November 2023 Weather in the PNW

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

Haha, apparently.

Glad to have you back! I’m sorry you had to go through that, sounds like a royal pain in the..back.

Yeah in my case it started with mild low back pain in June/July, didn’t think much of it because it didn’t feel unusual.

Really aggravated it playing sports on Labor Day, couldn’t bend over or sit properly for 4 weeks. Then it finally started feeling better until last week when my left calf and right foot both went numb. Then 1 week after that the pain returned with a vengeance.

No sciatica (yet) but it hurts like a mf knife when twisting or bending. Doc & I agreed to try physical therapy and pain pills first, but if that doesn’t work will have to consider less desirable options. This whole situation sucks a big one either way, though.

They always want to try PT and steroids before surgery, understandably so.  I was dreading the surgery, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I was fearing.  People who go online about their experiences skew toward the negative experiences, but I'm sure I did better than most people as far as recovery. 

My surgeon said I would hate him for 2 weeks.  In truth, I mildly dislikes him for about 5 days.  

Not all people need a fusion, but single level fusions are not as bad as you would think. Spine surgery has probably advanced more than any other surgery.   I was fortunate to have a minimally invasive procedure.   And fortunate that I'm married to an RN.  

PM me if you end up needing surgery.  I hope you don't, but if you do, you can get through it.

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

Haha, apparently.

Glad to have you back! I’m sorry you had to go through that, sounds like a royal pain in the..back.

Yeah in my case it started with mild low back pain in June/July, didn’t think much of it because it didn’t feel unusual.

Really aggravated it playing sports on Labor Day, couldn’t bend over or sit properly for 4 weeks. Then it finally started feeling better until last week when my left calf and right foot both went numb. Then 1 week after that the pain returned with a vengeance.

No sciatica (yet) but it hurts like a mf knife when twisting or bending. Doc & I agreed to try physical therapy and pain pills first, but if that doesn’t work will have to consider less desirable options. This whole situation sucks a big one either way, though.

If I had a choice of having to live with sciatica occasionally or having permenant drop foot, I would choose having sciatica instead of drop foot. 

Are you able to walk ok with your numb foot?  And cam you dorsiflex with it?  That was the worst part for me.  But then again my sciatica was brought under control by the steroids, so if the sciatica was full time, I would choose drop foot.  My sciatica at its worst was pain beyond description.  I would have cut off my whole leg to get rid of the pain, and I would rather have died than have that pain all the time.

[the_convergence_zone]

Slow start to this storm, seems like it’s having to overcome some dry air. Should pick up overnight.

We won’t remember what dry air is by the time we’re done with this storm cycle.

[Gradient Keeper]

It's raining. Oh, and welcome back good to see you @Brian_in_Leavenworth and sorry to hear that @Phil, oh and shadowing sucks @Port Angeles Foothiller, and .... and then....

00z GFS in 6 minutes

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Been waiting a long time for this! What an incredible moment! Congrats Rangers! Let this be an omen for an amazing winter. Now let’s see the Mariners get there!

[Gradient Keeper]

00z GFS Day 1

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Day 2

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Day 3

(4-run trend)

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Day 4

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Day 5

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Day 6

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[RentonHill]

Interesting

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Day 7

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[Kolk1604]

GEM still wet through hour 168

[Gradient Keeper]

Day 8

[Gradient Keeper]

3 minutes ago, Kolk1604 said:

GEM still wet through hour 168

I suspect the GEFS will be wetter also than the GFS Op.

[Gradient Keeper]

Day 9'er

[Gradient Keeper]

Day 10

[Cold Snap]

Up to 0.09” of rain for the day. Currently 48.

[Snownerd3000]

https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2023/11/el-nino-seattle-winter-weather

 

 

[Gradient Keeper]

00z GFS re-cap. 10 Day GIFs: 500mb Height Anomaly, 850mb Temperatures, 1000-500mb Thickness/MSLP/Precip

[Gradient Keeper]

00z GFS 10 Day Rainfall, Snowfall totals

[SilverFallsAndrew]

We will see run to run variation. 

