Small request for some vibes?

snake_lady

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Ya'll know I have a reptile expo to go to this weekend, but didn't know which day I was going.

Well I woke this morning with a killer headache, and just not feeling well. Took some meds and was on the computer for a bit... got feeling really good and was going to talk to Mark and go to the expo... Then I tried to get up from my computer chair


Something is wrong in my lower back....meaning I can hardly walk, and at times I fall because the pain cripples me. This is not normal but not abnormal for me either. Once every year or so, I bend or sleep the wrong way and pinch something in my lower back.... it lasts 1-3 days then I'm fine.

I'm fine right now, sitting in one position.... I'm not fine walking, and my posture ends up being so bad that now my upper back is sore from being hunched over


Prescription pain killers and muscle relaxers won't touch the pain. I've spent the day resting/doing minimal activity.... alternating between ice and heat.

So if ya'll could spare some vibes that I'm better for tomorrow, I would really appreciate it. I need to go to this show...but worst case scenerio, Mark and Kayleigh will go without me
If they offered wheelchairs, I'd do that....but they don't...

so please, wish me well enough to be able to walk tomorrow


thanks.
 

nes

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It's ALL about the robaxiset! I have a bad back & eat it when I'm doing physical labour. Of course then I get really goofy and have been known to walk into things or talk to people that aren't there...


Sounds like you have something similar to sciatica, I know that is no fun! I have pregnancy induced and it will take me down to my knees in a few seconds.

for you getting better, I REALLY hope you get a chance to go!!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

Something is wrong in my lower back....meaning I can hardly walk, and at times I fall because the pain cripples me. This is not normal but not abnormal for me either. Once every year or so, I bend or sleep the wrong way and pinch something in my lower back.... it lasts 1-3 days then I'm fine.
I've had that happen to me every year for about ..12 years now? (dang!)
While it's really difficult to do so you need to try not to let your whole back get stiffened up.
You have to move and watch your posture.
Have you been through PT for your back before? Have you ever had a "refresher" for it if you have? - if not it might not be a bad idea as we tend to get lots of little bad habits we don't realize. DH slouches and is hopefully learning better in PT currently.

About the worst I had wasn't actually from my back, but from my SI joint in 2006 (iirc). It was so inflammed that my right leg wouldn't support my weight when I tried to walk. Since I tried to avoid moving as much as possible my neck and back ended up sore and made the whole incident worse. Definitely wouldn't make that mistake again!
 

lynsey

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Hope your back pain eases up a bit so you can go to the reptile expo tomorrow.
 
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snake_lady

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

I've had that happen to me every year for about ..12 years now? (dang!)
While it's really difficult to do so you need to try not to let your whole back get stiffened up.
You have to move and watch your posture.
I've been trying to.... so hard though, as I'm sure you know.

Have you been through PT for your back before? Have you ever had a "refresher" for it if you have? - if not it might not be a bad idea as we tend to get lots of little bad habits we don't realize. DH slouches and is hopefully learning better in PT currently.
For this, no I haven't..... I've been in PT for my upper back, but never my lower. It is so infrequent that it has never come up with the doc. (more pressing issues to deal with than this one that occurs maybe once a year)

About the worst I had wasn't actually from my back, but from my SI joint in 2006 (iirc). It was so inflammed that my right leg wouldn't support my weight when I tried to walk. Since I tried to avoid moving as much as possible my neck and back ended up sore and made the whole incident worse. Definitely wouldn't make that mistake again!
Honestly, I have no clue what this is... In 96 I had an epidural when I birthed my daughter...during that I fractured my tailbone as well. For bout 6-8mos after her birth, I had lower back pain....excrutiating if I bent the wrong way. Then it went away. In 2000 when pregnant with my 2nd daughter, I had pregnancy induced sciatica
Which is different than whatever this is.

2002 or 2003, playing with my kids..... one fell on my lower back (I had been laying on my belly on the floor) and something "went". We actually called 911 for that one cuz I couldn't move..... the emerg said it was a pinched something or other and doped me on painkillers and muscle relaxers.

The last time I had an "incident" was Jan. 2008.... bent at the waist to get something in the fridge and BOOM. The pain is located in my lower spine, right in the middle of tailbone to waistline (does that make sense?) and radiates into my hipbones.......when it "pangs" it is emmense pain where I collapse and end up on my side.

If you have any thoughts, or know of stretches for the lower back, I'd appreciate hearing them. I've been trying to stretch as much as I can, and walk as little as possible (the more I walk, the more it aggravates my upper back which I do have an injury in).

thanks for the thoughts everyone
 
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snake_lady

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Originally Posted by mbjerkness

feel better I hope your pain eases off ,so you can go look at those scary creatures


Want me to bring you back something?
 

mismaris777

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Since when do you Canadians use the word "y'all"? Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood a bit.

So sorry to hear about that Chris- I really hope that you feel good enough to go to the reptile expo. Have you had your back checked out by a neurosurgeon/neurologist? It sounds to me like a nerve is being pinched or something. I hope that you feel better. You're one of my "pain buddies!"
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

If you have any thoughts, or know of stretches for the lower back, I'd appreciate hearing them. I've been trying to stretch as much as I can, and walk as little as possible (the more I walk, the more it aggravates my upper back which I do have an injury in).
Get your butt back to a spine specialist soon and get your lumbar spine checked out. You've had way too many bad back flare ups to ignore them.


http://www.spine-health.com/ has a lot of information and there are stretches on there that are the same as you would be given in PT. But you should get a lumbar MRI to see how bad you are and preferably go through PT because it's easy to move yourself too far doing stretches and make yourself worse.

