Does anyone recommend a portable, rechargable TENS unit for pain?

@jesfactsmon @lorirenee1 @avmcbellar my fingers move faster than my brain. Wish it were a code word. Murphy is my beautiful 13 year old red Doberman we rescued from Missouri when he was 1. He usually weighs more than me but I’m still at that Seroquel weight and he’s 120. He’s starting to stumble a little and roll down hills when chasing deer and chipmunks. New neighbors sometimes look twice and ask later if I have a pet deer. When I look out our back window I sometimes yell at Murphy but it’s a deer. Experience tells me we’re lucky if we have another year with him. My husband Tim is the alpha and Murphy spoons with him in our king sized tempurpedic, he’s glued to Tim head to toe with no body space. The only time Murphy is concerned about me is his midday poo. Happy hippo powder has knocked me on my butt twice now, deep sleep for hours, but I don’t know if it’s getting rid of pain. Today only the prescription would take away the pain (I iced and TENS’d and McKenzied and lifted light weights) and I waited all day until just now to take it. I’m waiting for it to kick in. If you know any people the Pewaukee WI area that are couch potatoes that might be candidates as friends for me, please let me know.
Love to you all. Maybe we should have a virtual game of something? Just tossing it out there. Glad I met you all!

@catharbert, I agree and I think most men feel that if they can’t “fix” something they are at a loss. Helen

Hi @bustrbrwn22 you don’t need to have a lot people in your life to feel fulfilled. It is important to surround yourself with people who care about you. It is not about the quantity. It is quality you want to pursue. Throughout the years I have had friends who I often spoke to but it is with my closest friends that I remained in touch with. Thanks to technology it has made it even easier and much quicker for us to communicate.

I believe having a pet such as Murphy is very important. While we are providing care for our pets, they in turn can distract us from our pain or ailments. I support having rescue animals. They can mean so much to us by bringing joy into our lives.

As for my friends, they don’t need to be “couch potatoes “. It doesn’t matter to me as long as we share common interests. Most of my friends are older than me and that is because we lived and understand “the old way of life” i.e. before technology came about. Not many people can relate to living without plumbing and electricity. For that I am grateful to still be able to find people with similar life experiences. Unique people are out there. Mayo Connect has given us the opportunity to make such friends. You just need to find them. Be patient and best wishes to you. Toni

Jen, what a great post! Lots to smile about here. Hope it's a great day for you. Lift weights? Wow! Hugs, Sunnyflower

@sunnyflower

If I remember correctly, you mentioned a numbing medication you were given so a cortisone shot was less painful. Could you remind me what that was?

My spinal stenosis surgery went well yesterday. The nerves were being severely squeezed at L3-L4 and L4-L5. She cut notches in 3 bones to give a larger space in my spinal canal.

Jim

Jen, what a great post! Lots to smile about here. Hope it's a great day for you. Lift weights? Wow! Hugs, Sunnyflower

@sunnyflower afraid I let everyone down today. I did not lift any tiny weights today. I had coffee with my neighbor on her beautiful veranda then took Murphy on a walk and that was it for the day. I let the pain rule my brain and laid in bed. There was no excuse. I couldn’t bring myself to ice or TENS. Don’t know what happened. Last night the TENS didn’t stop the pain so up every couple hours. I just needed some support from you guys so decided to get up and read what’s been going on and ice and TENS. Hope to talk to you tomorrow

@sunnyflower afraid I let everyone down today. I did not lift any tiny weights today. I had coffee with my neighbor on her beautiful veranda then took Murphy on a walk and that was it for the day. I let the pain rule my brain and laid in bed. There was no excuse. I couldn’t bring myself to ice or TENS. Don’t know what happened. Last night the TENS didn’t stop the pain so up every couple hours. I just needed some support from you guys so decided to get up and read what’s been going on and ice and TENS. Hope to talk to you tomorrow

@bustrbrwn22 @lorirenee1 @avmcbellar
Jen, when you said "I took a Murphy for a walk" was that some pain med that allowed you to walk, or is your dog Murphy? Just wondered. 😉

Listen you guys, I am, as I said before, a person who does not live with pain. I don't know if I can even imagine what it feels like, this pain you all have, but I do seem to have a very well developed heart for caring about someone in pain. I guess as you say Lori, some people just might not have it, the ability to have empathy. But I must admit I don't understand that. Not judging, just not understanding, and that is my lack not theirs.

I am really glad you guys have each other, especially those who do not have someone in their life to be empathetic for them. It's horrible enough to live like you all are, but then to not be able to get comfort from another human being who cares, that is just unacceptable. I love that you are there for each other. And Lori, don't give up on finding more friends in your life. If it's meant to be, Covid can't stop it. Hank