Some of you have noticed Claudia and I haven’t been On The Air for the last couple weeks. Some have not seen us on the webcam when we should be there LIVE On The Air. Some have noticed we have been playing previous Praise Until Dawn programs. I purposely have not written anything as to why we haven’t been there, as Claudia did not want to draw unnecessary attention to herself. Only today has she given me the “ok” to write something. She really was concerned that there are some Christians who just wouldn’t understand what she is going through, and they would be critical, or would stop listening because of it.
Claudia with our son, Patrick, and our grandson, Kaleb
Many of you know that for over 10 years Claudia has been suffering with Chronic Pain in her back and hip. We have been to many doctors, and none can come to any conclusions as to what is actually causing all the pain. Over the past several years, the pain has been increasing even though she has a Stem Unit embedded in her back running up on each side of her spine (I call her my Bionic Babe), and even as the meds have increased in dosage and types. She has done many things to try and alleviate the pain: natural remedies, physical therapy, drug therapy, surgery, and more. And, of course, we have had many, many, many people around the world, praying for her.
A couple years before we moved to Asheboro from Dallas, we found a wonderful doctor in Dallas. For the first time he offered some hope and some answers. I remember the first time we met him, he walked in the room, took a look at what Claudia was doing (she had her right ankle on top of her left leg, pushing down on her right leg, trying to get some relief from the pain.). It took him 2 minutes of watching, then he said, “You have problems with your piriformis muscle.”
Claudia with our oldest daughter, Amanda
We had never heard of that, but as he described what it was, and the symptoms that would go along with such a problem with that muscle, we knew he had hit the nail on the head. Not knowing how severe the problem was, he started at the beginning, prescribing physical therapy. Claudia’s previous doctors already had her on Neurontin (for muscle spasms) and Vicoden (for the pain). Knowing the physical therapy was likely to increase the pain in the beginning before giving relief, Dr. Konen kept her on the meds. Actually, the Vicoden did little to nothing to alleviate the pain, but seemed better than nothing. Claudia would writhe on the floor at home, trying to find a position to get away from the pain.
The physical therapy did very little to relieve the pain. The problem was beyond trying to stretch out the piriformis muscle.
Dr. Konen wanted to do some diagnostic procedures… injections of steroid into Claudia’s piriformis muscle. If there was relief, the diagnosis was correct. If there was no relief, we would know more had to be done to find from where Claudia’s pain was coming.
With great anticipation I remember arriving at the hospital at 5:45am. Claudia was in extreme pain as she walked through the door and began her surgical prep. Dr. Konen and the nurses were extremely kind, as they took great care of Claudia. After all the prep and IVs were inserted, she was taken back to the surgical room where the fluoroscope was, that would help the doctor guide the needle four muscles down in the buttock/hip area where the piriformis lays.
An hour later she was wheeled out of post op, groggy… but very happy. She felt NO pain. I asked her again and again. NOPE. NO PAIN. We were thrilled.
The life of the steroid was about three weeks, and at the end of that three weeks, Claudia was in pain once again. Another injection of the steroid was scheduled, and once again, she was pain free for about three weeks.
Dr. Konen talked with us about another procedure which would bring longer relief… injecting botox into the piriformis. That should paralyze the muscle for four to six months. We readily agreed.
It was true. The botox was WONDERFUL, and gave Claudia relief for about three months, and at the end of that time she was scheduled for another injection. But, there were complications after the second injection. After about a week, she became extremely ill, and had to be taken to the emergency room. She had a horrible allergic reaction to the botox. Her body was rejecting it, and botox was not an option any more.
Our grandson Kaleb, Pat and Claudia
The pain became more and more intense as the weeks went by. I couldn’t stand to see Claudia in this amount of pain, and we went back to the doctor, asking if there was ANYTHING stronger that he could give Claudia to relieve the pain. He cautiously advised us of a couple narcotics which could provide some relief: percocet and methadone. We had heard horror stories about these drugs, but the pain was so intense, we agreed to try them, anything to give Claudia some relief.
After a few months, the doctor advised us of some new device that had been developed: a stem unit that could be implanted beneath the skin in the hip, with two titanium leads that would be threaded up along each side of the spine. An external wireless unit would communicate with the implanted stem unit where Claudia could program it to communicate with the spine and electrically block some of the nerves which carried the pain signals to the brain. We were very excited about this procedure. Dr. Konen was careful to tell us that if the unit gave 50% reduction in the level of pain, they would consider it a success.
December 2004, Claudia had the unit surgically implanted. After the surgery a representative from Boston Scientific Labs came into the room with a laptop and programmed the external and internal units (transmitter and receiver). Claudia immediately felt relief… 50 to 60%.
