OT - somebody talk me down, please
(deactivated member)
on 4/14/12 8:02 am - waukesha, WI
on 4/14/12 8:02 am - waukesha, WI
I second the yoga or some other none impact work out. I have 3 herniated disk in the lower back plus 1 in the neck(plus a knee that needs to be replace and I won't mention the hip) and the only thing that has helped through out the years was exercise of some sort. I know that you are saying .........exercise............how would that help. It does though. Have you tried a chiropractor ..........or maybe some other body work ie...massage, feldenkrais, accupture....... I know that your income is tight but there might be something inexpensive in your area. Also, see a pain specialist, they might be able to do bio feed back or some other therapy outside of pain meds. Don't give up! There something out there that will work. I strongly hope you find some relief...........my heart goes out to you.
(Excuse the spelling, today my brain is not working well)
(Excuse the spelling, today my brain is not working well)
I have been dealing with disabling back pain for years now. Have they figured out what is wrong with your back? I have arthritis, slipped disks and degenerative disk disease. I have seen a lot of different doctors thru the years and many refused to believe that I hurt as badly as I said I did. I have been told I'm way too young to hurt that much and I must be a drug seeker. I am currently seeing a pain management specialist who has literally saved my life. I get those back injections in a series of three, one every two weeks. Then we wait a month or two and do it again. Then again. It took a long time but it finally started working to ease my pain. I have had some relief doing this but it doesn't work for everyone.
I do also take lortab and occasionally norco. They are opiates. I do not get a high off them. I have been on opiates for so long that I don't think I could get a high from them. They do help to ease the pain so that I can function.
I have also noticed that the times when I feel the best if between ten and noon. No idea why. I wake in pain and suffer in pain all thru the day. But from ten in the morning till noon the pain is a bit less. So I use that time to do things that require bending. Things like feed the dog, etc. I have one of those rolling baskets that you used to see elderly women using to walk to and from the grocery store. I keep it in the bathroom for laundry. I roll it out to the garage so there is not lifting, but there is bending. I also have my adult so take the laundry out of the dryer and we fold it while I sit comfortably.
Since my RNY I can no longer sit for hardly any length of time. I think I lost too much weight in my backside and now when I sit its directly on my tailbone. It hurts so much. So honestly I spend most of my day laying in bed. I do get up and move around.
All in all, there is hope. It all depends on what your pain is caused by and what options are financially viable for you. I am not the poster child for healing back pain but I have learned to live with it. Also do get help. Your partner can do some of the lifting for you. It's part of a relationship. We are there for them and they are there for us. Take that help. Because you know if he needed some help you would be there for him.
You could also try an hourly diary and rate your pain. Do that for a few days to a few weeks and you may notice there are times where the pain is a bit less and schedule your tougher tasks during those times. Or you could do those tasks at a time when you know you can take a hot bath and relax afterwards.
Remember we have to take care of ourselves. This is just like learning how to eat post op. Logging your pain instead of food, learning how/when to do tasks instead of taking vitamins etc.
I hope they figure out something that works for you. I do strongly suggest you see a pain management specialist. Get a good one, not one that's just a thinly disguised drug pusher.
Also if you have a friend, neighbor, or church pal see if you can trade chores with her. Say if she will do your lifting of the laundry you will cook something nice for her, maybe a nice vegetarian dish that will surprise her family. Just a thought.
If there is any way I can help let me know. Take care of yourself.
I do also take lortab and occasionally norco. They are opiates. I do not get a high off them. I have been on opiates for so long that I don't think I could get a high from them. They do help to ease the pain so that I can function.
I have also noticed that the times when I feel the best if between ten and noon. No idea why. I wake in pain and suffer in pain all thru the day. But from ten in the morning till noon the pain is a bit less. So I use that time to do things that require bending. Things like feed the dog, etc. I have one of those rolling baskets that you used to see elderly women using to walk to and from the grocery store. I keep it in the bathroom for laundry. I roll it out to the garage so there is not lifting, but there is bending. I also have my adult so take the laundry out of the dryer and we fold it while I sit comfortably.
Since my RNY I can no longer sit for hardly any length of time. I think I lost too much weight in my backside and now when I sit its directly on my tailbone. It hurts so much. So honestly I spend most of my day laying in bed. I do get up and move around.
All in all, there is hope. It all depends on what your pain is caused by and what options are financially viable for you. I am not the poster child for healing back pain but I have learned to live with it. Also do get help. Your partner can do some of the lifting for you. It's part of a relationship. We are there for them and they are there for us. Take that help. Because you know if he needed some help you would be there for him.
You could also try an hourly diary and rate your pain. Do that for a few days to a few weeks and you may notice there are times where the pain is a bit less and schedule your tougher tasks during those times. Or you could do those tasks at a time when you know you can take a hot bath and relax afterwards.
Remember we have to take care of ourselves. This is just like learning how to eat post op. Logging your pain instead of food, learning how/when to do tasks instead of taking vitamins etc.
I hope they figure out something that works for you. I do strongly suggest you see a pain management specialist. Get a good one, not one that's just a thinly disguised drug pusher.
Also if you have a friend, neighbor, or church pal see if you can trade chores with her. Say if she will do your lifting of the laundry you will cook something nice for her, maybe a nice vegetarian dish that will surprise her family. Just a thought.
If there is any way I can help let me know. Take care of yourself.
Right now, as far as I know, it's degenerative disc disease. I have another appointment with the specialist Tuesday to go over the results of the MRI I had last week, but the MRI reports says degenerative disc disease.
