Results of the nerve-blocking procedure (early report)
12:30 pm, Friday

The nerve-block procedure was performed by Dr. Deviren between 8:30 and 10 this morning at the UCSF Surgery Center. The original plan had been to block just the L-5 nerve, and if that didn't produce results, then try the L-4 and L-3 later. But she sensibly decided to do all three at once. The procedure consisted of injecting a sedative (Marcaine) and a steroid (cortisone), the first to see if the pain would be lessened, the second to facilitate growth or strengthening in the nerve (while disqualifying Marina from playing major league baseball this season).

At 11 am, Marina reported being pain-free in the left leg for the first time since December 14th.

At 12:30, she reported a "tiny twinge" in the left heel: perhaps "1" on a scale of 0 to 20.

This is encouraging news.

Even if the pain returns to its previous level (it could be that, or it could be less), the pain-free period shows that it is clearly the nerve problem, and that the problem is almost certainly the size of the opening where the nerves leave the spinal column and enter the leg. (This was the pre-existing condition noted by neuroradiologist Dr. Hoghoughi earlier.)

The cortisone takes about two weeks for full effect -- and can be repeated if it seems to be working.

I'll post pain scores later today. If they stay low, that is wonderful. Even if they rise to last week's level (typically between 5 and 10 on the 0 to 20 scale), there is hope that the cortisone will have good effect. And even if it doesn't, now that the cause is clear, the prospects for successful corrective surgery are good.

Our car was stolen 2 days ago and I have a cold, but somehow things feel brighter.