I waited all day for a phone call from the Doctor. I kept checking the phone all day to see if there was a dial tone. We got 4 other calls, so I knew that the phone was working. Finally, I called the clinic yesterday afternoon 5 minutes before they closed. I very politely inquired as to when I might expect to hear the results of the test that I had 10 days ago. She very sweetly said that she would give Dr. Burke's nurse a reminder note, and that I could expect a call this morning. I guess all it took was that little kick in the pants!
Dr. Burke actually did phone me this morning. He called at 8:11 a.m. (Don't you love digital clocks?) The MRI showed a lot of arthritic changes in my spine, but he says that everybody over 60 has osteo-arthritis in their spine. It also showed several bulging discs in the lumbar region, but the trouble-making disc is L-4, which is bulging enough to pinch my sciatic nerve.
I'm starting physical therapy today at 3 o'clock. I'll do the PT for a month, and he says that by the time of the wedding I should be "moderately improved". I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound too bad. If I'm not moderately improved in a month, then he says he would want to do some more tests.
A really good sign is that I haven't taken any pain meds except regular Tylenol for two days now. The pain is mostly gone, but walking is still difficult.
So, I have a Goal, a Plan, the Motivation, and a Cheerleader (Dick). I think I'll be good to go.
