My Single Mom Life

Yup. 6 more.
I can ditch the brace, but have to go to physical therapy for 8-14 weeks for a shoulder issue.
I have bursitis in my right shoulder, he says it's not uncommon for this to appear approximately 1 year after the surgery, right above the installation of rods.
They gave me a shot of steroids directly in that shoulder, as well as lidocaine patches for the pain.
Ice, heat, repeat.

But other than that, it's looking really good. I have new bone growth on all the man made discs in my sacrum, on up to T-11.
New bone is appearing all the way up, just not as good as the lower portion.

They kept poking my right shoulder, does it hurt here? How about here? here?
Gah. It hurts dammit! Quit poking it!
He also explained that the popping noise I keep hearing within a few minutes of laying down, is most likely the vertebrae setting into place for that position. Standing and sitting, they get held in one location, laying down requires them to relax.
He didn't think it was a major concern as the xrays looked good.
So, just 6 more months, then yearly visits after that.
I was freaking out over my insurance co-pay because he's a specialist, I had xrays done, 3, had 3 doctors looking at me, and the steroid shot.
It wasn't bad at all. Only $21.50.
Yay!
I was more than prepared to pay almost $100.00 or more.
___________________

In health and beauty news, my sister got me a pair of beautiful earrings for my birthday, that I had admired when we went to Elysian Fields last week.
They are Chakra pieces.
The chakras are a series of seven points along the spine which are said to correspond to energy centers of one's non-physical body.
It is said that when the seven chakras are activated, harmonized, and integrated, one's whole being is in balance and it is possible to experience the totality of the self.

One view of the chakras associates each one with a color arranged in rainbow order.
Thus the aligned and activated chakras are the seeds of the "rainbow body" associated with enlightenment and even ascension.

The jewelry has seven gems, one for each of ray of the rainbow spectrum, and have been aligned in the same pattern that is associated the with human chakra system.
The red gem connects with the first chakras at the base of the spine.
The orange gem connects with the second chakras at the genitals. The yellow connects at the solar plexus.
The green connects with the heart.
The light blue connects at the throat. The dark blue connects at the forehead. The violet connects with the crown at the crown of the head.
Kinda cool.
I liked them because they were just beautiful, sterling silver with real gemstones, but kinda cool they may offer balance.

Technorati tag spinal fusion, chakras