Facet Injections

It's nearly 1am and I am wide awake because I slept most of the day after my procedure this morning.

We arrived at 9am this morning at the Oklahoma Spine Hospital, checked in and were quickly informed that Dr Eckman ran late much like Dr Hope. I expected to be there all day so was no surprised. We were taked to a separate waiting room where we waited for about 10 minutes. I ws called back just thinking for a x-ray or something. I was wrong. I was told to get into a classy, sexy hospital gown, with hospital shoe covers over my socks and a hair cover over my head... Immediately stripped of my comfort.. I locked mt belongings in a locker and put the key around my wrist, and was shown to my chair. They took my vital signs, got a iv line in and started the long list of questions that I have been asked a million times since the accident.

Clayton got to come back after they were done doing the admission procedure and I soon realized that my turn was coming fast. I was in alot of pain and could do anything about it. I started to get scared and cry and fidget alot. Clayton did a good job distracting me by making me laugh and taking stupid pictures of me just in case I ever do anything to piss him off he said he would use them against me.... LOL

Finally it was my turn. The Dr was great, a soothing older man. Calm and very patient and aware I was in pain. They gave me benadryl for my allergy to ct iodine because he uses the ct machine during the procedure. I cried when i realized he wasn't going to just not use it. That stuff almost killed me before and I didn't want to do that again. The benadryl made me tired and calmed me some until it was time to get on the table for the injections.

I had to get on the table face down. Already not comfortable. I was already crying. 4 women began to pull back my "hot stuff" hospital gown to prep my neck area, on was applying the O2 sat monitor and BP cuff and one was pushing pain meds....

The actual injections themselves weren't to bad at first it seemed then he started to find more tender places.. it felt like a needle puncturing a eggshell then the fluid you could feel being distributed... It hurt so bad and I think the worst part was that I couldn't move. I held my breathe but my o@ sats would drop and the girls would say Breath Michelle... I have never experienced anything like that it was pretty painful........After the Dr left and the girls sat me up to get me ready to go to the recovery area I just covered my face and balled like a baby. You could tell they didn't understand.. i just told them I was overwhelmed and done with all the pain and just wanted it all to be over with. In the recovery area I couldn't stop crying and even on the car ride home I was in tears just overwhelmed with emotion I think. Having to lay there awake and endure those injections was horrible.. it was borderline torture.. I know it's suppose to help me but just the thought of them make me want to cry..

Thank you Clayton for being there for me today!