Okay, so it has been a couple of months since I have blogged anything. In mid October of last year I started having sciatica. It was annoying at first and I was able to get by with Motrin. By the time I posted my last post I had begged my doctor to do something and she sent me to physical therapy. A few weeks after I started physical therapy I went to see my doctor and had a major melt down. By that point I wasn't sleeping (maybe 3 hours a night) and was really hurting 24/7. The Motrin was barely taking the edge off and I was having a hard time functioning.
My doctor referred me to a pain management doctor. By this time it was late December. I saw the pain management doctor who sent me for a MRI. The MRI confirmed I have a ruptured disc. The doctor said he wanted to send me for a epidural injection and hope for the best but he thinks surgery will be needed. My injection was scheduled for 1/13 but on 1/11 I went into Urgent Care with a bad sore throat. I had an infection and needed antibiotics. The injection can't be done while sick or on antibiotics so now it is rescheduled for 1/27. I am still not sleeping, taking lots of narcotics, anti inflammatory and a nerve pain blocker. It makes very little difference. I am miserable!
Sitting hurts, laying down hurts, standing hurts... I am so tired and miserable. The strangest thing is, I have no idea how I hurt my back. For the past few years I have had issues with muscle spasms a couple times a year. I would take some muscle relaxers for a couple days and be good as new. This is an entirely different ball game. I work full-time, and getting myself through the day can be really hard. The mornings and nights are the worst and if I can get myself moving and stretched out I can tolerate the pain with the meds.
With all this going on I have totally neglected any exercise or good diet. Sometimes I eat just because it makes me feel better. The good news is one of the only things that brings me relief is walking. So, when I am up in the middle of the night I get on the treadmill and walk. I walk a couple miles every morning before work. The bad news is that my diet has not helped me and I have only maintained me weight. Losing is not at all of a priority though. Surviving is my only goal right now.
This post sounds really depressing, and though I am hating every second of this... I am making due. I am just praying I don't have to have another surgery.
8 comments:
Will your insurance cover a visit with a chiropractor? I mean, I don't know if you'd even be interested, but that might help with some relaxation!
Only 6 more days, praying for your sanity!
I had been going to the chiropractor 3 times a week for months and it didn't help. I even tried decompression therapy which my insurance didn't cover. I wish it had worked... thanks for thinking of me though!
I wrote a similar post here: http://bjandthebandit.blogspot.com/2012/11/sweet-spot-sciatica.html
And found my resolution here:
http://bjandthebandit.blogspot.com/2012/12/just-hangin-around.html
And here is a pic of me actually on the inversion table. We call it "batmanning" in my house:
http://bjandthebandit.blogspot.com/2013/01/waitingwaiting.html
Now...two years later...I'm not consistent about batmanning, and it shows in that I still have bouts of sciatica. But nothing even close to as severe as what I was experiencing in those first two posts. I never had a nerve blocker done...I've only done this. I had the most success when I was doing this AND had a nice strong core, but my exercise took a toll this year with my hysterectomy and I believe that is another reason I'm having an upswing in sciatica spasms. Hopefully getting back to being strong again and more consistent batmanning will once again bring me back to being pain free.
What I tell everyone is don't go out and buy an inversion table if you can avoid it...find someone who has one and ask to use it a couple times because it might not work for you. But it is worth a shot. I credit my friend who let me try hers with saving my sanity.
If you live in the Seattle area, I'm happy to let you come try mine. :)
Oh no! I'm so sorry you are in so much pain. I hope that you get relief soon.
Last year, I was having left hip pain and then right sciatic pain. I eventually used the chiro and massag, both have helped me a lot. Have you considered acupuncture? It sucks the thought of having to get surgery. I hope you start feeling better soon.
Yeah. I can't even imagine being in constant pain...I mean...something on me is always hurting..but it's nothing like real pain that prevents you from doing what you want. Sorry you are going through this. The walking thing is a plus though. i am glad that it helps. Keep us posted.
Oh Anna. I'm so sorry. Disc pain is horrible. I hope the epidural infection helps. Sometimes surgery is the right answer. Hang in there. Sending you cyber hugs. Tracey
Damn it, iPad. INJECTION not infection.
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