Oh wow, so sorry you're dealing with all of this.

Good luck to you! ((hugs))

so glad shot helped, and that you also get to spend your time back on Maui.

My 97 year old mom is waiting for an apt at the pain clinic or these shots. Her back is just awful. Old compression fractures, etc. and this is her last resort. Hope it helps. Glad to hear it worked for you!

Enjoy your trip. You deserve a nice vacation.

Glad to hear the shot helped. It's no fun being a "Nightly Floor Walker". Being able to get a good night's sleep is very important. I've had a few steroid shots. They seem to last me a couple of years. Are you getting any PT for this condition? That probably helped me the most.

If the doctor found a knot there may be more of them. Although generally not covered by insurance you may find some relief from an all over massage. Earlier this year after an intense garden session I treated myself. She found a lot of small knots. For years I have had something wrong according to doctor not joint or nerve but deep muscle in my right lower back. She jiggled something and the pain/ache was gone for a couple of weeks.

I am happy that you have found relief. Being able to make your yearly trek to Maui will be wonderful therapy for you.

Sorry you're going through this. I hope you get long-lasting pain relief.

You sound good, Chisue. Pain is exhausting, but I hear your energy returning as the pain recedes. Glad to hear you're on schedule for Maui!

So nice to hear from all of you. I need all the encouragement I can get!

Once the dex from Monday's chemo wore off -- usually mid-Tuesday -- the 'wound' pain returned -- but not anywhere else, for a change! I see the pain management person at the cancer clinic Friday. I hate to take *more* of this 'junk', and managing the opiate constipation is a challenge, too. (All thoughts on that are most welcome.)

Ah, could be worse! My MM numbers are improving. Normal IgG is 700 - 1600. I was 6000 in June; at 1740 now.

I'm so sorry you are going through all of this. But good news on the positive progress and the opportunity to continue your annual trek to Maui. We've all been thinking of you.

Chisue, I’m happy you were able to get the procedure done, and very happy you will get to make your normal trip to Maui and be able to continue treatments there.

Re the opiate constipation: DH just had his hip replacement and has been on Percocet, which of course causes the same issues. Get some magnesium tablets. Plain old otc like Nature Made brand. Take one in the morning. You should see results the same day. If not take one the next morning. He also took a stool softener at the same time and is continuing to do so as needed along with a magnesium tablet. The tablets are gel caps and a bit large like a fish oil capsule.

I'm glad your pain is lessening, Chisue, as pain is EXHAUSTING. Hooray that you can go to Hawaii and continue your treatment there!

Outside has good advice for your other problem. :)

Thank God for pain clinics. They can help and do most of the time! MM sucks and that is enough for you to have to deal with. Adding pain into the mix is awful!

Hope they get you close to pain free for your Maui trip.

A friend just got doctors lined up for their trip to Florida, she has lung cancer.

Thanks for the tips. I've been told I need a stimulant, not just a softener. The opiates halt natural paristolsis (sp?) -- the action that contracts/relaxes the bowel to push waste out. I have an extra difficulty, having had a colon resection two years ago.

Sorry for the 'ick' factor here.

"Monday night (last night) I was pain free -- with zero pain meds"

Wow! So glad to hear that!