[Gradient Keeper]

3 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

We will see run to run variation. 

Yeah it could be 3.4" of rain, or 5"+

[Phil]

1 hour ago, Brian_in_Leavenworth said:

If I had a choice of having to live with sciatica occasionally or having permenant drop foot, I would choose having sciatica instead of drop foot. 

Are you able to walk ok with your numb foot?  And cam you dorsiflex with it?  That was the worst part for me.  But then again my sciatica was brought under control by the steroids, so if the sciatica was full time, I would choose drop foot.  My sciatica at its worst was pain beyond description.  I would have cut off my whole leg to get rid of the pain, and I would rather have died than have that pain all the time.

It’s weird, I can move/walk on the foot just fine, but I can’t feel anything at all. Like the foot doesn’t exist. Yesterday AM I stubbed my toe really hard and winced expecting excruciating pain but..nothing.

And my left calf/shin is the same, zero feeling, but that foot is fine with no numbness. Really bizarre.

The pain in my low back is the killer. Hurts like the devil when sitting or bending, but laying down I get instant relief. But doc says not to lay down all day because the muscles will atrophy and worsen/destabilize the injury. I’m just doing everything I can not to make it worse right now.

[Phil]

November shaping up to resemble 2009. Also the majority of +IOD/+ENSO Novembers are basically the same/similar, so actually not very surprising.

[Phil]

Finally below freezing! Looking forward to the ocean of dead insects tomorrow AM.

Good riddance to summer and everything that reminds me of its evilness.

[Gradient Keeper]

4 minutes ago, Phil said:

It’s weird, I can move/walk on the foot just fine, but I can’t feel anything at all. Like the foot doesn’t exist. Yesterday AM I stubbed my toe really hard and winced expecting excruciating pain but..nothing.

And my left calf/shin is the same, zero feeling, but that foot is fine with no numbness. Really bizarre.

The pain in my low back is the killer. Hurts like the devil when sitting or bending, but laying down I get instant relief. But doc says not to lay down all day because the muscles will atrophy and worsen/destabilize the injury. I’m just doing everything I can not to make it worse right now.

This sounds unpleasant if not terrible. Man. I might have missed it, but how did you injure your back?

[Rubus Leucodermis]

Finally starting to really come down out there after showering halfheartedly for several hours.

[Brian_in_Leavenworth]

48 minutes ago, Phil said:

It’s weird, I can move/walk on the foot just fine, but I can’t feel anything at all. Like the foot doesn’t exist. Yesterday AM I stubbed my toe really hard and winced expecting excruciating pain but..nothing.

And my left calf/shin is the same, zero feeling, but that foot is fine with no numbness. Really bizarre.

The pain in my low back is the killer. Hurts like the devil when sitting or bending, but laying down I get instant relief. But doc says not to lay down all day because the muscles will atrophy and worsen/destabilize the injury. I’m just doing everything I can not to make it worse right now.

Laying down helped my sciatica.  For several years it would come and go, and usually only last an hour or so, in the morning for a few days, then go away for a month.  But early February this year it was at an entirely different level.  Went to the ER, got steroids, which eased the pain, and then noticed drop foot when I could walk again.

Felt numbness in the toes and the top of my foot.  Walked with an obvious limp, sort of a side step.  I had some feeling in the foot and toe, but not a lot.  My big toe was so weak you could blow on it and it would go down 

Then I went to the urgent clinic about the drop foot and she said I needed an MRI ASAP.  Had the surgery 7 weeks after it happened. 

Did you get an MRI?  Nerve impingement is very serious.  Because of my dropfoot, it was approved for surgery and they didn't care much if I had PT for back issues.  

