Yesterday when I started on my walk, before I even left my driveway, I encountered several critters. First, a very light green plump lizard with smooth skin ran into the bougainvillea. I can’t find him on Google, so I don’t know what kind he is. Then a male and a female quail ran across the drive down into the wash. At the end of the driveway, on the little pony wall, a mourning dove took off in flight.
It could be the mother who has a nest in the hanging pot outside my house. My son took this pic of one of the babies with the mother.
Here’s a pic on my walk of a cactus in bloom and the brilliant blue sky above. This is the color of our Arizona sky. I still can’t get over it, and I’ve been here seventeen years now!
It’s getting warm here, but if I walk early enough it’s not yet a problem. That may change in a month or two. But I have another issue. At least six months ago I started getting a painful leg. it was weird because last year my other leg was so bad that for two months I couldn’t walk at all. Now the symptoms are somewhat different, but getting worse. My entire lower left quadrant, so to speak, is very painful and sometimes can be a NINE in pain. Most of the time it fluctuates between 2 and 7. I saw a pain doctor, who diagnosed me with a pinched nerve, so I will get a back MRI. In the meantime she wants me to start PT and take Gabapentin on top of my Extra Strength Tylenol. I’ll hold off on the Gabapentin as long as I can because I can’t afford to add more dizziness (a side effect) to my Vestibular Migraines. (Gabapentin brings up sad memories of my dear Pear Blossom’s cancer before she passed away several years ago).
Because the worst of the pain is while lying down and walking, the pain doesn’t prevent me from taking care of my cutie pie grandson while his parents are at work. He turned three months on Friday and has been stacking up a big list of “firsts.” First time he rolled over onto his stomach himself. First time he reached for me to pick him up. First time he started trying to form sounds with his mouth. First time he held a stuffed toy and rubbed the fur on his skin. Yes, I’m obsessed.
Yesterday I did a little art because I hadn’t in months and wanted to do something creative with my hands. I feel bad because I have cute fabric for a book cover to make a junk journal for the baby’s parents, but taking care of him has made that impossible at this point.
Enjoy your grandson. In a very short time, he will be leaving for college! 🙂 Yes, it goes that fast. My granddaughters are graduating from high school next month. I remember them as fertilized eggs in a petri dish not too long ago!
This made me laugh! But yes it does go fast! Way too fast.
I enjoyed getting a glimpse into your world and hearing your grandbaby is thriving. Mine too!
Aw so glad to hear that. They are so precious!!!
I am so sorry about your leg pain—it sounds terrible. I hope the gabapentin helps. And I echo the sentiment about grandchildren. Somehow they grow faster than our own children did. Maybe because we are smarter now and know to savor every minute whereas as parents we just wanted to get some sleep and peace and quiet!
I think you’re right about grandchildren. It’s just a whirlwind watching this little guy grow up!
Thanks for sharing your lovely sky and wildlife Luanne. I hope that the leg pain eases. Winston is on gabapentin at the minute as he was limping a bit so it’s possible he was getting some joint pain – he has had it before a few years ago when he had his stroke – but he’s doing fine.
Gabapentin is a blessing for dogs and cats, I think. They are given it for different kinds of pain, whereas I guess humans only get it for nerve pain unless it’s used for what it’s supposed to be for, which is epilepsy. Poor Winston. Getting older is such a bummer heh! Thanks you, Andrea!
I hope the beautiful landscape and darling grandchild take your mind off the pain, Luanne! Hugs!
Thank you so much, Merril!
You’re welcome, Luanne.
Lying down and walking–the two things that should give you relief. My heart goes out to you, Luanne. I’m thankful your grandbaby is such a darling diversion.
Ah, you noticed that about lying down and walking! Yeah, pretty irritating! And also feeding the baby. However, playing with him, changing him, reading to him, watching him sleep, these are all good :).
Surrounding you with golden light!
Ah, thank you so much, Annette! xo
I do hope the pain can be managed
Thanks, Derrick! Me too!
