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| Tux loves my heating pad |
For the past 2 weeks I have been unable to walk without pain... and have been taking Rx muscle relaxers and Hydrocodone. Now I'm able to walk again with a soreness, but thank goodness not the spasms I had before. So... what caused this? Will it happen again? Am I doing something I shouldn't?
The steroid injection I was given as well as the medications helped, but it seemed to me the condition had to either heal on its own or run it's course.
My Primary Care Physician sent me for an x-ray of my lower back as well as a MRI. We were thinking pinched nerve(s), bulging disc, etc. But apparently nothing unusual showed up. Now he's referring me to a Spinal Specialist.
I'm walking OK, but that soreness in my lower back remains. And I have to admit that I fear whatever it was might come back again. Do I sweep, mop, dust? How can I not? Christmas is around the corner and there's so much to do. Is it age? I find that hard to believe. Age may slow me down, but surely I can still perform these simple tasks?
Well, that's about it. I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them I suppose.
And if so, any suggestions?
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| cats sharing my sick bed |
Hugs,
Rian
I had something similar decades ago when I was in my late 40s. They never found out what it was although back exercises and core strengthening made it go away. I think back issues are the hardest for doctors to diagnose and solve!
ReplyDeleteYou may have something there, Tabor. My core strength is non-existent... and while I was exercising and taking yoga up to a few years ago, now all I do is walk and probably not enough of that.
DeleteLots of hugs and healing energy to you!
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion would be to have someone else come in and do the cleaning, if your hubby can't. Other family members, or even someone paid, just this once. Please don't do anything to aggravate your situation!
Thanks, Kim. I love hugs and can use the healing energy. DH will do a lot and does- and we had all the kids here for Thanksgiving dinner, so we won't be hosting a big dinner for Christmas. I guess we could probably get by without too much extra attention to details. But I haven't even sent our Christmas cards or done any baking yet...
DeleteSince they couldn't find a cause, I would chalk it up to "one of those things" that we all deal with regarding our backs as we age. Hopefully the soreness will recede and you'll forget about it. The back tends to heal itself if we keep moving. I'd suggest continuing with some movement. Maybe a visit to a PT would be in order.
ReplyDeleteI sure would like to forget about it. My plan until someone tells me different is to keep moving, but carefully for the time being. I've always believed that the body could heal itself given time - so barring nothing unusual happens, we'll go with that. I guess I'll always wonder what I did to cause it.
DeleteAfter much investigation, it was found that I just have plain old arthritis in my lower back (wear and tear from gardening?). I feel it after something as simple as vacuuming / sweeping / bending over for a while in the garden. I take an anti-inflammatory every day so that my normal, regular, ordinary movements are without pain and I am able to sleep without pain. Just one of those things. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteJenn, I was told years ago that I had arthritis in my spine. I figured that was normal aging and never thought much about it. My lower back ached occasionally, but that was it. And I never thought much about it... till now.
DeleteI agree that continuing to move is likely to keep the back from seizing. Does some slight stretching help at all? Otherwise I'd be leaving the heavy cleaning (vaccuming for sure) to someone else. Hopefully the spin specialist can help find a cause AND a cure!
ReplyDeleteMae, I intend to leave the heavy cleaning to DH... at least for the present. And I will do some simple stretching exercises. Maybe the Spinal Specialist will recommend some.
DeleteI've just read your last post. It was so sweet. So the MRI showed that it is not herniated or bulging disc. I really thought that might be the problem. I remember when my back problems started...the pain was awful and I could not stand up. My sister drove me to the doctor's office and I walked in bent over, like an up-side-down L. Turns out I have three herniated disc. The first steroid injection did not last very long, but the second and third both have lasted almost three years. The injections are a life saver.
ReplyDeleteI thought the MRI would show some problem too... glad it didn't, but left me wondering what I did that caused this. I know what you mean about walking bent over. And I agree that the steroid injection helped... but didn't last very long. Good to know that the others you received lasted for a longer time.
DeleteI have pain in my leg that was diagnosed as spinal stenosis by an MRI in the summer. I've found that moving when I can and swimming helps keep me limber. I was told it's the "normal course of aging." Beats the alternative, but it is painful. Take care and healthy wishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Buttercup. I appreciate any suggestions regarding my back issue. I'm not a swimmer, but I do walk. Guess I need to add more exercise to my routine. And yes, I do believe it is all part of aging... but hopefully we can try to eliminate some of the more difficult parts... or at least try.
DeleteWhen I hurt my back I was constantly afraid it would happen again, and it did a couple of times, but never as bad. Finally after a few years it didn't happen. I am still very careful and the worry is now in the back of my mind rather than in the front. Things get better over time, with my back, and my knees. I have read the most strenuous thing in housekeeping is making the bed. I hardly do anything strenuous nowadays and if necessary I ask Gary to help me or to do it himself.
