New Year's Resolutions

“Though the doctors treated him, let his blood, and gave him medications to drink, he nevertheless recovered.”  ~ Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

I don't generally make New Year's resolutions, but unofficially, I usually have a few in the back of my head.  This year I resolved to do something about my neck pain.  

I know I have mentioned before about my car accident and the chronic neck pain that was the result.

After 18 years and several unhelpful and unwilling doctors later, if I have to get rude and belligerent to finally get some treatment, I can be a bitch if I absolutely must.

It had been about 8 years since my last attempt at treatment and at this point, I didn't even have a primary care physician anymore, I was so disgusted with my past experiences.

Picking a name from an insurance list obviously wasn't a viable tactic.  So I went to one recommended by a colleague.  This doctor listened, asked questions, and surprisingly, actually touched my head and neck.  She didn't discount or disregard what I said and didn't treat me like a drug addict seeking a fix.

Through her I was sent to a specialist called a physiatrist.  Have you heard of a physiatrist?  I hadn't.

Physiatrist. Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.

This Physiatrist, whom I will call Hot Doctor, is younger than me, exceptionally personable and flat-out gorgeous.  Irrelevant, of course.

Hot Doctor listened to me, asked questions, touched my head and neck, then sat down, explained what is going on in my spine and said he could help me.  I wanted to cry.  Then he, without blinking, prescribed me some painkillers.  Hot Doctor is my hero.

First treatment: Steroid injections.  Ummmm...Needle in my neck...

Prognosis: possibly immediate complete relief and never need to go back.  More likely complete relief and need to go back maybe once a year for another injection.

Actual result:  Nothing.  After the first injection, no pain relief whatsoever.  After the second...(not quite complete) relief for a few days but back to regular pain by the end of the week.  Psych.

I am not deterred.  No treatment at the time of the accident did anything for me either.

So, that is where I am with this morning's follow-up visit.

Next treatment: Another injection, this one done a little differently to disperse the steroid a little more uniformly between the vertebra, or so Hot Doctor took the time to explain.

On a side note, have I mentioned, the procedure involved a room full of pretty men?  Hot Doctor, along with Hot Nurse, Hot Assistant, and Super-Hot Anesthesiologist.  All male.  I think I like this office.  If you're going to endure pain, you might as well have something pretty to look at.  Is that shallow?

Sometimes New Year's Resolutions give you something to look forward to.  :)