Is it ok to whine a bit? Anyone with back problems?

[carrie6466]

I hope so. If not, just ignore me. With all that has been going on with DD and the schools, etc., I have been ignoring an issue I've been having that seems to be getting worse. Stress I guess. I have been having a lot of trouble with my lower back and hip since just after Xmas. I went to the dr in Jan and told him he's got to help me get better before my WDW trip in April. Last year, I ended up renting an ECV for half the trip due to (what I know) were arthritis issues in my foot. It swelled up so bad I couldn't put my shoes on and it wasn't going down. I came back and started on this whole dr. thing for me, sent from dr. to dr. until someone took xrays and saw the problem was that a chip from a broken ankle 5 yrs ago fell into the top joint in my foot and now arthritis is grown all around it.

Sorry I digress. So I was getting treatment for that and my back went out. I didnt know if it was the inserts they gave me for my shoes or what. So I went back to reg dr. He sent me to ortho after I explained now it wasn't only annoying swollen foot and tingly feelings, he tested my reflexes in that leg and I had none. He thougt it was arth. in the hip too. Go to orth, get MRI, nothing wrong with the hip. Which at this point locks so bad I can't unlock it several times and have to get DH to help. So we move on to MRI of lower back. Which, it turns out has 3 damaged dsks. Ok..this dr. (th 4th) now wants to send me to a 'pain managment' specialist. I got that news the day before DD had her CPSE meeting, so didn't take care of it right away.

I really just want to walk around on my own two feet this trip. So here it is:

With 19 days left to go, should I go get these shots in my back they are recommending at this time? OR should I wait until I come home? I've never had them before and I'm nervous as to what reaction I'll have to this. Ortho has given me anti inflammitory med and pain meds wth enough refills to get me through the trip if I couldn't get to the other doc before I went.

Our schedule right now is crazy. DD hs neuro for eeg on Mon, she will now get speech and ot on Mon Wed FRi afternoons. She's in school m-f mornings and the dr. isn't close enough for me to drop her off, get treatment and get back in the two hour window I have. She's got another neuro appt on 3/25 and the regular ped on 3/27. My theroy here was to get her taken care of first, because honestly my back isn't going anywhere at the moment.

We leave for vacation 4/1. If I were to get these shots in my back, would it be okay to get them the day before we leave? Or do you think I should wait until I get home and will have a little more available time. DD's dr appts will all be done by then, so it will just be school, speech and OT. I'll have tues and thurs afternoons free after we come home. The problem is 2 discs bulging and 3rd disc desccation with a left sided annular fissure (whateve that is, I haven't gone to the new dr for him to explain yet.)

I'm just worried about not making it through the days in the parks at this point.

I am posting here because you guys are so great and nice and helpful

 

[westernmom]

I'm sending you a PM. I've had multiple back surgeries.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm afraid I've not got much in the way of suggestions, but I wanted to send you some hugs and happy thoughts . I have back problems from the Fibro (it's non-structural, but it's still not fun, so I can relate) and do sympathise greatly.

One idea, if you wanted to get the shots sooner than a day before your trip (never had such shots, so can't recommend when to get it done) would your husband be able to take a morning off to sort your daughter while you go to the doc's? Or, could you drop her off, head to the doctor's, have your husband take a long lunch to pick her up, then you can take over with her when you get back? I'm afraid I don't know what your husband does, so don't know if this would work or not.

Whether your trip is on wheels or on your feet, you'll have a wonderful time, because you'll be in the happiest place on Earth with your family! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

I would not want to get anything major (like shots I've never had before) the day before leaving. So, if you are going to get it done, I would get it done before that.
I think you should talk to the doctor about the pluses and minuses of waiting until after the trip vs getting the shots before. If it looks like you need to get the shots before and your husband can't help with your DD's appointments, look at what appointments of your DD's you could reschedule for after the vacation.
Getting the shots might be more valuable to your family right now and a rescheduled OT or PT appointment is not going to make that much difference to your DD (I know to a mom, that doesn't feel like the right answer, but sometimes you have to take care of yourself before you take care of other people).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

sometimes you have to take care of yourself before you take care of other people.

