So a few weeks ago I shared with you all a glimpse into some of the battles I’ve been fighting lately with chronic pain and how they’ve gotten worse over the past few years to the point where I just couldn’t handle it myself anymore and finally sought out medical help. Since then a few things have happened – we’ve determined the diagonsis is a combination of arthitis and some pretty severe degeneration in several of the discs in my back and some nerve damage on my left side. Why it’s happened we don’t know becuase I’ve never had any major car accidents, falls, or any other major trauma in my past.
I’ve been told by two doctors, neither of which eveidently have any sort of beside manner, that I have the back of a 70 year old, but nobody really seems to have any solid answers of how to fix it yet either. It’s all really quite discouraging. About a month ago we tried an epidural steroid injeciton in my back, more as a diagnostic procedure than an actual solution I think, and sadly that failed miserably. In fact I think it just pissed all the nerves off more than they already were and some days have been much worse than they were before. (If I go MIA for a few says sometimes I’m probably just curled up in a dark corner sobbing and feeling sorry for myself…it’s totally fine I’ll be back and chipper as ever just as soon as someone comes by and pulls the knives out of my back.)
Sarcasm aside its been quite an emotional roller coaster. Most of the time I try to remain positive and confident that we will find a solution eventually and for every procedure or new medicaiton that doesn’t work, we’re just getting one step closer to finding what does.
There are the days though, or moments I should say because I make it point not to wallow around in self pity, but there are times when I ask myself is this my life? Am I always going to have to sit things out with the kids that I used to participate in because I’m afraid of how bad it’s going to hurt later? Will I basically miss the first day of vacation from now on becuase I have to recover from the misery that is now riding in the car for more than an hour or so at a time? Will I dread camping with my family and friends, one of my favorite things, because sleeping on the bed in the camper is sheer misery – but do it anyway and then have to force myself to not be an asshole to everyone because pain makes people assholes?
What I do know for sure though, is that when we find the solution, never again will I take a pain free day for granted…
Jennifer Cabaluna says
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USANA has helped so many people and I know that it can help you too. I am also a mother and I know how hard it is to move on with life within the limits…
James Robert says
June 3, 2015 at 8:27 amI’m sorry to hear this and can feel for you, my mom has exactly as you do, both arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The first couple hours when she goes to bed at night, if she has to get up I hear her yelling in pain. After she has been there awhile, she is a bit better. The steroid shot made her worse too and they did it twice. Hope you have much better days.
Alison says
June 3, 2015 at 9:26 pmYeah they want to give me another one too and I’m not sure how I feel about that – on one hand theres a chance it could help because they’re going to try a different location, but on the other hand it could end up like the last one BUT I don’t want to pass on a chance that it could provide some relief.
Scott says
June 3, 2015 at 9:35 amSorry to hear about the bad diagnosis. Back pain is no fun, especially at a young age. Hopefully you’re now on a path to a good solution!
Sicorra@NotNowMomsBusy says
June 3, 2015 at 11:38 amSo sorry to hear about your experiences. I hope you get things sorted out soon.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair says
June 3, 2015 at 8:28 pmI’m sorry you are going through this. Man, once and a while I get lower back pain, but nothing like you are describing. I hope you get relieve and find a good doctor that can help you.
Our Family World says
June 4, 2015 at 12:15 amWhat a sad story,Im sorry to hear that. I’ll pray.for you I hope you will get well. Yoy will be heal and if that time is become, you are really blessed and dont forget to share.it.
Cazi says
June 4, 2015 at 3:12 amHi I’m so sorry for what your going through and I have exactly the same thing in my lower back which in turn has traped nerves in my hips. I can also relate to crappy bedside manner; which is last thing you need when your reaching out for some pain relief and just a little understanding Is that too much to ask? I too found steroid shot woke every nerve in my body jeez it was agony.
I have however found help in sports physiotherapists. Wow they know your back inside out and how to offer pain relief by various methods. I’ve no cure but certainly helped reduce some of my pain when I have flare ups.
BTW you should have a pain clinic at your local hospital: they should be helping you.
I really hope you find some help soon; but you do find ways of dealing with it once you find a specialist to help I promise; hang in there huny. XxX
Alison says
June 4, 2015 at 8:02 amI was going to the pain clinic and they’re the one that did my 1st steroid injection – when it didn’t work they basically cut me loose and said hope you find something that works and didn’t want to see me back. Obviously not a good clinic, but it’s the only specialized pain clinic in town. I may look into sports physiotherapists – thanks for the suggstion!
Cazi says
June 5, 2015 at 2:04 amHi I’m so sorry you had a bad clinic that’s awful and distressing.
I never realised good sports physiotherapists treated us normal people; but some definitely do in the UK here. Many specialise in backs or arthritic joints. You need someone to just to try and help.
Oh and have you tried a TENS machine. I find it doesn’t give complete relief but it takes the edge off. Enough to get some sleep if you need to.
I really hope you find something to suit you; so you can get some relief ASAP. Hugs XxX
Elizabeth O. says
June 4, 2015 at 3:21 amI’m sorry to hear about the diagnosis. I do hope that you will find a good doctor who can help you find a solution.
Aleksandra says
June 4, 2015 at 12:44 pmHey Alison,
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and hopefully u will find a doctor who knows what they are doing and are willing to do their job properly without too much fuss.
My dad had a similar problem 2 years ago and it took quite a while for him to get over it…first they thought it was osteoporosis then they said it wasn’t (ofc it took them a while) but his vertebrae and discs are degenerating. Ofc he is much older than you are but it is something you should look into just to prevent any further damage, as arthritis combined with disc/vertebrae degeneration either due to osteopenia or osteoporosis is quite painful, as you are very well aware of, unfortunately 🙁
I would suggest checking your atlas vertebra as well, just to avoid picking a side to lean to due to it not being balanced as that can create a lot of leaning we are not aware of and add to the pain that is already there (this i can confirm my self). If you do decide to do this make sure to talk to your doctors first as they might tell u u would need to wait and sort the problem you are having at the moment or at least mend it to a point when you find a chiropractor who can fix this for you if it needs to be fixed (and please be careful with this there’s a lot of scammers from what I’ve heard everywhere around the world so make sure to find an actual world renowned chiropractor atlas specialist if you decide to check it out)
I do hope you find a solution soon i don’t like anyone being in pain.
Also sorry for the 10 miles of text 🙂
Alison says
June 4, 2015 at 9:52 pmThanks for the info! I’m definitely open to checking out any suggestions so there are definitely things I’ll talk to my Drs about!
M from The Stay-at-Home Life says
June 5, 2015 at 12:39 amOh no 🙁 I’m so sorry! I hope the docs can find a way to help you.
Kathy says
June 15, 2015 at 7:57 amOh my goodness, I have the same!! Chronic, widespread pain for many years. A month ago, they finally did an MRI (after much begging and arguing — the jerks!) and found bulging disks in my neck and lower back. Sigh. Sorry you, too, are going through this.
Sam says
August 15, 2015 at 2:25 pmI feel your pain. I have exactly the same and it ruined my life for several years.
I had an accident which damaged 2 of my discs and it was only after the scans they discovered how bad my back had actually been.
It’s taken 8 years but I’ve finally got my back to a place where I’m not in constant pain. It’s taken a lot of hard work but been worth it. Happy to chat if you want to x