Tank Journal Archive

E

ezza

Guest
I Think This Is It
On Monday at work I found myself feeling quite uncomfortable through the day. Not too unusual, but I had to go and lay down for a while because the pain in my back was making me quite delirious.

Tuesday I saw my Physio, who strapped my lumbar area to activate the muscles and support everything. She recommend I do some hydrotherapy. I would have, but my daughter needed to come home from school early because she wasn't feeling well.

Wednesday, I woke up and was acutely aware that my legs were not easy to move. They were very very heavy and I couldn't walk properly. I knew I would have no hope of getting to work and getting through the day. I went back to physio and she did dry needling down the fronts and backs of my arms and legs, and my back. She also massaged some areas. She managed to release a lot of the muscle rigidity so I could move a little more freely. I did go to the beach after that and walked through the water around waist deep for a while. It seemed to make a difference.

Thursday, I had my psych appointment. He is happy with my improvement in mental health and I don't need to see him again for three months. Yahoo! I then went to see the nerve conduction technician for that appointment. She only tested my legs and the result came back as the nerves are functioning correctly and I apparently have a "low threshold". I assume that she meant for pain... Odd since I have always had quite a high tolerance. I have suffered from chronic pain now for years and often function normally suffering from blinding, nauseating migraines.

Thursday evening, my husband was supposed to be going straight to bible study after work so he wouldn't be home until about 10pm... I had made dinner for my daughter and myself and was cleaning up when I started to feel very very painful nerve pain tearing through my right leg. It was affecting a nerve the lady tested, and I hadn't really ever had much of an issue with it. I don't know if the tests did something as the electrical impulses stimulated the nerves, but all hell broke loose. I called my husband and he was only a few minutes from home on his way passed. As soon as he walked in the door I just burst into tears. I was frozen in place in the kitchen and he had to help me into bed. I experienced a never ending all over pain fest from that moment on. My shoulders, arms, hands, legs, back, waist, hips, everything hurts. There are few positions where I can be entirely pain free, but with drugs and a glass of wine.. I can deal.
 
E

ezza

Guest
i got posted too soon... Stupid iPad.

Last night I sent an email off to my surgeon's office and this morning his nurse rang. The wasn't a lot they could do, I have an appointment on Monday morning anyway... I just have to push on until then.

I feel that it's just staying at "lots of pain" for now. It's not getting better. I am trying to determine if it's getting worse with one particular thing that can happen called Cauda Equina Syndrome.. But it seems with certain positioning I think I can avoid the emergency ward. It's the last place I want to be.

I am so desperately hoping the doctor just says "let's do it" and we get this disc fixed ASAP. I am now in absolutely can't function at all mode. He has to do something now.
 

vampy95

Member
Mar 3, 2015
163
33
i got posted too soon... Stupid iPad.

Last night I sent an email off to my surgeon's office and this morning his nurse rang. The wasn't a lot they could do, I have an appointment on Monday morning anyway... I just have to push on until then.

I feel that it's just staying at "lots of pain" for now. It's not getting better. I am trying to determine if it's getting worse with one particular thing that can happen called Cauda Equina Syndrome.. But it seems with certain positioning I think I can avoid the emergency ward. It's the last place I want to be.

I am so desperately hoping the doctor just says "let's do it" and we get this disc fixed ASAP. I am now in absolutely can't function at all mode. He has to do something now.
you poor thing :( *sends lots of gentle hugs
 

lukusis

Member
Sep 3, 2014
415
144
@ezza I feel for you, I really do. I have a slipped disc in my L3/L4 and a bulging disc in my L4/L5, so when your talking pain and not being able to move, I know only all too well how debilitating it can be.

Best wishes to you specifically, and also to your family (glad you have good support there!) :D


It sounds cliché, but the power of positive thinking can be a great help, when your down, focus on all the good in the world and your immediate world...... oh and stare at the tank too :D
 
E

ezza

Guest
Thanks @lukusis, I had the bulged disc for a couple of years before that was operated on.. I barely remember how I managed to cope with it still bulging! I have spent many hours staring at my fish tank... Though then I see all the things my husband hasn't helped with and have to crack the whip. He refuses to get his hands wet because he claims he gets electrocuted every time he puts his hands in. I don't think it's electricity he's feeling, I think it's just the salt. He's such a pussy!

@Mr.Reeefer , oh baby, the drugs are out! I don't take medication for pain most of the time because I am used to a certain amount, but I have had to hit all of the hard things in the last couple of days. The only alternative was the local hospital and that's the last place on earth I want to have to go.

Oh! Some good news. I woke up this morning with a little reprieve from the worst of the pain. It got pretty bad last night, but I slept and yeah, this morning I feel somewhat freer in my ability to move. There is certainly still pain, but it's not screaming at me with every single movement I make and I don't feel like I'm going to hurl whenever I adjust positions.
 

gtrxu1

Member
Jun 25, 2012
363
196
Hey Ezza, wondering what your thoughts are on Chiropractic? I know a lot of people don't agree with them and I also know that like doctors, no Chiro is created equally.