I know it's easier said than done, but do make sure you look after yourself too. You'll be no use to anyone if you run yourself into the ground with the pain!

 

[carrie6466]

Little update here: I did speak to my dr. He wanted me to try to get them done before the trip, but he said if I can't, I can't.

DD has an EEG this week and a follow-up next week, I can't reschedule the EEG and I've already rescheduled the f/u twice LOL

OT and PT are just startng this week and we're already going to miss two of them for the dr. appts for her. Then we will miss 4 more for our trip. That's why I can't cancel any more of them. I was also told yesterday that I need to send a note to the school district that we're going on vacation. If I don't, the therapy place will notify the school that I'm not complying with the IEP. This is just crazy now

Honestly, I didn't expect the school to jump on everything so fast after our CPSE meeting. I thought none of this would actually start until after the Easter break. There is no school on 3/21 or 3/24. I figured we'd start that week. I figured wrong!! That'll teach me.

I'm going to call about the shots on Mon. morning and see if they can work with me to maybe try and get me in next Friday after 4 or Sat morning. That will be a lttle over a week before we go, so should give me some time. I figure if I can get it done then, DH will be home for a few days in case I need someone around.


Sorry I didn't make a note of who said it, but DH doesn't get a lunch hour where he can actually leave the premesis of work. He's a correction officer. He'd either have to take another day off or a half day. He's already taking the days of DD's two appts off to go with us, as well as taking off last week to go to the meeting with me. He's really a good guy and helpful, it's just that someone around here has to go to work

 

[carrie6466]

(I know to a mom, that doesn't feel like the right answer, but sometimes you have to take care of yourself before you take care of other people).

I just have to tell you, this is exactly what my Dad said when I had this conversation with him. My parents are always willing to help out, too, but they have a LOT on their own plates at the moment. I don't even want to ask them!

 

[Schmeck]

I've got the same areas of pain - back and one hip - I'm compensating for tissue removal in the other leg and everything's off, and there's some disc/cartilage damage now too. You should bring something to support your back for your trip down there, flying or driving is not good for backs! I have a special support seat in my car. I got it at WalMart, of all places, but it really helps. Can you bring a heating pad? Bring ziploc bags for ice packs too - you can use the ice machines at the resort to fill them up.

Hope you have a comfortable, safe vacation, and good luck at your daughter's appts!

 

[carrie6466]

Adding Ziploc bags to the packing list...thanks Schmeck! Driving I stop every hour or so and get out and walk around. Flying, I usually just try to get up and walk or stand in the back for a few minutes.

 

[bzzymom]

I haven't spent much time on line due to my back pain. I can't sit for very long at all. I am undergoing treatment for a work related injury almost 11 months ago. I have 2 disc tears, and I had 2 muscles that were severly sprained or torn and the sacroiliac joint is also sprained or strained. My back has been swollen since the injury, although it is less now than it was. I have had 3 epidural injections, 4 sacro iliac joint injections and one trigger point injection. I have not had pain relief from any of them.

I am not in any shape to travel, but even if I did, I would not travel after an injection. When you have an epidural inj you have to pretty much lay and not do much the rest of that day. I had hot flashes and some dizzyness after the epidural injections. They tell you that you can resume your normal activity the next day, but traveling isn't normal. The last injection I had was 2/20 and it was a sacro iliac injection. For about 1 week, the area where my pain was became super-hyper sensitive. I couldn't stand having anything touch my skin except for an ice pack. I only went out to go to theapy and chiropractor, otherwise, I laid on my bed our on my couch with my pants pulled down off that side.

The day you head to WDW, I will have a test (medial branch neurotomy) to see if my pain is coming from a facet. I hope that they find the cause of my pain because I want my life back.

Enjoy your trip, I know it will be hard, but maybe just being there will give you some good feeling and distraction from the pain.

