A blast

Waiting I fell asleep. The combination of acupressure, done by my mom, and breathing did the trick. As relaxed as I was it was a nervous sleep. Questions… pictures… needles whirled in my head. It was a procedure day, my first of this trip and much had changed. A caudal procedure, the one that was scheduled this day, is low toward the tailbone area, an injection of two syringes of stem cells.

My body remembered the feeling of the previous caudal procedures I had had. My back remembered the spot and twitched. Between my second and third visits, feeling and sensation returned that I never knew I had lost. I mostly noticed in my hands and feet also my back was included. During my last visit, I was in constant pain, however now most days my pain was completely gone. I was unsure how or if any of these changes would affect the way my body would react to the procedures. My pain tolerance had always been high. Even though I had been through this procedure several times before, I’ll admit I was nervous and a bit scared. Caudals were the hardest on my body but I had a good feeling about this one.

On the table in the Green Park OT, the OT staff chatted to me. It was my first time in this OT, previously procedures were done at the other hospital. All the nurses were the same so I was comfortable as we joked. There is something to be said for knowing the people who are in the OT with you. Even if you are nervous or scared, it’s comforting to see familiar faces even if they are wielding needles. It was a few days before Diwali and everyone was excited for the festival of lights. Dr. Ashish was prepared with his list of questions. The caudal procedure targets the lower body and that was his plan. Dr. Ashish felt around my lower back and tailbone area. He picked a spot and cleaned the area. He was describing the festival and the different rituals. “Okay I’m doing the injection now,” he said. I held as still as I could telling my body not to react, as much as it wanted too. The feeling of pressure more than pain began to flood my lower back and moved down into my legs as the local anesthetic was injected. Not a comfortable feeling, as my lower back and legs went numb. My body was sending panic signals that I fought off. Dr. Ashish was back to our conversation about Diwali. “Did you get crackers?” He asked referring to the firecrackers that would soon overwhelm the city. “No… they are a little dangerous,” I replied, “I’ll leave that to the pyros at the hospital and the neighbor and the kiwi’s this year.” I said laughing. I had totally forgotten about being nervous or scared, although I could feel a pinch every time he touched my back for the injection. The one drawback of our conversation was I’m laying on my stomach on a table that’s bent in the middle so my back was curved. My head was lower than my feet so it feels like I’m falling off the table. Nurses are holding me at my feet and back so I can’t move. Dr. Ashish was making me laugh so I was moving a little bit when he says, “Okay another injection.” I haven’t quiet finished laughing when I feel another pinch. Good thing Dr. Ashish is used to patients moving on the table because I don’t like the idea of moving when there is a needle in me. Another pinch.

I felt something being put on my back then Dr. Ashish says “all done, good job.” I was taken back to my room. Bricks, two of them, were put under each foot of my bed to elevate my feet and I was left to lie on my back for the next 4 hours. To my surprise when I rose, my back was not as sore as I expected. I decided after my first procedure that any discomfort, pain, bruising, or soreness that came with it were well worth the improvements I got from the stem cells getting the direct route to the damaged areas. So the soreness and bruises I got every time after were welcome. However after removing the bandage this time neither my mom or I could find a bruise at the site there was barely a mark.

Something new happens right after each time I get a procedure. Little, big, or unexpected it doesn’t matter but it’s very welcome. Was it just a good procedure, had Dr. Ashish just found the right place or was my body really healed to the point it no longer over reacted? My next procedure is in a week, I’ll have to wait till then.