A Pain In The…
Written by Helga
Tuesday, 12 October 2010 11:52
Back!
I have a ‘bad back’. I hate that term. It makes me sound old and decrepit. I’m neither.
When I was 27 I was crossing a busy road where traffic had stopped for a light. As I passed behind a car, it suddenly threw itself into reverse to let another car cross the intersection. I saw a bumper aimed at my knees and leaped out of the way with a twist-y motion and felt a *pop* in my back. I was never the same again. (Let this be a lesson to you all, cross at a crosswalk when you have the right of way/signal).
For almost the next two years, I was in quite a bit of pain. An MRI showed my L4 had been ruptured. I went through physical therapy, and in time, I mostly went back to normal. Sometimes I would have pain, but any pain compared to those two years after the accident was nothing I couldn’t handle. I am a very physically active person and cannot tolerate sitting still for any length of time.
I was worried when I got pregnant that my low back issues would be a problem, but thankfully, being in good shape helped. I got through two pregnancies without any extra back pain, before or after.
Last September, my low back began to ache. I didn’t know why, it came on very gradually. There was no instance so definitive as the first time I was injured. By October, though, my aching back was unbearable. My low back was on fire with pain and I couldn’t figure out why. I was gulping Alieve or Advil to try and get through the busy days of being a mom, running a household, getting things done. I would whimper as I put on my shoes, hold back tears as I would shuffle groceries inside from the car. I am a positive, upbeat person by nature and I hated the way this pain was robbing me of my ‘old self’. My husband was as helpful and supportive as he could be, but with his constant travel for work, there was only so much he could do.
My MRI last October showed L5 to be herniated. I have no clue what did it. I was prescribed narcotics as well as an anti-depressant for pain relief. An anti-depressant? What the…? When I asked why, I was told that anti-depressants can be used ‘off-label’ (meaning not what they are originally prescribed for) for pain. Huh? I’m sorry, but I am not going on anti-depressants for pain. And I don’t do well with narcotics. Back to anti-inflammatories.
I did start to try homeopathic pain relief, such as Arnica montana, which sometimes seemed to help, sometimes not. I began see a chiropractor (which I had never done before) and while it helped initially, they ended up injuring me even further. Now, I don’t know if I can ever trust a chiropractor again.
I began physical therapy in January 2010. It was helpful, to a degree.
Summer came along, and – the pain went away. I was thrilled to be able to take care of my family, my house & garden, my life, the way I used to. I was very very careful, though, not to do anything that might set it off again. That meant no riding my unicycle, which I had taught myself to do the previous summer. I couldn’t risk it!
This summer I was running again, active, thrilled to have warm weather, no pain and the kids out of school. I trucked those kids by myself through airports to Europe, on trains visiting other countries, lugging suitcases & a laptop up and down stairs, with no problem.
Then, I sat down at a Starbucks in late September for two hours to get some work done, and BAM! The pain was back. Just like before. I was taking so much Alieve to get through my days! It subsided after almost two weeks, but now I’m nervous. I refuse to spend another fall and winter unable to do the things I enjoy – raking leaves, snow shoes, sledding with the kids.
My mother-in-law swears by her steroid shot. My husband’s cousin says it made her pain worse. When I read some of the potential risks of getting a lumbar steroid injection:
- Localized increase in pain
- Non-positional headaches resolving within 24 hours
- Facial flushing
- Anxiety
- Sleeplessness
- Fever the night of injection
- High blood sugar
- A transient decrease in immunity because of the suppressive effect of the steroid
- Stomach ulcers
- Severe arthritis of the hips (avascular necrosis)
- Cataracts
I didn’t quite jump on that bandwagon, either. While I know it is a very small percentage of people that are affected like this, still – you never know.
So now I’m looking into acupuncture. I’ve heard some good things about it. I’ve read that it can be effective for many different ailments, including hot flashes, which I suffer from. I’m lucky to have good health insurance, and they cover acupuncture. So, I am waiting for my insurance company to approve the one I’ve chosen near me, then…we’ll see. This should be interesting.
Have you had acupuncture? For what? Did it help? I’d love to hear your story!
13 Comments
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A Pain In The… http://bit.ly/9I7wWS
A Pain In The…! http://bit.ly/9I7wWS Trying to deal with chronic low back pain. No fun!
RT @LiveGreenMom A Pain In The…! http://bit.ly/9I7wWS Trying to deal with chronic low back pain. No fun!
A Pain In The…! http://bit.ly/9I7wWS Trying to deal with chronic low back pain. Going to try acupuncture
This sounds a lot like what I’ve gone through. except it’s not disc issues. but i am sure the pain is similar. I have done acupuncture and had some success at times, other times it made it worse. I have tried craniosacral therapy and peat pack therapy with success for a short period of time. I prefer not to take aleve or narcotics either but they herbal pain relievers do not cut it for me. I use a lidoderm patch, you may want to ask your doctor about it. Anything topical is going to be less harsh on the system. In empathy with you!
Thanks for stopping by & sharing! I wonder why sometimes acupuncture made it worse? I do not like taking so much Aleve or Advil, either, but sometimes I don’t have a choice, with 2 young children. I am excited to give it all a try, though…
You never know, it has helped other pain. My acupuncturist said it opens up the chi, the chi (energy) was stuck. but I think it being stuck was helping! Other times it’s helped with a different practitioner. Oh well, hope you get relief!
Thanks for your input! I have heard that it helps sometimes, not always. I have heard it makes a difference when you have someone with experience. My first appointment is this Tuesday, so we will see! Thanks for dropping by & commenting.
A Pain In The…! http://bit.ly/9I7wWS
Do you deal with chronic pain? Sometimes I do, too… http://fb.me/HNVg9Pkx
A Pain In The… http://goo.gl/fb/C5cvU
Hi Helga,
Sorry you’re having this problem, my friend.
I had a work incident, where I was handed a heavy box, and I turned (NO,NO!) to drop it behind me. I had a pinched nerve for a year. I couldn’t stand for more than 5mins. That location has never been the same. The only thing that got it “worked out” was stretching, everyday, and 2-5 times a day. I had never seen a chiro. I would now, bc my brother has since gotten his DOC lic.
I do want to tell you that acupuncture is Wonderful, with a big FAT W! I did acu, weekly, for 2 years. I have endometriosis and it cured me! I had horrible cycles. I would spot, throw up, heavy flows, and oooh the cramps! I recommended it to my MD co-worker/friend for his elbow. He was hooked. It can be pricey, ($75+/visit) but there are practitioners out there who work from home and will charge 1/2…or find a school..
http://www.pihma.edu . I have gone here and recv’d an earlobe tx for stress.
I am an RN, and I believe that Western Medicine is too commericalized, like everything else in this country..scarying the average person away from ANCIENT Eastern medicine. Notice the word ancient? I’m sure you know you are wiser than your children. You might, also, feel ancient with all this pain. lol.
I would suggest, massage tx, acu tx, and a little chiro.
ps. what insurance do you have?? i’m so jealous!!
best of luck, Mama!
I knew you would understand! I have friends who want to give me the name of their chiro but I just shake my head, can’t deal after the experience I had.
So your back is all better now? Do you have a tendency to get back aches more easily with hard work?
I am excited to try acupuncture! I have Harvard Pilgrim health care, and I love them! I still have to pay a $30 co-pay, but that’s all right. I am grateful they cover it at all.