanted to discuss with him. His medical assistant took…
Pain Management: My Review
March 17, 2018 I have completed the 3-day-a-week 5-week outpatient Pain Management program at Kaiser. The facilitators all made it clear from Day 1 that this is not a pain relief program but a pain management! And they were right. We were not allowed to talk specifically about our pain nor about medications. I posted…
More Lab Tests Ordered
March 16, 2018 I wasn’t particularly anxious to have another A1C yet, since I have been in chronic pain since October and have experienced a lot of stress. But I had to have it, and it was even more disappointing than I had feared. 6.6%. Heavy sigh.
Pain Group Acupuncture #3
February 23, 2018 This is my last day of pain group acupuncture with Sophie. I have requested to be referred to the Acupuncture Clinic for an individual session. So, for that, I will just have to wait. Today only 3 of us from the class went to group acupuncture! I don’t know where everyone else…
Day 15 Pain Management
February 23, 2018 Today is the last day of the Level 3 Chronic Pain Management program! The first thing they did was have us fill out questionnaires, which I knew was coming. Yeah, by this time, I really do know my Kaiser Medical # by memory! After the meditation session, Francis led us in the…
Day 14 Pain Management
February 21, 2018 There was no Pain Management on Monday, February 19, which was Presidents Day. Today Francis did the meditation session with affirmations. He then divided us up into two groups to go through the Tai Chi routine with no coaching. I asked about acupressure and he said he would talk about it on…
Day 13 Pain Management
February 16, 2018 I have more pain today, I think after working so hard yesterday afternoon with no break. I opened a new can of “magic” espresso beans and took one. Dr. Whitehead began with the meditation, this one focusing on body sensations of heaviness and warmth. Great distractions. Francis came in for the exercises,…
Day 12 Pain Management
February 14, 2018 What a horrendous day! Started at 3:30 a.m. when I was awakened by an intense headache (not migraine) and was not able to get back to sleep, even after I took naproxen and used an ice pack. Pain Management class was fine, getting lunch at In-n-Out Burger was delicious, and spending the…
Day 11 Pain Management
February 12, 2018 Linda has been sick all weekend so I had to drive myself today. Pain Level 4 (though I did have a magic dark chocolate espresso bean). Used neck pillow, turned off air and radio (they were distractions). In spite of several traffic lights being out (and we all had to have a…