My Current State of Being

Prolotherapy

I've had a pain in my lower back for fifty-two years. Tried many therapeutic approaches to deal with the pain and chased dozens of potential cures. Belts, needles, pills, ointments, manipulations, machinery, prayer, anger and offerings to both light and dark deities. Then back in September I went to see a new cannabis doctor to renew my medical card. He gave me a diagnosis I had never heard before and referred to a therapy also new to me. Because I was days away from hitting the road for 3+ months, I didn't pursue this avenue until I returned last month. On December 29th, I had my first in a series of Prolotherapy treatments.

Prolotherapy involves the injection of a irritant solution into either joint space, or into a weakened ligament or tendon. Dextrose is the most common solution used with some local anesthetic and other additives. The injection is administered at joints or tendons where there is connection to bone, in my case vertebrae. In addition, I also had platelets injected into the tears and holes in the lower back/spine structures. The process involves taking blood I donate and then spin it down in a centrifuge to extract only the platelets.

Because I am having both forms of therapy my interval between treatments is eight weeks. I am not due for a second treatment until late next month. The anticipated course of treatment is based on decades of evidence. I am not and should not expect any changes that rise to the level of 'healing' until after the second treatment. So as of now I am where I have been for five decades. But with a degree of cautious hope.

I will say that extensive research prior to going under the needles leads me to believe I am in the prime category for having prolotherapy be effective. More reports will follow. My fingers, toes and vertebrae are crossed and I am doing the other work (physical therapy, aqua-aerobics and extensive walking) to compliment the treatments. Please remember me and my sacroiliac in your offerings and supplications to deities of all persuasions.

For My Liberal Friends

I know how much my politically liberal friends are suffering these days. The 'new' congress is proposing all kinds of mean, nasty, conservative, evil, dastardly bills, laws and other treasonous acts.

Let me offer you just the tiniest bit of good news on the horizon. There are 34 congressional senate seats up for re-election in 2016. Of those, ten are rather secure seats for your guys and gals, plus a whole bunch of current republican held seats in blue or purple states. Additionally, you now get two whole years of crazy ass nonsense from an elephant run congress to stir up the electorate. Of course, you do still have that Hillary problem and the Koch brothers are already putting down payments on the election.

Oh well, good news -- bad news. Here's the list.

DEMOCRATS   (10)

Michael Bennet (Colorado)
Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut)
Barbara Boxer (California) retiring in 2016
Patrick Leahy (Vermont)
Barbara Mikulski (Maryland)
Patty Murray (Washington)
Harry Reid (Nevada)
Brian Schatz (Hawaii)
Charles Schumer (New York)
Ron Wyden (Oregon)

REPUBLICANS   (24)

Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)
Roy Blunt (Missouri)
John Boozman (Arkansas)
Richard Burr (North Carolina)
Dan Coats (Indiana)
Mike Crapo (Idaho)
Chuck Grassley (Iowa)
John Hoeven (North Dakota)
Johnny Isakson (Georgia)
Ron Johnson (Wisconsin)
Mark Kirk (Illinois)
James Lankford (Oklahoma)
Mike Lee (Utah)
John McCain (Arizona)
Jerry Moran (Kansas)
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Rand Paul (Kentucky)
Rob Portman (Ohio)
Marco Rubio (Florida)
Tim Scott (South Carolina)
Richard Shelby (Alabama)
John Thune (South Dakota)
Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania)
David Vitter (Louisiana)

Once A Weekish

The first post on this here blog was eight years ago today. A lot of poker stuff the first couple of years. Since then I have used this little grey space for political commentary, pondering on life and as recently as last month --a travelogue. Over twelve hundred posts now reside in the archives. At times, I have thought about saying farewell and letting it all go, but it seems I always want to share just one more tidbit.

So going forward, how about once a week. No more photo montages, going to skip the rock 'n roll nostalgia. Just words. I think Monday will be a good day or maybe Tuesday Afternoon.

There are a couple of interesting twists just around the corner and up the road a bit, I'll share those as I make the turn.