Number 16

I received my routine lumbar epidural today, number 16.
Along with my routine neck injections, number I-don't-know.

I received my first epidural in either December, 2013, or early January, 2014.
I should look that up sometime.
We started out with every 6 weeks, then I had to move to every 12 weeks.
I can't recall if my first epidural was combined with neck shots.

I started getting neck injections every 6 weeks in 2015, I think it was.
We added them between the every-12-week-epidural-neck-shots-combo so I wouldn't have to boost my prednisone as often.
It worked and still works.
I don't receive epidurals in my neck.

I hope this number 16 combo works as well as number 15 on January 23.
This round I won't be starting a new drug during post-week 3, like I did last round.

The new drug is for my bone-density.
One of the side-effects of steroids is bone loss.

I reacted to the drug I tried during last round.
No surprise there.
So I stopped it, after 4 weeks.
Side effects began abating 9 days later.

This round I will try a different bone-density drug in post-week 10 instead of post-week 3.
Like the last round, I'll observe and take notes.

My life is a science of notes, or notes of science, or something.
I get tired of it.

Plus I'm still recovering from surgery.

But I won't think too much about all that for now.
I want to enjoy the upcoming relief as much as I'm able.
Even if it's just a few weeks.

I know some folks get little to no relief with whatever chronic condition they might manage.
I'm lucky in that regard.
I'm thankful for my "good" weeks.

~*~

I continue to bike.
But I'm not back to pre-surgery ability yet.
And I'm okay with that, for now.

Back in October I set a goal.
Ten miles a week with my rolling walker.
Forty miles a week on my bicycle.
That was wishful thinking.

Now my adjusted goal for 2017 is 1200 miles on my bike.
Which means I need to bike an average of about 31 miles a week.
That's doable.
It's less than last year, due to on-going recovery from surgery.
And I'm okay with that, for now.

I haven't set an adjusted goal for walkering.
Maybe I'll just try to walker regularly, as a goal.
I'm okay with that too.

I've taken to more assistance with a cane, for shorter distances.
Up to 1/4 or 1/2 mile.
I'm okay with that too.

~*~