You're a bit young for this many spine problems (usually it's after mid 40s that spine issues are unavoidable). It's hereditary in my mother's side of the family - does it seem to be in yours, too? Unfortunately, as with aging all together, it's down hill. You don't really ever get that much better since life's right there to kick your body around more.

SI joint problems are common in women who have recently given birth and in those who are hypermobile. While pregnant the body puts out hormones to loosen everything up down there - it doesn't help the lumbar spine either. I wouldn't be surprised if that's bothered you at some point too - it literally feels like someone kicked you right in the butt.

L4-L5 and L5-S1 tends to be most common for DDD in the lumbar spine, and that causes pain that goes to the outer sides of the hips, some lower into the butt area, and down the legs.

I hope you can get over this flare up. Anti-inflammatories would help if you can take them. Keep icing, and if you go anywhere be careful how you step out of the vehicle - especially that Ram. Pretend you have a tight short skirt on
cause if you swing one leg out first it'll hurt!
I also hope you can get this checked out soon. If you have a good physical therapist you could probably get massage, tens, and ultrasound with it.
 

calico2222

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Chris you may want to get a cat scan done on your back to see if you have bulging disks in your lower back. I do, and I can be fine for months then I just move the wrong way and it sets them off. Feels like my back is on fire! Excersizes to strengthen your lower back helps, but I don't want to recommend anything since you also have an upper back issue.

I just hope you feel better soon! Sometimes I wish we didn't have backs, but then we would just be heads and legs, which also doesn't sound like much fun.
 

nekomania

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How are you feeling now? I hope you woke up this morning with minimal pain and are feeling extraordinary!!!

Does anyone have a wheelchair you can "borrow" if you are not feeling better?
 
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snake_lady

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Originally Posted by Nekomania

Does anyone have a wheelchair you can "borrow" if you are not feeling better?
I just spent the last hour looking for one.... seems that where the show is held, it is up to the show promoters to provide wheelchairs if they wish and I couldn't find out whether or not they offer them. Looked around at a bunch of places to rent one, but none are open on Sundays.

Needless to say, I'm not going, and it sucks. Plain and simple, this sucks. It's the story of my life tho, I shouldn't be surprised.

My husband who has no interest in reptiles is going...he's taking our daughter... at least he'll grab my snakes for me.

Get your butt back to a spine specialist soon and get your lumbar spine checked out. You've had way too many bad back flare ups to ignore them.
You think 4 or 5 flare ups is bad enough to warrant going in?

I was taking muscle relaxers plus my prescription narcotics yesterday, they didn't touch it
I have been icing/heating/resting, but I am going to check out your link, thank you


It is harder here to get things like MRIs/CAT/specialist appts. especially without a referral..... the only time I saw professional help was when my daughter landed on my back and we had to call 911.... docs said "something pinched"...no xrays/scans/anything... just gave me muscle relaxers via a needle in the butt and thats all.

I know I'm way too young to have most of my health problems, but unfortunately, life just continues to deal me a crap hand.

I can however ask at my physio clinic.....I've been going there for years, and know the physio and chiropractor quite well....

My hubby has DDD, his pain was in his leg and his doc sent him for MRI... the first one showed nothing (he wasn't in pain at the time), the second one showed the bulging discs (he was in pain at the time). That is the problem I worry about with me.... how can anyone diagnose anything if it is not flared up. By the time I could get a MRI, it wouldn't be flared so I don't know that it would show up.

I did have a bone scan ummmm, in 2006 when I screwed up my upper back.... I'll have to dig out the results of that.... it was fairly normal other than showing arthritis in my jaw, and iirc there was something in my upper spine but I can't swear for sure.

I will ask at physio on Tues though.... I do have a doc appt. tomorrow for normal monthly scripts and will mention it, tho I doubt he'll listen. We are trying to get a new doc for me.... I have way too many issues, my doc is a moron (I'm not just saying that, he truly is) and he's admitted he doesn't know how to treat chronic pain.

I seriously just want to scream..... going to this event has been disappointment after disappointment.

1. couldn't vend at the biggest Canadian show.
2. couldn't vend at the newest Canadian show.
3. couldn't go as my one friends assistant for the day.
4. by pure fluke I couldn't go period....

and to think, I was worried
bout my hands/normal health issues holding me back.


thanks for listening, and S_W, thanks for the advice and link.


ETA: it is getting better......as in I can walk a little further without collapsing. Today it feels as tho there are bruises on either side of my spine. I don't know if that is from this or from DH massaging, trying to see if he could relax things last night.

Ironically I slept fine. Got 6hrs straight. I don't think I moved at all though....

ETA: S_W I did TENS it yesterday too..... no relief at all.
 

duchess15

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Chris,

I am so sorry you can't go! I know you are really disappointed, but if you are in this much pain, then I think you should go to the hospital. Maybe they can give you something to at least relieve the pain.

I hope you feel better soon!
 
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