There’s nothing quite as bad as back pain. I hope they can do something for you, Luanne. Meanwhile, try to enjoy that beautiful blue sky.
Well, I will say most of the pain is in the leg, which does help because yes back pain is horrific. Thanks, Anneli!
I hope your leg gets better. Having that kind of pain is no fun. I’m glad you are enjoying your grandson. What a special time to be within.
Thanks, John. He’s been sleeping here for awhile so I am able to read blogs and respond to comments for a change!
Luanne, so sorry to hear about your leg pains…that makes life much more difficult! . Your grandson won’t like to hear that, either.
So hopefully new meds will help.
I had to laugh about when your grandson rolled over – when our older granddaughter was born, I obsessed over teaching her to roll over – Pretty made fun of me about my obsession. When the second granddaughter came along, I didn’t even realize when she first rolled over by herself. One day Pretty said, did you notice Molly rolled over by herself last week??
Hahaha.
So funny! Yeah, I’m sure that this is such a big deal because he’s the only/first. Every little thing he does is so special! Makes me glad I was the older child hahahaha. Good thing Molly can’t read about this ;)!
Point taken. Molly wouldn’t like this in the least.
But she would be happy to shake her little finger at me and say “I told you so, I told you so.”
Followed by a big grin and, “Molly funny.”
Hahahahahaha. Molly IS funny!
I’m so sorry to hear about your leg pain. I hope you’re able to get onto a good treatment plan. I love the details of your caregiving for that special grandson!
Liz, thank you so very much xo!
You’re welcome, Luanne!
Hopefully the MRI will help. Keep us updated and I’ll say a prayer. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for the prayer. Much appreciated! I am scheduled for it a week from Saturday, so in a couple of weeks I should know more!
Oops, and I love the pic of the bird resting in her nest.
Isn’t it sweet?!
Sorry to hear about your pain, but what a joy to read about your grandson! I take Gabapentin for my cervical arthritis. I’ve been taking it regularly for a few months now, and I haven’t had any pain in my neck other than the usual stiffness for as long. I take 100 mg in the morning and was taking just 100 mg at night (200 mg total daily) but it helps me sleep so now I take 200 mg at night. I don’t know what dose you’ve been given, but if you want to try it, just start low. Greg is also taking it now for his back pain. Again, I believe the doses we’re taking are relatively low, just enough to take the edge off without any of the side effects. But everyone is different, so listen to your body. Pinched nerves can be a bitch to resolve ❤️
Ugh, your cervical arthritis sounds awful. I’m so sorry! Yeah, she said she was starting me with 100mg 3x day, and she said I HAVE to take it 3x a day. That is an issue for me because I can’t remember to take pills past 2PM. Also, a side effect is dizziness, so with my vestibular migraines it sounds scary. AND so many people have been saying it’s addictive and so hard to get off. So I am holding off for now, but did fill the script for when I can’t stand it any longer.
We heard too that it’s addictive but I haven’t found it to be that way. Another benefit of Gabapentin is that it can also ease anxiety (maybe because it eases pain?), but I’ve missed doses and haven’t felt any ill effects. I think 100mg 3x/day is a minimal dose. Maybe higher doses are more likely to cause addiction. I did read that it’s prescribed for epilepsy and people with that condition have to take mega-doses. In fact, I had friends who were taking mega-doses and they should not have been (they did not have epilepsy or chronic pain), but they were able to ease themselves off the drug. Still, you have to do what’s best for you. Gabapentin is the only prescription drug I take (knock on wood). Other than one Excedrin in the morning and my supplements, I don’t take anything else. I know. I’m very lucky. I just wish I had a cure for you 🤗❤️
Thank you for that info, Marie. It helps to have your side of it. Kind of makes me less anxious about it!
How wonderful about the natural beauty you enjoy and grandson, too. But not so with the pain! I hope it can be resolved soon and you can be back at your art.
Thank you. Me too. Getting sick of it! But yeah the outdoors here this time of year is very cheering, not to mention baby smiles!