 

[zumbergc]

I've had back problems for a while been in a car accident, ripped some more muscles. Have you done chiropractic care. Some chiropractors will adjust extremities, ankle, foot, knee, hip, in addition to the back and neck, some don't. If you have something going on in the foot, knee, hip, ankle, it can affect the other joints, and then if the lower part is off it will translate into the sacral joint and up in the back.

If you decide to go the chiro way, of coarse ask around and find someone other people liked. I would recommend finding a doc that is also into rehab too. I got lucky, my guy gives rehab exercises too. So, getting the structure back into the right spot, and then strengthen the muscles.

A friend had some bad issues going on, she happens to fall quit a bit. The was having some really bad sciatic leg, and sacral pains, and leg issues.
She tried the shots, and she didn't get any relief from them. She went traditional reg docs. Then i finally convinced her to see my chiropractor. I had felt so bad for her, since I understood the pain she was in, because I had been thru it. Its not an overnight fix, you have to go regularly, take it easy after the adjustments, so as not to pop things right back out after the chiro adjusts you. You go more often in the beginning and then les and less.

Seems like you have a lot on your plate, but don't forget to take time for you to get fixed too!

Connie

 

[zumbergc]

Ow, I forgot to mention.

When i first had knee and hip issues. They put me in orthodics too, however they didn't know what they were doing. The physical therapists did worse and messed things up further. They tried some techniques which i saw done appropriately with the chiropracter. They were trying to do a release move, but they didn't know what they were doing. It would have been helpful, but they weren't properly trained or experienced enough.

The orthodics they prescribed or did, they put a lift in my right foot. At first it felt a little better but then things in my hip got way worse. When you have a leg length discrepancy, causing problems there are a couple things which can cause it. A. you really have one leg longer/shorter than the other. B. The legs could be the same length but you have a functional leg length problem. This could be because you have a sacro-illiac problem, your hips could be tilted side ways, or have a other type of funny tilt. If the corrrection to your pelvis, low back isn't done, well things won't get better. The longer you wait to correct a problem, the more muscle memory your body will have about the injury and it then takes longer for yourself to heal.

I went thru several iterations w/ orthodics w/ the first pt place, all wrong. Eventually I went with a podiatrist. He did help, but he didn't know anything about adjusting ankles, hips, pelvis, etc. So, while he gave me good orthodics, without the adjustments, i was left in pain.

Later i worked w/ a trainer to help strengthen things.. still in lots of pain.
Then I gave PT at another place a try, big mistake, lost lots of muscle, and then I pulled something in my low back. His theory, was I was training to much, and it was overuse injuries. he was wrong. Once, I pulled somehting I had enough w. him. I had been complaining of my low back hurting and it was getting worse, the horrrible PT he was, he kept ignoring me, intil one day when I pulled a muscle, making everything worse and lots of pain. I had went to my gp, and the only thing he gave me were pills, well they just made me tired and didn't relieve any of the pain. Thats when I called my trainer, he had mentioned he used a chiropractor, and he had tried a few, so I gave him a try. So, it did take a while to get back to feeling better. Then unfortunately 2 years after, car accident, ripped some more things, and messed up all the healing, and went back for more help from the chiro.

What I can say, keep looking until you find the right approach that works for you and the right doctor you trust. My reg gp at the time didn't have a clue about musclular and joint problems, so the chiro was the way to go. Yes, along the way i had x-rays and mri's to look for tears, and other problems, just to make sure. Whether you firnd a DO or ortho, PT, trainer, or chiropractor to help you out, I wish you the best of luck in finding a good person to help heal your problems.

Connie

 

[carrie6466]

Thank you all for all the information. The shots became a moot point, because the soonest they could get me in when I called would have been while I was away. So I didn't get them, and we leave Tuesday. The meds and ice packs seem to be helping a lot, so that is what I'm going to go with on vacation. I've made an appointment with the dr. for after I come back and will take it from there.

 

[bzzymom]

Good luck. Let us know how you your trip goes!

 

[Disneylover 2]

Well, my sister had scoliosis surgery almost 2 years ago. And now, I'm developing scoliosis too. I am now diagnosed with mild thoracic dextroscoliosis.Both of us have had back pain. All I can say to you is Good Luck and God Bless!