We're home from the ER...

Andrew couldn't keep food or medicine down this morning, so we went to the ER today.

After extensive testing, the good news is that Andrew does NOT have a psoas muscle abscess, after all. Although he has many of those symptoms, a CT scan revealed that there was nothing structurally or infectiously wrong with his psoas muscle. That's really good news since that type of issue can be fatal. There's still pain, and it's sciatic nerve pain, but we don't know where it's coming from. We've ruled out the back (from neurosurgeon and orthopedist) and psoas muscle (from today), so we're back to a hip MRI that might reveal an infection or some inflammation there which would cause this kind of pain. The ER doctor also wants Andrew to try again for an epidural injection at the pain clinic. He believes that regardless of the cause of the pain, this injection will help relieve some of it. Maybe then, he'll be able to get off pain medication and do at least "light duty" work. Hopefully both the MRI and injection can be done early this next week. The doctor also believes that the 5 medications were a bit overkill, so he's reduced him to 2 medications (one for pain and one for the muscle spasms), and he's given him zofran should the nausea return.

While spending the afternoon in the ER wasn't ideal for anyone, it's given us a better idea of where to go from here. We are blessed that the ER doctor was so aggressive with the testing and straightforward with us regarding the results - especially since he's seen 3 cases of psoas muscle abscesses in his career.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us over the last several weeks. We are blessed beyond measure with family and friends who love and take care of us. We know that God has already overcome all of this, and that He knows how this will be used for His glory even when we are discouraged and tired (and tired of...).

Enjoy this blessed weekend - Happy Easter, everyone!