Hope on the Horizon

[perry]

G/Day Folks, as most of you know I've been suffering with a very Painful Thoracic Spine Injury complicated by other Spinal Injuries, messed up Neck, Buggered Shoulder and Osteoarthritis, none of which add too my quality of Life. Some Weeks ago I was refered to http://www.drabreckmckay.com.au/ Really impressed ! In 2 visits he's done more for me than others have in 20 Years, particularly since 2013 when I did a real Number on my Thoracic Spine. Today after a Referral from Dr McKay I had an a Injection Procedure in which the Needle placement was guided whilst I was having an MRI Scan ensuring the Target was hit precisely. The Doctor would place the Needle, have a look at a Scan, move it a bit deeper repeat etc. Maybe best described as a Epidural / Nerve Block. I had local Anesthetic, Cortisone and another Drug that escapes me right now pumped in. I tell you 75 Minutes of Needles deep in my Back is not my idea of Fun. I was told not to Drive for 8 Hours but my options are limited there [ read that as too proud to Ask for help ] I waited a bit over 1.5 Hours, had a triple strength Coffee and a Feed and truthfully felt OK. 11.30 PM and Wide awake might have something to do with the Triple Strength Coffee I had no trouble Driving Home. Right now the Injection Sight is Bruising, bloody Painful but Pain is reduced elsewhere. I have gained a little Flexibility that I have not had for close to 3 Years, still Hurts to move but not as Tight. The Anesthetic is wearing off, Oh Boy is it wearing off !! I was told to give it 4 to 10 Days for maximum benefit, rate/ record my Pain Levels 1 -10 [ a 6 at Lunchtime] and to consult with Dr McKay for further Treatment. I really miss telling People I'm well when they ask. Mandy, the Kids, my Friends and my Workmates are sick of my Moods and I have some very poor relationships with People who only see a Fat Angry Man but they can get Stuffed ! I see some Hope on the Horizon now, already been looking at my Bush-walking Gear, thinking about Shooting my Bows, Cutting and Splitting Selfbow Staves without Painful consequences for 3 Weeks not Archery related but I love Shooting my 45.70, Overnight Back Pack Hunts, sitting down to do Leatherwork, NOT Sleeping in a Recliner cause I cant Lay down etc. Maybe premature but Little Steps

regards Perry

[perry]

not the Coffee, 2am and wide awake - Bugger, time to watch repeats of House Rules which no doubt will have me Nodding off straight away

regards Perry

[gazza]

that's good news mate,i will try and catch up on the weekend ,kyle and I didn't go on our hunt this week my feet were playing up ,gazza.

[bigbob]

Hope the pain relents soon Perry and you regain a lot of your mobility. Quite a lot to endure in the pursuit of relief but it sounds like you may get some recovery. Hope to see you back out on the ranges before long.

[Roadie]

Ay Perry,This is Great News, just remember take it easy and listen to the Dr's advice and do what he tells you. (I know coming from me) . Seriously I wish you Well. Soon you will be & . Cheers Roadie.

[Ronster]

My view is, try it if it works, keep doing it.

Good news Perry.

Ronster

[hunterguy1991]

Good to hear mate, hope to see you at the Abbey next weekend!! Talk bows and arrows and maybe even give me a hand tillering one there for a bit

[little arrows]

Perry,

I really do hope this course of treatment is successful for you and will keep my fingers crossed. Baby steps Perry.

cheers
sue

[perry]

Thanks for the well wishes Foks, I appreciate it

Last I walked past a Clock this Morning it was 3.50am, managed to fall asleep about 4.20am I think - got a whole 2.5 Hours Sleep

When I woke this morning I had more Flexibility and have maintained that through the Day On Waking I rated my Pain at a 3/10 but by 9am a 5/10, come lunch time a 7//10 which I maintained until I knocked off Work. Right now resting comfortably at 3/10. So I'm pretty Happy

Colin I am really looking forward to the Abbey. I Split out a very nice Pink Ash Stave the other Week I should get a top Bow from. I love the Selfbow Making Demo's at the Abbey as the Public are genuinely interested in watching the Staves evolve over the Day and ask a lot of interesting and incite-full Questions. Some return Year after Year and ask to see the previous Years Bow completed. Its near impossible to finish a Bow answering so many Questions and talking Archery to the Crowd. I also have a Log of an unidentified Eucalypt that I should get a chance to Split Staves from this Weekend. When fresh Cut the Red Brown Heartwood of this Eucalypt was so hard my Tomahawk Bounced off it Even my Bahco Saw had trouble Cutting it. Thinking it may be a candidate for a Heartwood Sap Wood Bow if enough Heartwood Splits with the Stave

I'm a bit worried about how my Body will hold up at the Abbey, had to pull out at the last minute last Year. Absolutely determined to get through this Year especially in light of my recent encouraging results

regards Jacko

[hunterguy1991]

I will do my best to sneak out of my groups camp and come for a look at what you're working on. Might even be able to answer a few questions so you can keep working. Will be very interested to have a look at that unknown eucalypt as well! Any idea where you will be set up working?

