Oh, my aching back!

[Hound dog]

Literally.

I am not someone who suffers from back troubles. Oh, I've been known to have it ache if I'm on my feet all day and unable to move around much, which is the only thing I hated about being a cashier, but other than that? Nada. None.

It started about 2 wks ago, or maybe it just feels like 2 wks, but I think that is about right. I got up one morning and it was like someone was ramming a knife into my lower back not too far above the tail bone. I hadn't done anything physical so figured I must have slept wrong or something. Moving around some seemed to help. Then it was on and off, sometimes just this nagging pain that could drive you crazy, other times this really horrific pain radiating down the legs. Moving or not moving doesn't seem to have any effect on it.

Three days now and it's constant........and I'm going to start yanking out hair soon. Today it's been excruciating and down the left leg. Left ankle and foot are slightly swollen too. Now before anyone jumps to conclusions I get that sometimes without the pain......symptoms of CHF, so it may or may not be related. But today watching the boys was pure hell on earth. And since the pain was so bad I was all no nonsense Nana, if I said jump I expected to be asked how high, not ignored. The boys are not used to seeing me this way......and it took them a bit to figure out Nana was in no mood to be pushed. Trust me, it takes intense pain to make me that way as I have a very high tolerance to pain thanks to the kidney disease.

When Nichole came down yesterday she brought some medications with her, Oxycontin from sister in law's wisdom tooth extraction, some ibuprofen script strength, and muscle relaxers. Well, I felt no need yesterday for the Oxycontin, I just didn't think the pain level was high enough to warrant it. Tonight I'm wishing I'd had her leave one just in case. omg Ibuprofen I tried the night before last and it did squat. The muscle relaxant let me sleep last night.......and that's about it. So guessing it's a nerve deal instead of a muscle deal. Or maybe a combination of the two.

I took a muscle relaxant a bit ago, hopefully it will help me to be able to sleep tonight. Because it is baaaad.

Ticks me off. I did not injure my back. Even doing yard work I stayed well within my limits, frustrating but I did. And when it's really going at it walking is nearly impossible, which makes it hard to do much of anything, not that sitting or lying down makes it feel any better.

sister in law hinted he may have mandatory overtime on Sat. Well, tough noogies for him. Not my fault. I had all I could do to get through today, and no way in hades am I watching them on my day off too. His mom or other relative better be able to cover it. I'm not going to attempt to keep out of trouble and in line 3 little boys in this type of pain.

I'm going to the doctor soon for medication refills. Dunno if he'd have any clue wth is going on any more than I do. Who the heck just wakes up one day with their back killing them??

Ok. Vent over.

 

[InsaneCdn]

Pinched nerve - see PM.

 

[recoveringenabler]

Just a thought...............
Common symptoms of sciatica include:​

• Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
• Burning or tingling down the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A constant pain on one side of the rear
• A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up

Sciatica usually affects only one side of the lower body. Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way through the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.For some people, the pain from sciatica can be severe and debilitating. For others, the sciatica pain might be infrequent and irritating, but has the potential to get worse.Seek immediate medical attention with any symptoms of progressive lower extremity weakness and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.​

[h=3]What Causes Sciatica?[/h]

Sciatica is caused by irritation of the root(s) of the lower lumbar and lumbosacral spine.Additional common causes of sciatica include:​

• Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back)
• Degenerative disc disease (breakdown of discs, which act as cushions between the vertebrae)
• Spondylolisthesis (a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over another one)

 

[Dancerat]

I am not a physician, but what you have sounds exactly like sciatica. I had an L5S1 herniated disk three years ago, and it took all weekend, starting on a Friday, to put me into the emergency room on Monday with the most excruciating pain I have ever had down my left leg. It got so bad, I could not walk and was literally in bed for two months. I was taking up to 20 vicodin a day and it barely touched the pain. I am sorry to hear you may have this, and I hope it isn't, but it sounds like it. Some are worse than others. Mine took three months to get over, but I did get over it. I still have residual pain, but if you need any advice, I can tell you everything I went through.

 

[recoveringenabler]

Acupuncture works wonders for sciatica. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[AnnieO]

Sweetie, as soon as I read your description I thought, "sciatic nerve!"

