And it's back, literally
Just one year ago I wrote a blog post explaining what my experience with lower back pain felt like.
Here we are again with one of my worst episodes to date.
Sunday July 31, 2016 I hosted a family BBQ in my new house because I love feeding people! I thought it would be a good idea to play games, too, so I set up an area to play a game of "marbles" which is extremely fun and based upon luck, strategy, and dice rolling. Typically it involves four players and can take up to 2 full hours to complete as there is a lot of going back to "start" depending on the other players.
Here is a photo of what my set up looked like:
Take note of the bench. This is where I sat for 2 hours with those exact cushions. The min I stood up after an intense and competitive game I knew right away my body had fucked up. Something about sitting set off my lower (right) back and I could not stand up straight.
Here's an example of what I looked like :(
People were over for the next 2 hours so I decided to chill out and stay on the couches for the remaining time because before the game I was standing up mingling among the different side conversations.
That night for the first time ever, I told the few friends who were over that I was going to need to call it a night and shower because the pain was increasing. Normally I'm never the first one to go into bed or call it a night when guests are over.
The following morning I noticed I couldn't move the same. If I walked or turned it caused a very sharp (familiar) painful feeling in my back which also was causing me to hunch over. I somehow got dressed with Donald's assistance and managed to get into my car which was extremely difficult. I drove to work and brought a heating pad with me.
Lots of people at work saw the obvious difficulty in my walking and posture- normally I'm only seen speed walking! I hated having to explain everything because no one truly understands so I just kept repeating the most fitting response, "My back went out :( " and many of my co workers understood right away it seemed.
After four hours my direct boss sent me home because she could see it was difficult for me to sit, stand, get up, or move. My job is a 'sitting' job but you get up about 500 times a day to grab papers from printers or visit residents for a signature or simply give someone a bathroom key etc. It's not a lot, but suddenly with this pain, just the thought of having to get up to grab papers was the end of the world. It hurts so much. The most pain came from sitting and then getting up later.
I had a physical therapy appointment scheduled for this same Monday because I've been seeking treatment for lower back pain. I was given an x-ray during June which showed "nothing wrong" and my next step according to doctors and insurance was to do PT eventually leading to an MRI if needed. This PT appt was my 3rd from the 10 I was authorized.
I didn't really think PT would help. My therapist is amazing and incredibly knowledgeable on lower back pain, but even her I didn't believe in Monday night.
I went to my appt and my therapist knew what was going on because I had called in earlier. She encouraged me to come in so I made sure to go hoping there could be some relief. She massaged the tight muscle area and showed me stretches I could do for flexibility as she felt this was a muscle spasm.
During her massaging I felt fine, however the instant she asked me to turn or roll or move she got to witness what I was going through. I couldn't. It was as if my body wasn't mine any longer. She helped me turn over and I resulted to crying because one movement sent that sharp pain in my target area and I couldn't handle it. She was sympathetic and sincere but I just wanted to get home. We finished after the one hour and she said she would call to check up on me which she did today.
When I got home Monday night all the flexibility movements were no longer able to be done. I couldn't move my knee to chest I couldn't turn or touch my feet. It was the worst. I took a bath in Epsom salt and it helped a little but I took my muscle relaxer (Baclofen, 10 mg) that was prescribed to me in June and I went to sleep around 7:00 PM. Before this episode I never even took the medicine, I just simply had it "in case" and I am so glad I did!
Tuesday I woke up with disappointment. It was as if the more time that was going by, the worse I was getting. I spent the morning crying, praying, taking medicine, and finally heading into Care Spot to get relief. In 2013 I was given a Cortisone shot that was a temporary pain reliever along with steroid pills to alleviate pain and it worked in the past so I was desperate. I went, waited for three hours for a doctor (but only because he only came at a certain hour in this facility) and finally was on my way to relief... I thought.
It took several hours but finally I was noticing getting into and out of a car wasn't taking as long and I could get into bed without Donald helping me. I was happy that evening and also took another prescribed medication which was an anti-inflammatory (Cataflam, 50mg).
Wednesday was rough at the beginning. I woke up with the stiff pain return but I luckily had 3-4 different medications to assist me this time (BTW I haaaaaate medicine..but if it works I'll use it!). Donald was off so he was here to help dress me again and take care of me.
Also, I forgot to mention that the past three days I couldn't use the bathroom. Sitting was causing so much pain that I literally had to pee in our shower. :( aaaand I seem to keep waking up at 5:00 AM needing medicine/ice packs because the pain/stiff feeling wakes me up.
This is also why I didn't go to work T nor W because I can't exactly lay down on the floor at work and be productive...lol Laying down was the only relief.
I'm feeling a lot better this evening in comparison to Monday and Tuesday and this morning, however, still not 100% yet. I really really really don't wish this upon anyone because it is the worst feeling in the world.
I'm working on getting an order for an MRI so I can have some more answers instead of just being told its possibly a muscle spasm. What I feel doesn't seem like it's just a muscle spasm. I just want to be sure. Having a name to go with my pain would be so relieving because the worst feeling is knowing someone thinks you're making shit up or exaggerating when you are not. I won't name anyone, but, it's sad to know a person who should know better has been only talking ill of me in my absence at work. The truth prevails though and that's why I took it upon myself to write a four page email to the higher ups to let them know my side of what's actually going on as opposed to a "call out" situation. I provided receipts, too, so you're welcome.
Anyways, just thought I would make a part II of my back chronicles. I hope to not have a reason to write a part III.
I hope you all are well, pain free, happy, and healthy.
<3
-s
P.S. this shit's expensive.
