OT - somebody talk me down, please

I am probably getting myself all worked up unnecessarily but I do that sometimes.  The more I think about my issues with my back, the more anxious I get.  At this point, I'm not even that concerned that they might not be able to do something to get rid of the pain.  I mean, I don't want to be in pain all the time, but I've lived that way for a little over a year now and I guess I'm tolerating it most of the time.  What I'm really concerned about right now, though, is how disabling it's become lately. 

What I do most of the time is try to ignore the fact that it hurts and just do what I need to do anyway.  But lately, there have been a lot of things I can't do.  I used to just pick up the basket of laundry or bend over to get clothes out of the dryer anyway, even though it hurt.  But lately, I can't do that.  My back is too bad now.  It won't let me.  And now I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I'm going to manage my life if there are all these things I cannot do for myself.

My partner keeps trying to tell me that he's sure the doctor can give me something stronger for pain but I don't think he gets what I'm really worried about.  He just wants me to quit worrying.

So will somebody please say something more helpful than that?  I figured I could count on  you all!

You are far too young to live with pain the rest of your life! I would go to as many doctors as I had to until someone figured it out and worked out a plan of attack.  There has to be a reason for the pain, I know it's easier said than done finding it sometimes but you can't suffer or deminish the quality of your life without a fight! I would get a 2nd 3rd 10th opinion before I started thinking about ways of living with it and giving up things.  

Sorry you're suffering Kelly, I hope you figure it out.

Listen to your body!  It's telling you something is wrong. Maybe some rest will alleviate this new level of pain.  Maybe its something they can fix with an injection or something?  How about accupuncture? Easier said than done, but try to keep your hopes up and don't believe this will be forever.

Sending {{{{HUGS}}}}.  We're here for you Kelly!!! 

 My mother has had back issues for ovr 20 years; I can't begin to count how many surgeries she has had, nor how many specialists she has seen  She even has an implanted pain pump that gives her morphine on a regular basis.  In the fall of 2010, her spine began chipping and falling apart.  The bone fragments were "floating" around, landing on various nerves.  By January 2011, she could barely walk and had lost most of her urinary and bowel functioning.  She was finally referred to a new specialist a few hours away.  

Long story short, she had surgery in August 2011.  Her spine is literally encased in a metal cage and she has pins "holding" her together.  However, since her surgery, she has done a 200% turnaround.  She has pain, but not like before.  The danger of her becoming a paraplegic (which was an almost foregone conclusion) has diminished.  It is quite a miracle to see the difference in her; I haven't seen her this active in probably a decade.  

I tell you this in hopes it helps your spirit and gives you some endurance to get you through this tough time.  No one really believed my mom would ever be able to do "normal" activities again, let alone walk, but this weekend she is on a ladder, repainting a house.  I hope you can find a relief, Kelly.

Stacker  washer/dryer.  Dryer is on the top.  It is good and I don't have to bend down. I have that now in my current and last place.   I also just moved into a house that has a wall oven and I love it.  No bending at all.   

Also get a bottom freezer fridgeator.  It is better.  We use the refridgeator more than the freezer and it s at our eye level.

I hate having back issues which is in remission now thanks to medicine I am on (it's an autoimmue thing.. rheum. arthritis).

Take care.

 Can I suggest finding a good yoga instructor and taking some private instruction (or a gentle yoga class)?  They can help realign your body and strengthen and lengthen muscles.  They can also give you good ideas for poses to do for certain types of pain.  I have to stress the word good though.  Make sure they are experienced with helping back pain.

i have a laundry sorter thing in our bedroom, when the clothes come off it goes in one of the 3 proper bags..i have not sored laundry since 1996..oh so nice...the bag just comes off and i take the bag to the washer, and dump it in....dryer is low, but open the door and just kind of throw the clothes in there and then close it..yes i have to bend down and pull clothes out to put in basket...but not sure how to deal with that..but a laundry basket on wheels will help to not have to bend down to lift or carry it...i have a bad back also... very large herniadted disc L-5,S-1.....i had 2 nerve block injections and they worked great for me, but they shot my sugar thru the roof and we could not get it under control..that was one of the main reasons for me to have the bypass....fixed my sugars and got weight off, back still hurts with the bending down and overbut its getting better....but yes i do have to re-think how i do some things....not sure if this any help to you sorry...
debby

one thing I know after sitting around , having to be driven to doc appointments and BARELY being able to keep up with the house and cooking a simple diner, is accept help and keep moving!!
You are young , I KNOW the right doc can help you and stronger drugs are not always the answer ( for day time anyways). Try to build your core muscles as much as possible, I know...it sucks
I started using a tens unit and could not believe the relief I got from it , only needed meds at night to sleep. Since I have been using it  I can drive and "do my own thing" of course I am limited but I don't feel as handicapped.
Daughter just got a fancy new tens/muscle stim all in one and it has helped her back and nouropathy in her leg.
Don't give up !!!

While you are seeking medical help to find out and help fix what is wrong with your back you may want to contact your state agency that provides Personal Assts. to come in and aid your daily living tasks. I know here in IL it is DRS- Dept of Rehabilitation Services. You may also want to contact your local Center for Independent Living to get information on what is available in your area for help.

I know you still want to do it yourself but living independently doesn't mean doing it yourself it means getting you the right tools to be able to live independently. You know how to work with tools, so find the right ones for this situation.

Yes I work for a Center for Indpendent Living. It is our job and our pleasure to help others navigate life independently .

I'm so sorry to hear you are in so much pain and worrying about it, Kelly! That really sucks. I have minor back pain for which I see a chiropractor but it's nothing like what you are describing. I agree that you should look into yoga and find out what other doctors have to say before resigning to a lifetime of pain. You poor thing. I will be praying for an answer for you! HUGS!