It's been about 3 years since I was diagnosed with two herniated discs in my lower back.
I still deal with daily back pain and far too often sciatica.
I will be planning another appointment with the doctor who diagnosed my back injury in the spring.
The treatment of my back pain has been a confusing process. I did receive a cortisone injection a couple years ago and was told to pretty much just "wait it out".
From what I have read and been told not everyone who has a herniated disc injury will recover 100% pain free. Some recover with minimal pain, to moderate pain to severe pain.
I do take pain medicine once in a while but it is only when I am going to be very active that day. I try to use heat packs and ice packs and a back brace to help deal with the pain. It doesn't always work though- especially if I am experiencing sciatic pain.
The best way to describe sciatic pain is the feeling of both a numbness and a burning down my hip to usually my right leg to the foot. It is very hard to find a comfortable position to sit, lay or sleep when my sciatica is acting up.
It would be a lie to say that the back pain doesn't rule my life at this point. Sitting up in a chair for more than an hour at a time is excruciating. I often have to lay on my side to relieve the pain in my back and my right leg. If I am experiencing sciatica there is no relief. I do try stretches which sometimes help but not always.
I am planning this spring to pursue a better treatment plan for my back and sciatic pain. I was disappointed with the attitude of "wait it out". I want to be able to sit up right in a chair and talk with friends for more than an hour, or go for walks without agonizing pain in my leg and back. I want to be able to go to bed without the futile attempts to be comfortable amid the pain.
I'm very worried that there is no solution to my back pain and that this is the rest of my life. It happened to my mom after a car accident caused her own chronic back injury. She has pursued so many different forms of treatment in the past 22 years since the accident and she still has debilitating pain. If modern medicine can not help and heal my mother why should I expect any different for myself?
Love, Rebecca
Oh Rebecca!
ReplyDeleteSciatica was something I had never dealt with until recently and - oh, my, word - I would give anything to not have it. I've had days where all I could do was claw at my skin, trying in vain to claw my way out of my body because it hurt so bad.
I was diagnosed last summer with Post-herpetic neuralgia or chronic shingles, which is an inflammation of the nerve itself. Some days life is really hard.
I don't have any answers for you - pain of any kind of sort of an enigma in medicine - but I will say to keep trying. And if you don't get satisfactory answers from this doctor, try another one and another until you get some relief. I ended up trying acupuncture after trying everything else (meds, PT, etc.) and it definitely has helped. My best friend tried it and it didn't work but she tried something else that worked for her but didn't for me. Keep trying. It's definitely worth it!
We'll be praying to! Because that always helps! :)
Hugs,
Lea
Sorry to hear you're still suffering.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who works in the medical field, my advice is to just keep trying new things. If something isn't working, don't give up- call your doctor or make a new appointment every 2 weeks if you have to! If you don't go in or call, your doctor will assume you're better. It may take several types or treatments or referrals to specialists before you get relief. It probably won't be a quick fix, pain is hard to treat and takes time.
Hope you feel better soon. Ps... Your baby nephew is adorable! Congrats!
My sister had two herniated discs and tried "everything" for about 2 years when she finally gave in to surgery. It was the best thing she could have ever done and once she was recovered, she kept saying she wished she'd done it sooner. She was 34 at the time and had a 2yo to run after, so it wasn't an easy recovery just due to her lifestyle, but she got through it. Pain can be so hard to resolve and surgery doesn't sound like any fun, but thank goodness you don't have children to care for while you are trying to troubleshoot your condition! Don't give up!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned your mom has suffered from pain for 22 years. Does she also have herniated discs? Has she ever had surgery and it just didn't work?
If you have neck, arm, leg, or any muscle pain, stop listening to those who say the local chiropractor is a witch doctor that will touch you and cause you to come back week after week to avoid pain. It could not be further from the truth. In fact, I see him once a year and feel amazing all year without having to go for any touch up work.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline Hodges @ Dr Koziol
I understand your level of frustration and worry about the future with your pain. It is scary to know that a procedure may help your pain but it may not. It makes one wonder if it is worth the pain and potential damage that comes from surgery. I hope it all works out for you and your pain is lessened!
ReplyDelete