That’s a lot going on. Happiness (the beauty of nature and spending time with your grandson) but pain and worry (your leg). I only hope that the pain issue is soon resolved so you can focus more on what makes this particular spring so wonderful.
Thank you! The only time my leg is bad with Hudson is when I am feeding him. Not sure why that time. Otherwise, we are ok here together :).
I hope you get relief from your pain, Luanne. Thanks for the gorgeous purple cactus and the bird nest. Here in New England, we’re still waiting for trees to grow leaves.
You will get lovely weather. I “predict” it’s just ahead ;)! Thank you, Jennie.
😀
A true story of pleasure and pain 🙂 I hope the latter is resolved soon.
Thanks, Gwen. My leg is actually feeler a little better! MRI on Saturday. I’m hoping I’m well enough by then to cancel!
MRIs are expensive (here) but it’s not a bad idea to go ahead with the test. If they find nothing, that’s a good result. If they find something, that doesn’t necessarily mean surgery.
I had both knees done last year – all the usual age degenerative changes – but at least I know they are there and have stopped making tears, etc worse with the wrong exercise (pilates). Plus the doctor put me on magnesium with tumeric which has helped with the discomfort.
Oh wow. So is the turmeric in the magnesium for a reason other than to take both of them? Does it help with tummy troubles from the magnesium?
Hmmm, can’t think I have ever suffered any tummy troubles from magnesium. Unless you take it in the powdered form intending to help with a “clean out” (like epsom salts).
No, the tumeric just seems to add another layer to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory benefits.
The doc suggested Glucosamine also. Even though I buy the magnesium with the tumeric already in it, I didn’t want to take both at once.
So, I tried one bottle of the magnesium. When that finished I switched to the glucosamine. Although the mag. didn’t make me think “magic cure”, I realised the pain returned when I switched. So now I don’t bother with the glucosamine, just stick with the mag. One of the biggest places I notice the improvement is climbing stairs. I used to have to stop part way and let the “wave” of pain subside. Now I just go straight up them.
So having your knees “done” didn’t get rid of the pain then? I am so unclear on all this stuff.
Yes, tummy pain from magnesium over here!
No. The surgeon and I agreed that we would not touch my knees at this stage because I can still walk, dance, climb stairs, bend, etc.
I have Bakers Cysts, but he said so do the majority of the population even the 20-year-olds walking down the street outside his office. Unless they were preventing any of the above activities then he didn’t even want to drain them. On the basis that every surgical intervention carries risks that can make the problem worse.
Ditto with trying to inject anything to shore up my cartilages (what’s that thing called that uses your own cells – PRP or something like that? … I just looked it up – Platelet Rich Plasma).
Also ditto trying to repair torn meniscus.
And definitely NO knee replacement surgery at the moment.
SO!
Over the counter anti-inflammatories as discussed earlier.
Heat packs (sounds contra-indicative to above, but one is internal and the other external, and simply provides relief)
Pain relief tablets on occasion as needed. Also suggested for before line dancing but I discovered that makes me a bit dopey. So I am just careful for any twists where the knee forgets to come with me.
Knee braces – which I sometimes remember to wear – but given I am finding the magnesium good – I don’t get that reminder.
And don’t do the kind of exercise that puts the knees under direct strain or pressure e.g. trying to leg press Pilates springs, or kneeling on them, ie for washing the floor or doing yoga.
Tummy pain from magnesium – bummer – even from the tablet form?
PS I just read over my previous comments and realised the ambiguity in my use of “done”. I meant, having them diagnosed via MRI. Cost about USD175 per knee. Not “done” in the sense of any surgical intervention.
Oh yes, I understand now. I understand at our age everyone has deteriorating meniscus (sigh). Mine was a problem last year, but I overcame that issue. I started taking collagen a couple of weeks ago, and (holding my breath but) it might be working!
Yes, I’d have to pull out my report to remember all the details, but it was one knee torn meniscus and the other frayed. Hey ho! But? Collagen? Do you take it as a tablet?