Doctor co pays: $30.00
Care Spot: $100.00
PT: $80.00 (per visit)
Meds: $40.00
Here we are again with one of my worst episodes to date.
Sunday July 31, 2016 I hosted a family BBQ in my new house because I love feeding people! I thought it would be a good idea to play games, too, so I set up an area to play a game of "marbles" which is extremely fun and based upon luck, strategy, and dice rolling. Typically it involves four players and can take up to 2 full hours to complete as there is a lot of going back to "start" depending on the other players.
Here is a photo of what my set up looked like:
Take note of the bench. This is where I sat for 2 hours with those exact cushions. The min I stood up after an intense and competitive game I knew right away my body had fucked up. Something about sitting set off my lower (right) back and I could not stand up straight.
Here's an example of what I looked like :(
People were over for the next 2 hours so I decided to chill out and stay on the couches for the remaining time because before the game I was standing up mingling among the different side conversations.
That night for the first time ever, I told the few friends who were over that I was going to need to call it a night and shower because the pain was increasing. Normally I'm never the first one to go into bed or call it a night when guests are over.
The following morning I noticed I couldn't move the same. If I walked or turned it caused a very sharp (familiar) painful feeling in my back which also was causing me to hunch over. I somehow got dressed with Donald's assistance and managed to get into my car which was extremely difficult. I drove to work and brought a heating pad with me.
Lots of people at work saw the obvious difficulty in my walking and posture- normally I'm only seen speed walking! I hated having to explain everything because no one truly understands so I just kept repeating the most fitting response, "My back went out :( " and many of my co workers understood right away it seemed.
After four hours my direct boss sent me home because she could see it was difficult for me to sit, stand, get up, or move. My job is a 'sitting' job but you get up about 500 times a day to grab papers from printers or visit residents for a signature or simply give someone a bathroom key etc. It's not a lot, but suddenly with this pain, just the thought of having to get up to grab papers was the end of the world. It hurts so much. The most pain came from sitting and then getting up later.
I had a physical therapy appointment scheduled for this same Monday because I've been seeking treatment for lower back pain. I was given an x-ray during June which showed "nothing wrong" and my next step according to doctors and insurance was to do PT eventually leading to an MRI if needed. This PT appt was my 3rd from the 10 I was authorized.
I didn't really think PT would help. My therapist is amazing and incredibly knowledgeable on lower back pain, but even her I didn't believe in Monday night.
I went to my appt and my therapist knew what was going on because I had called in earlier. She encouraged me to come in so I made sure to go hoping there could be some relief. She massaged the tight muscle area and showed me stretches I could do for flexibility as she felt this was a muscle spasm.
During her massaging I felt fine, however the instant she asked me to turn or roll or move she got to witness what I was going through. I couldn't. It was as if my body wasn't mine any longer. She helped me turn over and I resulted to crying because one movement sent that sharp pain in my target area and I couldn't handle it. She was sympathetic and sincere but I just wanted to get home. We finished after the one hour and she said she would call to check up on me which she did today.
When I got home Monday night all the flexibility movements were no longer able to be done. I couldn't move my knee to chest I couldn't turn or touch my feet. It was the worst. I took a bath in Epsom salt and it helped a little but I took my muscle relaxer (Baclofen, 10 mg) that was prescribed to me in June and I went to sleep around 7:00 PM. Before this episode I never even took the medicine, I just simply had it "in case" and I am so glad I did!
Tuesday I woke up with disappointment. It was as if the more time that was going by, the worse I was getting. I spent the morning crying, praying, taking medicine, and finally heading into Care Spot to get relief. In 2013 I was given a Cortisone shot that was a temporary pain reliever along with steroid pills to alleviate pain and it worked in the past so I was desperate. I went, waited for three hours for a doctor (but only because he only came at a certain hour in this facility) and finally was on my way to relief... I thought.
It took several hours but finally I was noticing getting into and out of a car wasn't taking as long and I could get into bed without Donald helping me. I was happy that evening and also took another prescribed medication which was an anti-inflammatory (Cataflam, 50mg).
Wednesday was rough at the beginning. I woke up with the stiff pain return but I luckily had 3-4 different medications to assist me this time (BTW I haaaaaate medicine..but if it works I'll use it!). Donald was off so he was here to help dress me again and take care of me.
Also, I forgot to mention that the past three days I couldn't use the bathroom. Sitting was causing so much pain that I literally had to pee in our shower. :( aaaand I seem to keep waking up at 5:00 AM needing medicine/ice packs because the pain/stiff feeling wakes me up.
This is also why I didn't go to work T nor W because I can't exactly lay down on the floor at work and be productive...lol Laying down was the only relief.
I'm feeling a lot better this evening in comparison to Monday and Tuesday and this morning, however, still not 100% yet. I really really really don't wish this upon anyone because it is the worst feeling in the world.
I'm working on getting an order for an MRI so I can have some more answers instead of just being told its possibly a muscle spasm. What I feel doesn't seem like it's just a muscle spasm. I just want to be sure. Having a name to go with my pain would be so relieving because the worst feeling is knowing someone thinks you're making shit up or exaggerating when you are not. I won't name anyone, but, it's sad to know a person who should know better has been only talking ill of me in my absence at work. The truth prevails though and that's why I took it upon myself to write a four page email to the higher ups to let them know my side of what's actually going on as opposed to a "call out" situation. I provided receipts, too, so you're welcome.
Anyways, just thought I would make a part II of my back chronicles. I hope to not have a reason to write a part III.
I hope you all are well, pain free, happy, and healthy.
<3
-s
P.S. this shit's expensive.
Doctor co pays: $30.00
Care Spot: $100.00
PT: $80.00 (per visit)
Meds: $40.00
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