ReplyDeleteFear is always the enemy... not caution, but fear. I still fight it while driving (after my car accident). And I can see it here with this new back issue. But I will be cautious and not do anything too strenuous (DH does help me make our bed)... and come to think of it, I did raise the mattress on the guest bed alone while making it for family overnighters. THAT could have been an issue...
DeleteLike Tabor mentioned, exercises helped me tremendously. Then I found if I did regular back exercises everyday, I could prevent a re-occurrence. When I get out of the routine, I pay. Mine are simple leg lifts while still in bed. They work on your core.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patti. I will try this. I used to take regular exercise classes - a mix of aerobic and yoga twice a week, but haven't in the last 2 years. But I could do some of these at home... getting into a routine of doing it is the problem.
DeleteAh, there's the rub. The doctor says nothing unusual showed up. The problem is, it's not at all unusual for people our age to have back pain! I'd go with DJan's methods: keep moving, do some PT, do what you have to do to relieve stress, don't aggravate it with bending-over housework, maybe get some back massage ... and try not to focus on it too much since distraction can work wonders. Anyway, from one back pain sufferer to another -- best of luck with it and I hope it feels better.
ReplyDeleteThis was unusual for me, since I've been lucky and haven't had any back trouble until now... but you are right, at 74 it isn't unusual to have back pain. My family physician is sending me to a spinal specialist to double check, but I'm thinking possibly it's just Arthritis in my spine that I aggravated somehow. I will keep moving and possibly see about some PT and massage...
DeleteJust had some pain today in lower back for first time ever. Not enough for Doc visit but wondering what next. The plus is that at least now I have an inkling of the suffering that you and others with severe back pain experience. Prayers for freedom from pain and for abundant energy, health and joy in this season.
ReplyDeleteThanks, LC. I have had some aches and pains in my lower back before... but nothing like this. And yes, I too now have new compassion for those who must live with back pain.
DeleteI too have lower back pain and all examinations & teats results show nothing. I think it's age (70) for me. I do both heat & ice.
ReplyDeleteI'm here to wish you and your loved ones a very merry holiday season!
Hi Anni! Thanks for stopping by. I visited your blog today. I used to be an avid bird watcher too; belonged to the Audubon Society, spent a week at an Aububon workshop on Hog Island, Maine. Great place! Love your pics! Thanks for sharing them. My back is better. Appointment with spinal doc coming up. I'm expecting him to say "normal arthritis in the spine"... or hope so anyway.
Deletei hope you found some answers in the replies here. as life changes, many of us have to give up the things we love to do and the things we thought we would be able to do forever!! i was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago and it has changed my life so much. i often think, i really took care of myself, i don't drink, smoke, do drugs, i have always exercised, ate right....but here i am!! i am getting to a point......
ReplyDeletei would rest. forget about the chores that need to be done, all of that dust will still be there after christmas. take care of yourself, there is nothing more important than that. let others help you, go to someone else house for christmas or just stay home. i am hosting christmas and i would give anything to be going somewhere instead. i don't know how i get talked in to this stuff. next year, i will speak up!!!
merry christmas, i hope it is comforting for you!!!
Thanks, Debbie. I do appreciate the advice given to me by fellow bloggers. And I too wonder when things happen... you wonder why? What did I do wrong? I take pretty good care of myself I think...but I guess the years catch up with us one way or another. We are having a quiet Christmas this year which I'm looking forward to. Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday!
DeleteMaybe, you need a better bed. I have a firm mattress and box spring on a frame, and find it a relief to lie on it when I strain my back. It's better than sitting down. So, my advice would be to stretch your back on a firm mattress and relax for 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThat is a possibility. Our bed is maybe 30 years old. It was firm... originally. And I do lay on the floor sometimes to stretch my back, but not for 30 minutes.
DeleteI have had back issues for many years but about 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 years ago I injured my back and pushed through the pain to continue to work on our property which I think caused a lot of damage. Eventually I started to drop to my knees, never knowing when it was coming. It happened too many times to count. I was told by my chiropractor that it was the SI (sacroiliac) joint. Without an x-ray or MRI, I don't know if it's also arthritis, etc. In the last few months, I have gained some strength in that area and some healing has occurred although I'm not sure why. It's very exciting though. Don't lose hope, hopefully they can figure out what is going on and get you fixed up.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I almost agree with your chiropractor... as it feels like it could be the sacroiliac joint. But I know it's also arthritis in my spine from bone density, MRI, etc.
DeleteIt's hard to know what to do as some say it needs rest to heal, others say keep moving. Guess one has to find the right combination.