I have an ash stave I'll be working on there as well but I think I will take it roughed out pretty much so its just rounding and tillering to do at the abbey. That's the more interesting part anyway. Also have been talked into doing some medieval fletching demos each day for the public to watch. Should be a fun weekend I reckon.

Colin

[Kendaric]

Thanks for sharing that Perry.

That sounds like the name of the Doctor that a friend told me about recently, which he went to see and was very impressed.

This Doctor was a pain specialist and had clients lining up out the door waiting to see him.

It was suggested that so many doctors and surgeons should not be given a scalpel, as many ended up doing more damage than good.

My friend walked out of there feeling much much better and confident.

Its no fun dealing with pain when you don't have to, and especially when it impacts on you doing the things you love.

Best of luck mate!

[perry]

Maintaining the extra Flexibility but Pain not so good. Still feeling a little better overall

Sounds like your Friend may have been to see Dr McKay Kendaric. Thanks for the support.

Colin I'll be down with the The Traditional Archery Companye and their Archery Range. They are usually down the back West Corner. I usually take some Sawn Arrow Blanks and Plane out a Shaft or 2 for the Public. Will be good having 2 People in different Spots making Bows that will be at different Stages and demonstrating different Skills. Quite sure we will have different ways to do the same thing and each will know something the other wont. Look forward to the inevitable Question, Excuse me Mate, that Bloke up there does that different to you - WHY ?

I find the Questions fly pretty quick and fast and concentration gets Broken continually. I have decided to make a long Narrow Bow, likely with a Lenticular Cross Section so it goes more Quickly. I also have a much straighter Stave than I usually take, should not get too Technical so I hope things will go Faster. I rely heavily on a Pencil to mark where and what I'm doing. Makes it easier to highlight what going on for the Public also. The Public really like to see the Wood Chips on the ground and watching the Bows Profile emerge. They are really interested in the entire process. It will be good if your with your Group Tillering and I'm not quite that far advanced. It will draw the Public in for sure and they will enjoy being educated.

They'll love your 120# plus Bows for sure. Smashing some Heavy Bodkins through some Wrought Iron Plate would Blow the Publics Minds. Maybe something to think about for your Group next Year

regards Perry

[hunterguy1991]

I will definitely swing by there then and bring a couple of my bent sticks for you to look at!! I wont have my usual pulley set up I don't think so i'll enlist the help of a group member to help draw the bow as I tiller it.

I would have loved to put some bodkins through some plate steel but the Abbey has ruled out the use of bows over 70lbs and when we asked if it was possible to do a warbow demonstration we were told " nope they're too dangerous"... so it will be unlikely that I would even get to do it next year... Would love to do one like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syFsGLPtLHo which was done by a mate of mine over in NZ by the NZ warbow society at Harcourt Park Medieval festival.

Sending them into orbit really gets the spectators going as well but I don't think theres room at the abbey site for that.

[perry]

Well that's a Bugger, too Dangerous ? Should have known that seeing how over the top they have gone this Year with Weapons Permits so a Kid can take a Plastic Sword into the Abbey, no public walking around with a Strung Bow or even Arrows and just a Quiver without a Permit. But that's the World we live in today isn't it

regards Jacko

[temudjin]

Hi Perry,

sorry to hear you are in pain BUT if in the longer term you have more movement and flexibility the short term pain will be worth it.

Here's hoping that it all works out really well for you and you'll be able to do the things you want to do in the future.

Thinking of you and wishing you the very best possible recovery,

Tom

[perry]

Thankyou Tom, it was great to read you are Healing well.

My Pain has decreased some just as the Doctors said it would between 3-10 Days. I have maintained a little extra Flexibility. Just now I had to ask Mandy to help me off the Bed where I was laying watching Stargate Atlantis on Netflix so there's a way to go ! Little Steps.

regards Perry

[perry]

G/Day Folks, saw Dr McKay this morning. After listening to me about the Nerve Root Blocks and how they worked / didn't work he performed some more Injections in various Muscle Groups and particularly Sore spots along my Lower Back, Thoracic and Right Shoulder with a goal towards reducing pain over time. He hit a real tender Spot, I cried out "Dear God" through clenched Teeth ! and he said He's not helping You now a bit later he hit a very Sore Spot , through Groans of Pain "Aaagghhh Jeessus" ! Dr McKay - He's not helping you now either then he hit the Mother of all Nasty Spots, I Cried, Aaaaggghhhhhh Fuuuuuddddddgggggeeeee He says thats the Spot Had me laughing through my Tears. End Result after Stupidly going to Work is my Shoulder is sitting better, I can move more freely but Pain is Bad. It's almost like someone is flicking Switches on and off, one minute I can stand tall, the next slouched over Pain, the next going alright, the next Spasm and Aching again. Every time I see him there is minor improvement at least for a while. I can move more freely after each visit. I have another appointment next Friday afternoon.

We'll see if in a few Weeks I can Shoot, maybe a short Bushwalk

regards Jacko

[Stu Ballz]

glad to hear you are getting some relief from the pain