Oct 13 2008
Coping With a Life-time Diagnosis
My Mom recently found out that she has a pinched nerve and degenerative disks in her back. She has had problems with her left hand for a few years now. It just didn’t feel right. Also, her neck and shoulder on that side would hurt occasionally. The doctors all told her it was nothing.
A few weeks ago she was getting something out of the cabinet and an awful pain went from her neck to her hip. She could hardly move for days. When she finally made it to the doctor they did x-rays and found the problems.
The doctor sent her to physical therapy to see what could be done. The therapist said he thinks she may have had a stroke at one time, and that the only thing to do for her is therapy. He said surgery would only make matters worse.
The therapy has helped her left hand. She said it feels normal again. UNLESS she moves a certain way and that nerve gets inflamed. Then she hurts for a few days again. She believes the therapy is helping some, but the future doesn’t look good. The therapist said he can’t really fix anything, that she will always have this problem.
Her insurance will pay for 20 therapy visits a year. She is still responsible for the 25.00 co-pay however. She is doing a payment plan because she can’t afford to pay 25.00 three times a week for therapy. Her sessions for this year will be over soon. Starting in January she could go again but probably won’t have the cash. She also doesn’t know if it’d be worth it since they’ve told her nothing can really be done.
The therapist said he can give her exercises to do at home that will help, so I figure she’ll go that route after her current sessions are over. I really wish there was something more that could be done for her. Finding out that you are going to be in pain for the rest of your life isn’t fun…I know this first hand. I always hate hearing it happen to someone else.
She is just doing the best she can, tries to watch how she moves, and lives. I reckon that really is all she can do. All any of us can do is the best we can. Take what life throws at us and make it work somehow. If you have been diagnosed with a life-time illness or condition, I wish you all the best.
i will keep you both in my prayers
Thank you very much.