I would be very concerned about the numbness.  Pain can be dealt with thru steroids like a cortisone injection, but the nerves usually need something to physically free them up from being pinched.  I would ask the doctor about that.  

Definitely do what the Dr says and be diligent about it, but don't wait too long if the numbness stays or gets worse.  Sometimes you need to be pretty pushy with the medical system to get what you need.

Sorry to make this long, but I want to make sure you have good info.  I got the following info from a spine health website. 

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spine-anatomy/l4-l5-treatment

"Surgery may be considered when the neurological deficits, such as numbness and/or weakness continue to worsen despite several weeks of nonsurgical treatments. For a successful surgical outcome, a structural condition that is known to be responsive to surgical treatment must be present. Surgery may also be advised in cases of tumors or infections.

Lumbar spine surgeries to relieve compression of a nerve root and/or the cauda equina are usually performed using minimally invasive techniques"

 

Edited November 2 by Brian_in_Leavenworth

[Phil]

43 minutes ago, Gradient Keeper said:

This sounds unpleasant if not terrible. Man. I might have missed it, but how did you injure your back?

IIRC the first hints of back pain started back in June when I was moving/splitting up granite rocks in the yard to make a stone walkway (there are many granite boulders lying around here). Some of the pieces were definitely too heavy for me to lift safely, but like a moron I ignored the pain.

It felt like muscle pain at first but gradually changed to something else, then would kind of fade in and out. Wish I had paid attention at the time.

Playing rough outside on Labor Day was the straw that broke the camel’s back (lol). I guess I’m not 21 anymore.

[the_convergence_zone]

Here’s snow in southern Wisconsin yesterday from my parents. There was apparently some thundersnow in the Milwaukee area as well. That’s really early for accumulating snow there but for some reason they’ve had several October snowfalls in the past decade. 
 

 

[Phil]

20 minutes ago, Brian_in_Leavenworth said:

Laying down helped my sciatica.  For several years it would come and go, and usually only last an hour or so, in the morning for a few days, then go away for a month.  But early February this year it was at an entirely different level.  Went to the ER, got steroids, which eased the pain, and then noticed drop foot when I could walk again.

Felt numbness in the toes and the top of my foot.  Walked with an obvious limp, sort of a side step.  I had some feeling in the foot and toe, but not a lot.  My big toe was so weak you could blow on it and it would go down 

Then I went to the urgent clinic about the drop foot and she said I needed an MRI ASAP.  Had the surgery 7 weeks after it happened. 

Did you get an MRI?  Nerve impingement is very serious.  Because of my dropfoot, it was approved for surgery and they didn't care much if I had PT for back issues.  

I would be very concerned about the numbness.  Pain can be dealt with thru steroids like a cortisone injection, but the nerves usually need something to physically free them up from being pinched.  I would ask the doctor about that.  

Definitely do what the Dr says and be diligent about it, but don't wait too long if the numbness stays or gets worse.  Sometimes you need to be pretty pushy with the medical system to get what you need.

Sorry to make this long, but I want to make sure you have good info.  I got the following info from a spine health website. 

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spine-anatomy/l4-l5-treatment

"Surgery may be considered when the neurological deficits, such as numbness and/or weakness continue to worsen despite several weeks of nonsurgical treatments. For a successful surgical outcome, a structural condition that is known to be responsive to surgical treatment must be present. Surgery may also be advised in cases of tumors or infections.

Lumbar spine surgeries to relieve compression of a nerve root and/or the cauda equina are usually performed using minimally invasive techniques"

And it lists different surgeries.

 

 

Dang, what were you doing to aggravate it so bad?

Thank you very much for the links/info. Yes I had an MRI. That’s how the L4/5 herniation was discovered. Also have L5/S1 bulging/impinging on spinal cord but not herniated. It’s a mess.

