One day at a time is always the way to go Mark, or so I'm told anyway. I've had to rely on a walker to get around lately, not my first choice but whatever. Do what ya gotta do I guess and go with the flow. Helps  

I've been on a 100% disability pension for roughly the same time, having not just the back and mobility issues, but also the vertigo, which I wake up with every day.  It gets better after a few hours of being up but it never completely goes away, therefore I can no longer drive even if I wanted to.  I can't even ride a bicycle due to dizziness and a lack of balance.

The only reason I have to get the spinal scan is because the prior scans are deemed too old now and new ones are required to assess my 'now' condition so I qualify for various home help services and stronger dosage meds.

Sadly, though, my condition isn't going to get better.  The vertigo is partly due to an old injury, which is inoperable, and a cyst in my neck which presses against the ear canal.  That can be removed but I was informed that it will only help to reduce the severity of the vertigo, not cure it.  As for the spinal condition, that will continue to deteriorate unless there is some medical breakthrough in the near future.

We have a walker here but it isn't exactly that helpful.  While it helps with balance issues, it doesn't offer that much support for my weakening legs, and when I'm at my worst I find the need to sit every 50 yards or so.  I'm hoping that I can rebuild the strenghth in my legs again, but my doctor isn't optomistic that I'll be able to bebuild the muscles enough to walk far without assistance and/or having to rest a while.

I will do what I can to rebuild, but I will look at all my options to best manage things.  I can get a wheelchair for a reasonable price for shorter distances, and that would be better to keep my upper body strength and circulation going, not to mention helping with any vascular issues, but one of those mobility scooters might be the go for longer distances and hilly areas.  Where we're going in Tassie is a bit hilly, but I'll wait until we get there to assess whether I will need one after a while of being there.  Right now I don't know, so it's a case of one day at a time.

As for going with the flow, I'd like to go with the flow of money and siphon off some for myself along the way, those mobility scooters aren't exactly that cheap, you know.... not that I'm decided on needing one as yet.  Mind you, if I end up not needing one, I'll still take the money.

I managed a hospital bed courtesy of Hospice. Since qualifying things are happening faster than I can keep count of. Instead of waiting nearly eight months without hospice, a real PITA, once hospice got involved the bed and a complete package, walker, commode, the whole nine arrived in less than thirty days. Got a new state of the art oxygen concentrator, getting a replacement nebulizer not to mention advanced meds the hospital was reluctant to release as script. Pays when your daughter has a little bit of pull with certain medicos. A blessing there.  

Hey Ross, at least you are getting the support you need to help manage your situation better.  Some folks aren't so lucky and fall between the cracks.  In many instances, people simply don't know what services and etc they're entitled to, and therefore sadly miss out.  Fortunately, my doctor has been very helpful in pointing me in the right direction so that I can access various support services. 

Normally, I would have to pay retail prices for a walker, wheelchair and/or mobility scooter, but since I also qualify for the aged pension now, I may get some of those sorts of things for free or at concession rates if I am approved.  My doctor seems to think I would be, given my overall health status and limited lower limb mobility.  One of the services I'm hoping to be able to access is physiotherapy, which hopefully includes hydrotherapy to help ease the load on weight bearing joints while exercising.

Like you, I should also qualify for better, higher dosage pain relief now that I've had my various scans updated and it can be seen that my condition is in fact deteriorating.  Since government placed new restrictions on pain meds and drugs of dependence last year, the strongest I can get is Panadeine Forte [30mg codeine 500mg paracetamol, x2 every 8 hours when required] but they've become rather ineffective in recent weeks and the pain has become far less tolerable, especially in my lower limbs.  Some days I can barely walk.

Thing is, I'd rather not be dosed up with strong painkillers all the time, so I'm hoping that physiotherapy and other pain management strategies will help reduce the need to be medicated 24/7.  Sure, if the pain is intense, especially around bedtime, or if I get breakout pain, I will take the meds to help me cope better.

Well the scans showed spinal deterioration and an issue in my neck with a cyst attached to a gand.  The latter can be resolved with surgery, but the spinal deterioration is best left unattended surgically and that medication is preferred to help better manage the situation.  The upshot is that I can now access better meds to do just that.  For the nerve pain I am now on Amitripline, and breakout/sever pain it's Oxycodone.

I am aware that Oxycodone can be addictive, etc, but I intend only to use it when absolutely necessary, when there's nothing that else helps.  I also was informed today that I have a vascular issue in my left leg and that intervention may be required to remedy that issue.  If medication proves to be insufficient, then it may require surgery to install a stent to open up the artery.

In any event, I now have the medical support to assist me in improving my lot.  Thing is, I feel better about myself and feel confident that things can only bet better.  For a while there I was not feeling so upbeat, so here's looking toward brighter times.

Some alternatives are redundant Mark. They come with some of the of own 'alts'. Look at the jerk what sits the oval office and you'll see what I mean. Good days to ya mate!

Thanks, mate, and the same to you.  May your days be bright and wonderful.

Anyway, I noticed an improvement with the pain, especially in my legs and feet.  Although I still had a few twinges and stabbing pains during the night, the 25mg Amitriptiline helped a lot with the nerve pain, not to mention the tingling in my feet.  Probably because it was the first night with the new meds, I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked, but I feel it will improve as time goes on. 

My doctor wants to see me next Tuesday to increase the dosage, if I experienced no side-effects or issues, so that may help to reduce the twinges and stabbing pains, which tend to be worse at night when I'm trying to sleep.  The 5mg Oxycodone also helped with spinal, hip and knee pain, so overall I am feeling like I'm in a better place than I was before. 

Thing is, I'm not out of the woods just yet, there are other issues requiring attention, but at least now I can see the forest through the trees..... daylight at the end of the tunnel.....and maybe soon I'll be able to see my toes again, lol.  I got weighed at the clinic yesterday and I have lost 12kg since my last health check 3 months ago.   It may not look like it, my belly still protrudes a bit due to a hernia, but YAY, I'm heading in the right direction.

Go slowly down that road Mark. Things have a tendency to pop up or out, as the saying goes, unexpectedly.   

Yeah, matey, I will take everything slow and easy so as not to create any more issues.  I have more than enough of those already.  Never mind, though, I am slowly but surely improving all the time.  So glad I changed doctors.  My previous doctor was not really doing much to help me. 

Other than just throwing pills at me, he did little to nothing to identify the causes, etc..... and if ever I needed him to fill out forms to help me access other health, government services, he always refused.  He always told me to go elsewhere for that, but then I may have been flagged for doctor shopping and placed on a watch list to ensure I'm not becoming a prescription drug addict.

Nope, the change was necessary and my new doctor is thorough and efficient.  She doesn't just toss pills at me, but rather she does all the necessary tests and scans to identify the cause and prescribe accordingly... and even then she warns me of the possible side effects and or possible addiction, etc. 

Sadly, I can't take her to Tassie with us.... purely in the role of doctor, that is.  Yup, I'll have to find me a new medico down there, but Shaunna knows of one who would suit me just fine.

In all honesty using the hospice service PennMedicine supplies has gotten things of to a helluvaquick start. New, bed as comfortable as you like it. Tons of accessories that come with it. Portable 02 tanks of various sizes. Occupational health care should I need it. Its all there matey. Direct link to em services should we lose power for whatever reason. Nearly did the night before last for a few minutes. Been home now more that ten days. A new record.