I had a slipped L3 disc last year, after a week of getting messed around by various doctors, MRI, physio etc I went to a Chiro out of desperation. I literally had to be carried in there and after 15 mins I walked out of there pain free.

Since then the guy as changed my life, a lot of people think Chiro's just crack backs but this guy has helped me with so many other aspects of my life. Diet, fitness, addictions, mental health, general wellbeing etc. His absolutely amazing.

A friend of mine had bad spinal problems and she had 3 surgeries and was suffering a lot, his changed her life for the better now as well. She says she will never see a doctor again about back problems.

Anyway, get well soon Ez
 
E

ezza

Guest
it's awesome that they helped you, but I sit firmly in this camp on chiro...

 

holly

Member
Jul 10, 2013
1,806
832
Melbourne
it's awesome that they helped you, but I sit firmly in this camp on chiro...

I'm setting up a permanent tent with you Erin.

Let's hope things are figured out soon! If you're getting dizzy and sick is it vertigo related or because of the pain?
 

ReeferRob

Solidarité
Oct 22, 2014
2,661
931
Bel Air
I'm all about alternative medicines, my mother as her mother before her were medicine women of the Blackfoot tribe. M and I see a chiropractor every 3 months and I see an acupuncturist in between the chiropractor visits. I couldn't function without either of them.
 

holly

Member
Jul 10, 2013
1,806
832
Melbourne
I'm all about alternative medicines, my mother as her mother before her were medicine women of the Blackfoot tribe. M and I see a chiropractor every 3 months and I see an acupuncturist in between the chiropractor visits. I couldn't function without either of them.
I saw one for three months and have realised there are different types, some more in the real of pseudoscience than others... Only independent evidence I could find for their use is just in realigning very out of whack bones to reduce pain in the short term. Anything else they claim to heal is pure BS and based on poorly designed research using very questionable statistical methods.
But, I don't want to start an argument about it as people will continue to believe what they want. People swear black and blue over the magical properties of salt therapy using lamps, homeopathy, crystal therapy etc. the placebo effect is extremely powerful.
 
E

ezza

Guest
Homeopathy is crap. A salt lamp will do crap all. The kids teething Amber necklaces drive me nuts. To release any chemicals from within the petrified sap would require significant heating. There used to be a really good webpage where they pointed out that the chemical properties of Amber would actually be toxic to humans and have absolutely no ability to provide relief for teething by wearing a necklace on the skin.

But back to the old aching bones... @holly , I was feeling out of it due to the pain. I'm aware of waking up during the night moaning a little from pain too. Oh well. Neurosurgeon appointment tomorrow. Let's see what he says about my nerve conduction studies.

The pain has been moving around my body a little over the weekend. Saturday I was mostly ok except for some deep set pains in my lumbar region and stuff. Today I was back to barely able to walk but this time it was extreme tightness in my calves restricting movement (as opposed to the glutes of Wednesday/Thursday). It's not uncommon apparently, according to a few things I've read. It's just sign of the ligaments tensing and muscles weakening because the nerves are being squashed and everything is working had to keep functioning.
 

holly

Member
Jul 10, 2013
1,806
832
Melbourne
Homeopathy is crap. A salt lamp will do crap all. The kids teething Amber necklaces drive me nuts. To release any chemicals from within the petrified sap would require significant heating. There used to be a really good webpage where they pointed out that the chemical properties of Amber would actually be toxic to humans and have absolutely no ability to provide relief for teething by wearing a necklace on the skin.

But back to the old aching bones... @holly , I was feeling out of it due to the pain. I'm aware of waking up during the night moaning a little from pain too. Oh well. Neurosurgeon appointment tomorrow. Let's see what he says about my nerve conduction studies.

The pain has been moving around my body a little over the weekend. Saturday I was mostly ok except for some deep set pains in my lumbar region and stuff. Today I was back to barely able to walk but this time it was extreme tightness in my calves restricting movement (as opposed to the glutes of Wednesday/Thursday). It's not uncommon apparently, according to a few things I've read. It's just sign of the ligaments tensing and muscles weakening because the nerves are being squashed and everything is working had to keep functioning.
Poor old back :( This is the baloney the chiro was performing on me: http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Functional_neurology#cite_note-7

I hope things can be done that free your movement up and give you back a sense of control over your body.
 
E

ezza

Guest
Thanks @holly . It is concerning that your GP has been recommending completely unscientific alternative treatments. I would either have words or just change docs.

For anyone needing an update, I saw the neurosurgeon and he is going to perform a disc replacement as soon as possible because my disc is very unstable. He wants me to see a pain specialist first regarding my chronic pain as he said he is concerned about the long term outcome post surgery. That's fine, as I am sick of being in pain!

So I am anticipating surgery within weeks.

I honestly couldn't have gotten here without everyone on The Reefuge. You guys really helped me push through.

<3