After giving Claudia time to heal and get used to the bionics, Dr. Konen had planned on tapering Claudia off the narcotics. Yet, before he could do so, we moved to Asheboro, NC. I know, most of you are saying, “Are you CRAZY???” Yet, Claudia and I were assured this was what God wanted. We practiced what we always do… just, saying, “Yes, Lord.” We were given a list of several doctors in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina who were acquainted with Boston Scientific’s bionic stem unit, and we headed to NC with all Claudia’s medical records in hand.
When we arrived at the new doctor’s office in Winston-Salem, she spent maybe 1 1/2 minutes with us before telling us that she thought if she injected her back at a certain location it would provide the relief we sought. We were surprised that she totally ignored the piriformis muscle diagnosis (we had previously sent her all Claudia’s medical information and records), but knowing she had probably reviewed all her medical information, we trusted what she had to say. She also left Claudia on her medication.
The injection did nothing to alleviate the pain down Claudia’s leg. When we went back to her a month later and reported the lack of success, the doctor suggested another injection in another area, saying this was really all she could do for her at this time. The new injection in the spinal cavity brought no more relief than the previous one. Claudia was devastated, as the steroid injections did nothing but add 40 pounds to her tiny frame. I tried to tell her it did not matter to me, but it was a HUGE deal to a woman.
For the next 2 1/2 years we did not go back to the doctor, because she had said there was really nothing more that could be done. Claudia’s condition continued to deteriorate. The pain progressed from bad to worse. In spite of being on large doses of Percocet and Methadone, the drugs did nothing but barely dull the pain for a bit, making “life” tolerable. She had to quit any work she was doing, as she just couldn’t sit for any length of time, and she couldn’t concentrate enough. The best thing for her was to try and sleep, for when she slept, she could escape the pain for awhile. Even with the bionic stem unit in her back, the pain was intense. The unit was less and less helpful.
This last February we went back to the doctor, hoping there was some breakthrough in therapy for Claudia. The doctor came in the room, stayed for about 45 seconds before saying she thought Claudia needed another injection in her back. This one would be given in the sacral area.
Claudia doing what she likes best, being Grammy
Claudia said this one hurt going in. Not only did it provide NO relief, Claudia said it became like “fire” in her body, and increased the pain. After a few days we called the doctor and told her what took place, and the doctor had her come in for another injection, this time to counteract what the previous injection did. It was at this time, before the doctor left the room that we specifically asked her why she didn’t pursue the Piriformis diagnosis. We asked, “Don’t you accept the diagnosis?” She shook her head NO. She NEVER intended to follow up on what had worked in the past.
I was furious. Claudia and I had to head to California to take care of her mother. While out there I got on the Internet and looked for doctors who specifically treat Piriformis Syndrome, as we HAD to find someone who believed in it.
We believe God led us to Dr. Califf, an Orthopedic Surgeon, and Dr. Naveira, a Pain Management specialist. Immediately they ordered many medical tests to verify where the pain was coming from. One of the first things Dr. Naveira did was to put Claudia on a Drug Holiday, cleaning her system from the prescribed narcotics she had been taking for 5 years.
Sooooo, I have given you the previous history to say, for the past two weeks Claudia has been going through detox… withdrawals from the narcotics. I have been by her side, day and night titrating her meds (reducing them to where no more narcotics were given), holding her, feeding her, giving her back rubs, arm rubs, leg rubs as her skin felt as if it were crawling off her. Headaches, muscle spasms and aches, nausea, delusions, and many more symptoms. I had to be by her side, giving her the much needed love and help she needed.
We are in the last week. Methadone withdrawal can last three weeks, and it is nasty. Thank you for all the love and prayers so many of you have sent her way. Claudia is tough and determined to get through this. She has wanted off the narcotics for years, but the doctor in Winston-Salem kept her on them, not giving any hope of getting off.
We haven’t said anything until now, as Claudia didn’t want you to think any less of her. I assured her that most of you would completely understand none of this was her fault, yet she did not want to cause anyone to stop listening to PBN because they didn’t understand about her prescribed drug use. There she goes… always thinking of others instead of herself.
So, there it is. This is why we haven’t been On the Air. You would be very proud of Claudia. She hasn’t flinched in her determination to get this behind her. All the while in detox, we have been back to Dr. Naveira for more tests. This Thursday we go back for a medical procedure which should pinpoint more directly where the pain is coming from… and hopefully lead to its cure once and for all. Please pray for Claudia, as her pain is being handled by a combination of the bionic stem implant, Tylenol and Doans pills. It is very painful until a cure is found… but, she is glad the narcotic drugs are at an end. One further analgesic we have had for her, is the music of PBN washing over her. We believe in the healing power of the Intimate Worship.
We send our love to each one of you. Hopefully, she will be back On The Air with me on Tuesday.
Most of us already know about Barack Obama’s background and his church affiliation with Reverend Wright. There is no need to rehash something that is already well known.
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