Thankfully no weakness or referred pain (yet), and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn’t progress to that. But it might be out of my control at this point. Doc said I might have a better chance to heal because I’m only 31 and have good muscle tone, but that it’s not a guarantee, and if I don’t take it seriously then I’m likely to aggravate it would probably need surgery. I’m apparently at that threshold between a moderate herniation and a severe one that could compromise my body in multiple ways.

[HuskyMaestro]

2 hours ago, TigerWoodsLibido said:

Been waiting a long time for this! What an incredible moment! Congrats Rangers! Let this be an omen for an amazing winter. Now let’s see the Mariners get there!

Handsome man!

Not too upset Texas won (and thank f*ck Houston didn't win again), more like a bit salty that the M's front office is so incompetent and cheap that two of their AL West rivals have won the last two WS series. So let's go get Ohtani, Mariners! 

[SilverFallsAndrew]

Lots of hot back talk tonight. 

[SouthHillFrosty]

1 hour ago, HuskyMaestro said:

Handsome man!

Not too upset Texas won (and thank f*ck Houston didn't win again), more like a bit salty that the M's front office is so incompetent and cheap that two of their AL West rivals have won the last two WS series. So let's go get Ohtani, Mariners! 

I agree.... thank god Houston didn't win.....However it's not much better that Texas won. Have to get Ohtani no matter the cost.

[The Blob]

Been a whet day so far.
I've been dealing with shoulder/head pain for a while, not sure if it is a flare up or my hang over from Monday is still holding on. Nothing is touching the pain, even my prescription medicine.

[Gradient Keeper]

00z ECMWF re-cap. That Day 7-10 trough looks nice! 10 Day GIFs: 500mb Height Anomaly, 850mb Temperatures, 1000-500mb Thickness/MSLP/Precip

[Gradient Keeper]

1 minute ago, The Blob said:

Been a whet day so far.
I've been dealing with shoulder/head pain for a while, not sure if it is a flare up or my hang over from Monday is still holding on. Nothing is touching the pain, even my prescription medicine.

I had a headache severe at times from 4 AM to about 10 PM today. No idea why. It is finally lessening. Hope you have relief soon.

[Gradient Keeper]

00z ECMWF 10 Day Rainfall, Snowfall totals

[Gradient Keeper]

Canadian ensembles stupid wet. 10 Day Rainfall totals

[Gradient Keeper]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

IIRC the first hints of back pain started back in June when I was moving/splitting up granite rocks in the yard to make a stone walkway (there are many granite boulders lying around here). Some of the pieces were definitely too heavy for me to lift safely, but like a moron I ignored the pain.

It felt like muscle pain at first but gradually changed to something else, then would kind of fade in and out. Wish I had paid attention at the time.

Playing rough outside on Labor Day was the straw that broke the camel’s back (lol). I guess I’m not 21 anymore.

Sorry to hear this buddy. I hope you can find some relief soon.

12z GFS in 7 hours 48 minutes

[The Blob]

35 minutes ago, Gradient Keeper said:

I had a headache severe at times from 4 AM to about 10 PM today. No idea why. It is finally lessening. Hope you have relief soon.

I just suffer through

[SilverFallsAndrew]

I’m really freaking sick. Ugh 

[Gradient Keeper]

4 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

I’m really freaking sick. Ugh 

That came on fast? or no?

[smerfylicious]

9 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

I’m really freaking sick. Ugh 

I was super sick the first 8 days in Sweden, and got everyone else sick. Some naaaasty flu

[SilverFallsAndrew]

13 minutes ago, Gradient Keeper said:

That came on fast? or no?

Yes, I was sick two weeks ago for 3 days, got better for a week and now I’m sick as a dog!

[Gradient Keeper]

11 minutes ago, SilverFallsAndrew said:

Yes, I was sick two weeks ago for 3 days, got better for a week and now I’m sick as a dog!

Feel better man. Water and soup. A lot of both.

6z GFS in 1 hour 7 minutes

[Cold Snap]

Up to 0.50” out of this event so far.

[TigerWoodsLibido]

0.3" so far on the month.