I pinched mine a while back during some vigorous physical activity and didn't notice for a coupla days - then WHAM. OWWW. I could barely walk - down the left leg! I've been waiting for Bean to sit on it, so far no, but still. STAB, TWINGE... And sometimes a tingle, too. Like something back there fell asleep and is waking, mild pins-and-needles.

You're not going to like this one but - a heating pad on my lower back for a little bit helped. Then GENTLE movement. Ibuprofen did nothing for me, either...

 

[LittleDudesMom]

I agree, it sounds like sciatica. I've had two episodes in the last five years - one being especially difficult. Anti-inflamatories help. For me, sitting was so painful. I would actually stand more than sit. Working at the office was the pits!

One thing that helps me is, before getting out of bed in the morning, lay on your back and lift each leg and do circular motions, it helps to loosen up the lower back before you get out of bed. Then, once you get out and before you move around, do some hip rotations. These help to loosen up the lower back muscles that tighten over night.

Hope you get some relief and start to feel better soon.

Sharon

 

[Hound dog]

Yup, was thinking sciatic nerve myself.

When it's really fired up, and last night it was really fired up by the time I went to go to bed, it's the lower back, the thigh (deep bone like pain), the knee, the ankle and the leg doesn't always want to work right.

And I just remembered, because I asked easy child about this...........Sometimes, now there is no pain at all no symptoms, I go to walk or stand up and I sort of stagger on the left side.......and lean that way, and it has thrown me off balance many times. I don't really know how to describe it, but it's like my body or the leg just won't do what I want it to do for a few seconds. Makes me stagger. Makes me run into things. This is a random event I've been noticing for little more than a year.

I mention it because yesterday there were times the left leg was not cooperating. I don't know if they're related to each other or not. But since it is involving the same area......I'm going to assume they might be.

I guess I'll be heating pad shopping. Although heat doesn't seem to do much for it either, I've tried hot showers (and I do mean hot because I use very little cold water in my showers)

This morning I had maybe 5 whole minutes of Oh, maybe it's gone now. Before it hit again. It's the back, hip, and thigh so far. Oh Goody gum drops, I'm so thrilled. Not. My To Do list today is rather long.

 

[AnnieO]

Lisa, WalMart carries a decent, oversize heating pad for $15...

 

[recoveringenabler]

• Hope this helps.........
• Mayo Clinic advice for sciatica.
• Cold packs. Initially, using cold packs may be able to reduce inflammation and relieve discomfort. Wrap an ice pack or a package of frozen peas in a clean towel and apply to the painful areas for up to 20 minutes at least several times a day.
• Hot packs. After two to three days, apply heat to the areas that hurt. Use hot packs, a heat lamp or a heating pad on the lowest setting. If you continue to have pain, try alternating warm and cold packs.
• Stretching. Stretching exercises for your low back can help you feel better and may help relieve nerve root compression. Avoid jerking, bouncing or twisting during the stretch and try to hold the stretch at least 30 seconds.
• Over-the-counter medications. Pain relievers (analgesics) fall into two categories — those that reduce pain and inflammation and those that treat only pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can both be helpful for sciatica.
  Although they can provide real relief, there's a limit to how much pain they can control. What's more, NSAIDs can cause side effects such as nausea, stomach bleeding or ulcers, and acetaminophen can cause liver problems if taken in excess.
  If you use these medications, talk to your doctor so that you can be monitored for problems and periodically re-evaluate whether you still need them. Exercise, stretching, massage and other nondrug treatments can often provide the same benefits without side effects.
  
• Regular exercise. It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when you're in pain, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to combat chronic discomfort. Sustained, regular exercise prompts your body to release endorphins — the body's natural painkillers.
  Early in the course of sciatica, water exercise or other low-impact exercise, such as stationary bicycling, will help you stay active without worsening your symptoms. As you improve and the pain lessens, a combined program of aerobic activity, strength training and core stability exercises can help limit the effects of age-related back problems.
  Ask your doctor to help you design a safe step-up program for exercise. You may benefit from working with a certified personal trainer, fitness specialist or physical therapist.

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