My partner will lift things and stuff for me if I ask but I hate to ask because I already feel like he does more than his share. He works full time, while I work only part time from home. And he already helps some at home, though not a whole lot. And he comes with me to doctors' appointments sometimes and other things. I just feel like he already does his share and I feel guilty asking him to do more. I am no good at asking for help, really.
I will try an hourly diary. That might be interesting. Do you just note your pain level or also what you've been doing?
My partner will lift things and stuff for me if I ask but I hate to ask because I already feel like he does more than his share. He works full time, while I work only part time from home. And he already helps some at home, though not a whole lot. And he comes with me to doctors' appointments sometimes and other things. I just feel like he already does his share and I feel guilty asking him to do more. I am no good at asking for help, really.
I will try an hourly diary. That might be interesting. Do you just note your pain level or also what you've been doing?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I note the time, the pain level and what i'm doing as well as what i'm eating/drinking. There are those who believe that certain food cause inflammation in the body. So I figured it was worth trying to find out. I didn't find any connection to food but did find a connection in time of day, even tho that wasn't what I was originally looking for...lol.
Let me know what you find out, if anything.
We all have some good days and some bad, so why not good periods of time as well as bad. The evenings are the worst for me. I never do laundry in the evening.
If your partner will lift all the laundry onto the dining table or counter it may make it easier for you to carry to it to the washer and dryer. Just a thought. I know he does a lot but you'd support and help him wouldn't you? I learned a long time ago a relationship isn't 50 50, its 100/100. You both have to put in 100 percent. He's putting in his by helping you. A time will come, if it hasn't already where you will help him. Thats what love and relationships are all about.
Good luck and let us know what your dr.'s say. With DDD i'd definitely look into a pain management specialist. Other than surgery, which I won't do, they will offer you the most pain relief while you look at your options. Easier to think clearly when you aren't in so much pain.
Let me know what you find out, if anything.
We all have some good days and some bad, so why not good periods of time as well as bad. The evenings are the worst for me. I never do laundry in the evening.
If your partner will lift all the laundry onto the dining table or counter it may make it easier for you to carry to it to the washer and dryer. Just a thought. I know he does a lot but you'd support and help him wouldn't you? I learned a long time ago a relationship isn't 50 50, its 100/100. You both have to put in 100 percent. He's putting in his by helping you. A time will come, if it hasn't already where you will help him. Thats what love and relationships are all about.
Good luck and let us know what your dr.'s say. With DDD i'd definitely look into a pain management specialist. Other than surgery, which I won't do, they will offer you the most pain relief while you look at your options. Easier to think clearly when you aren't in so much pain.
Kelly, I'm so sorry you're in pain & anxious about your future..... You've had to deal with alot of changes in your life and I'm not sure there's really anything that anyone can say to make those changes easy.... Just keep plugging away to recover your health because you're worth the effort!
First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.
Kelly, don't you go back to see your back Dr. this week. Keep deep breathing and wait to see what he says. If he is not helpful, and I know your mom works for him....LOOK ELSEWHERE!! You have large citys near you that you can drive to, I know albeit a long drive...Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus. Have you tried anyone at Cleveland Clinic. They can do so many things now days for people in your situation. Keep looking if you don't get solutions!
Yes, I see him Tuesday. And yeah, I should probably wait to see him before I panic. But for some reason I ended up very anxious about it all today.
The pain management specialists at the Cleveland Clinic was what I was thinking would be my next step, if he's not able to help.
The pain management specialists at the Cleveland Clinic was what I was thinking would be my next step, if he's not able to help.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
FleurDeLis
on 4/14/12 10:17 am
on 4/14/12 10:17 am
Sometimes you need to call in the A Team.
There is a big tertiary medical center about 60-90 minutes north of you that specializes in referrals. Gave their spine and orthopedic institute or whatever they call it their own building which also makes parking easier. You would love the West Side Market that is 100 years old this year and right on top of that building (think farmers market on steroids). Rated the best in Ohio and one of the best in the country. Get referrals from all over the world--I think the current count is 127 different countries. Team docs for professional sports teams.
They even do consultations just based on your medical records so no travel involved.
Bariatric friendly, too-head of their bariatric program is a past president of the ASBMS.
They accept your insurance.
There is a big tertiary medical center about 60-90 minutes north of you that specializes in referrals. Gave their spine and orthopedic institute or whatever they call it their own building which also makes parking easier. You would love the West Side Market that is 100 years old this year and right on top of that building (think farmers market on steroids). Rated the best in Ohio and one of the best in the country. Get referrals from all over the world--I think the current count is 127 different countries. Team docs for professional sports teams.
They even do consultations just based on your medical records so no travel involved.
Bariatric friendly, too-head of their bariatric program is a past president of the ASBMS.
They accept your insurance.
How about this: You are NOT a quitter. You are a strong independent woman who knows what she wants. You've educated yourself well beyond 90% of us in order to ensure that you will never be obese again.
Now, it's time to do the same thing with your back. There are no guarantees in life, but you know you can handle this. Worry all you want, but do something about it. Make appointments. Research treatments. Find ways to do the things that you can't do now so that they won't weigh you down.
You can get through this.
Now, it's time to do the same thing with your back. There are no guarantees in life, but you know you can handle this. Worry all you want, but do something about it. Make appointments. Research treatments. Find ways to do the things that you can't do now so that they won't weigh you down.
You can get through this.
Most of the time I'm not a quitter. Sometimes I get tired though.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
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