Oh crap...I did it again...

Some of you might remember my back problems last summer. I found out I had 3 bulging disks and went to a specialist (not bad enough for surgery so he didn't want to deal with me) and then to PT.

My back has been feeling pretty decent for most of this year. A few twinges here and there but nothing really major.

Well, today I just twisted and leaned to push a chair in...and it went again. The burning pain that is going up my back and down my legs. I've been doing the excercises I learned in PT (not every day unfortunately...my bad) but it's not helping. I can't stand, can't sit, can't lay down for an extended period of time....someone please just shoot me!!!!!

Oh no!... I´m so sorry....

( you should to say...Oops, I did it again! as the song!.. ...

Seriiously... I hope can rest and feel better soon....
........

Take an anti-inflammatory if you tolerate them (ibuprofen, aleve, aspirin or other) and put some ice on the back (a large pack of frozen peas or corn works great.)

REST until tomorrow, then begin gentle stretching.

Good luck!

You have my sympathy, After an accident in 2006 I have had problems. I was doing well until this past Wednesday when I fell. Jarred my back and made it hard to sit long. I think the fall also caused a skin strep infection to activate.

OUCH.

I feel your pain..... Unfortunately it sounds like you are in the same boat as my hubby. He has a bulging disk in his lower back and will go a long time without any problems, then bam...move the wrong way and it's pushing/pinching the nerves again

that it goes back to normal SOON.

It will never go away. Sadly it's called aging and will only get worse. Do as suggested and take it easy for a few days. If there's no improvement at all, it's back to the doctor. They may try a steroid pack on you and/or discuss epidural injections.
It might be a good idea for you to read up and learn about those in case you are faced with that choice anytime soon. It honestly scares the you know what out of me, but because of other health issues.

I hope you can get to feeling better without intervention this time, but being a realist you can't dodge this bullet forever.

My DH's probably going to have to do one or both soon. I'm calling my spine specialist Monday and making an appointment for him.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

It will never go away. Sadly it's called aging and will only get worse.

Do as suggested and take it easy for a few days. If there's no improvement at all, it's back to the doctor. They may try a steroid pack on you and/or discuss epidural injections.
It might be a good idea for you to read up and learn about those in case you are faced with that choice anytime soon. It honestly scares the you know what out of me, but because of other health issues.

I hope you can get to feeling better without intervention this time, but being a realist you can't dodge this bullet forever.

My DH's probably going to have to do one or both soon. I'm calling my spine specialist Monday and making an appointment for him.

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Oh, I know...it's a chronic condition and there's nothing they can do unless it gets bad enough for surgery (as in blown discs). I actually have read up on the injections because my husband's aunt has the same problem and she got them through pain management program. But, just the thought of a needle going into my spine at this point makes me shudder.

Why is it the stupidest things trigger this? All I was doing was moving a chair! Thank god I have Ultracet! Yeah...I'm feeling no pain right now, but also not getting anything done. DH is NOT going to be happy when he comes home.

Oh Hope...I am so sorry to hear that! I can't imagine the pain you are in and I don't envy you. I can, however, sympathize because I do have hip pain and sometimes knee pain. The hip pain is far worse and chronic.

I hope that you will feel better soon. Take it easy for now!

^Imagine being kicked in the lower back and having that make shoot into your pelvis and leg. It's a pretty good description of the pain. Your hip pain is actually probably fairly similar since a lot of lower lumbar problems will feel like hip pain.

Originally Posted by calico2222

Why is it the stupidest things trigger this? All I was doing was moving a chair! Thank god I have Ultracet! Yeah...I'm feeling no pain right now, but also not getting anything done. DH is NOT going to be happy when he comes home.

Click to expand...

Oh, I've set my back off trying to stand up from the toilet. Now if that doesn't make a person feel stupid...

I'm glad you have pain medication that works!
Tramadol no longer works for me - partly because some of it metabolizes on P450 isozyme 2D6 and I take a medication that inhibits 2D6. Simply put, one medication blocks the other. And it partly stopped working because that's what meds do for me - now it just makes me nauseous and vomit.
Nothing like the old standby ice pack. Simple and no side effects.

I feel the same way about injections. But it's best to know you have a very very skilled doctor when the time comes! Wouldn't want one with shaky hands.

Surgery isn't always for completely herniated discs. They can "dry" out or be bulging enough to cause chronic pain and warrant it. Luckily there's new techniques being worked on to make recovery time a lot quicker and easier. Hopefully by the time it comes to that, for either of us, this will be an option.

As for your DH, well it's not his back and you didn't do this on purpose.
That your back settles down soon.