| When the pain of a sore back becomes nearly | | | | looks like a pharmacy in here. I take pills to sleep, |
| unbearable, what works best to control it? Here | | | | for the pain, to relax muscles, and to keep calm |
| are a few different techniques I am trying, to | | | | during all of this. I am mellow as a marshmellow. |
| make myself as comfortable as possible as I | | | | Slowly, there is improvement. The floor is quite |
| struggle to recover from a severe case of | | | | comfortable, and when I tried to sit up in my |
| sciatica, in which my last lumbar disk has herniated | | | | recliner, I realized that I'm not ready for it yet. It |
| and hit my sciatic nerve, making everyday life, | | | | is a long and slow process. |
| well, really difficult. | | | | Every so often I talk to my doctor, or one of his |
| After going to my orthopedic doctor, I tried | | | | nurses. I avoid seeing friends much and rest most |
| physical therapy. It felt good in traction, when the | | | | of the time. Work has been difficult, and I've had |
| body is pulled to take the pressure off the spine. | | | | many days off (though I work from home, it is |
| Little did I know, that the next day, my whole | | | | hard to work on the phone and use the computer |
| body would go into major spasms. Being | | | | efficiently). Thank goodness my bosses |
| practically paralyzed from the pain, I knew that if | | | | understand. As I lay here on my back, surfing the |
| I didn't do something to help myself, then I'd | | | | net from a horizontal position, I am learning a lot |
| most certainly end up in a hospital bed. With | | | | about dealing with lumbar spine problems, spine |
| limited insurance, I decided to fight going, until | | | | anatomy and what not to do to make the |
| exhausting my options. I called the doctor, and he | | | | condition worse. Surfing orthopedic supply sites, I |
| changed my medicines to new ones, since the | | | | shop for a tens unit (muscle stimulator, to help |
| former kinds didn't have an effect on the pain | | | | control the pain) and all sorts of contraptions |
| whatsoever. | | | | meant to help with back pain. I have already |
| Now, on muscle relaxants, narcotics and steroids, | | | | bought a few supplies meant to help my back, |
| the pain subsides some. The only place I can find | | | | such as a hand held massager, massage recliner, |
| comfort is on the floor, as my bed, couch and | | | | back belt, ice packs, wedge pillows and memory |
| recliners aggravate my spine right now. It is so | | | | foam. How glad I am to have them, they all have |
| touchy that I have to be careful how I get up, | | | | gotten quite a bit of use lately and make the |
| walk, turn, and I cannot bend or twist at all. | | | | situation more bearable with their convenience. |
| With a slab of memory foam on the floor, and a | | | | Using the massage chair or the vibrating massage |
| sleeping bag over top of it, the back pain forces | | | | wand can aggravate the swelling in my back if |
| me to work my computer from the floor. Not | | | | used too much so I just use them briefly as |
| being able to sit up hardly at all, I am propped up | | | | needed. I apply heat then ice packs. |
| by pillows only slightly, with a wedge under my | | | | I'm doing gentle leg exercises to keep my |
| knees and another behind my back for firm | | | | muscles from wasting, too, when I get a |
| support. If I lie still, the pain subsides somewhat. | | | | momentary reprieve from the pain. Slowly, |
| Other people would have given up and gone to | | | | steadily, there is improvement. The pain is there |
| the hospital, but I am being gentle with my back, | | | | but there is light at the end of the tunnel, so to |
| in hopes of recovery. I gave myself a time limit, if | | | | speak. It is a slow process, and I am encouraged |
| there is no improvement in two weeks, then I will | | | | but impatient. |
| go to the hospital as the doctor advised. I don't | | | | So far, so good. I have new appreciation for my |
| recommend this for everyone, but when money | | | | spine. Carelessly twisting, bending and otherwise |
| is tight and work must be done, for me it's worth | | | | abusing my back on a daily basis has probably |
| a shot. | | | | gotten me into this position so now, newly learned |
| The steroids seem to be helping. I am now able | | | | habits will get me out of this mess. No more |
| to do more than a few days ago. I can sit up a | | | | contorting my spine into a pretzel as I fall asleep |
| little longer, and walk to the bathroom without | | | | on the couch in front of tv. Those days are over. |
| doubling over in severe pain. I can get up just | | | | This is an unfortunate but necessary learning |
| enough to get my food, and and feed my cats. | | | | experience. Take care of your spine and get it |
| They are concerned and sleep at my side at all | | | | checked, it never hurts to be preventative, than |
| times, wondering why their normally energetic | | | | come in later with a bad case of back trouble. |
| owner isn't moving much. | | | | Some conditions aren't preventable, so if you get |
| I have stopped physical therapy for now, to avoid | | | | one of those, read up on the condition so you |
| more strong muscle spasms, my body is too | | | | know what to expect from your treatment. It will |
| touchy right now. Thank goodness the pharmacy | | | | make the whole situation less scary, the more |
| has someone deliver my medicines to me. I have | | | | you know. |
| bottles of different meds all over my desk. It | | | | |