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[gennimom]

Since we seemed to be hijacking numerous threads, and MsParticularity suggested we might want to start a separate thread, this is to help give people a place to complain about physical ailments that are giving them grief.

This can be separate from the Venting thread, and maybe people can come up with suggestions for relief to the sufferers.

[gennidad]

I keep suggesting that they amputate from the neck down on GM.  ;)  <ducks>

[msparticularity]

Ah, very nice! On the chronic illnesses thread the accessories of choice are a poodle, a soft blankie and some chocolate. What do you think we need to have here while we discuss our assorted illnesses and injuries?

[gennimom]

Cookies!

Lots of pillows, a blankie and a TV set to whatever channel we want.

[infopri]

Just give me a good bed and some good drugs, and I'm happy.  When one doesn't help, the other often does.

[msparticularity]

Yeah, I spent the whole weekend in my bed with lots of pillows and some good drugs. I, unlike Gennimom, am doing better now, although it does still hurt. I have to go in for office hours and a 3-hour seminar this afternoon/evening, though, and I'm a little worried about getting through that.

[gennimom]

You need to be able to prop yourself up, MsP. Stay off your feet.

I told my office I'd come into work, but since I doubt they'll put a couch in my office, I don't think it is going to work.

[inthelab]

Ah, very nice! On the chronic illnesses thread the accessories of choice are a poodle, a soft blankie and some chocolate. What do you think we need to have here while we discuss our assorted illnesses and injuries?

make my dog a collie, please.
got my footstool all ready.

[poiuy]

Gennimom:  I had posted this question to you in the venting thread, don't know if you saw it.

Have you tried any therapies (psychotherapy or something along those lines) for chronic pain management until you get a diagnosis and treatment?  As a supplement to whatever meds or physical therapies you are on?

[gennimom]

Sorry, Poiuy. Guess I missed it. No, and around here, I'm not sure where I'd go. Unfortunately, I'm not taking many drugs because, A) they don't work, B) they make me sick, or C) both. I took some Lortab last night and it is still bugging my stomach. I'm not in physical therapy as that seemed to be making things worse (that is what precipitated the first MRI).

Hopefully, the most recent MRI will tell us if we can do the injection route next Tuesday or if we need to do something else.

[infopri]

Gennimom, I think you and My Better Half may be experiencing the same (or similar) problems.  He had his MRI yesterday, and is anticipating a big shot of some kind of steroid in his back next week.  He's been to PT, and that seemed to make things much, much worse.  He tried Lortab and it did nothing helpful.  Codeine (my own drug of choice) has helped him a bit, but of course too much of that puts him in a fog.  We're still waiting for the MRI results for a diagnosis, but the current theories are a herniated disk, or maybe stenosis, or maybe something else.  (Helpful, huh?)

[gennimom]

Ugh. My sympathies to your SO, infopri!

We know I have a herniated disk between the last lumbar and the sacral vertebrae, but the latest MRI was of my thoracic vertebrae. The doc thinks my problems may originate higher up. Fun!

Does he have problems sitting up? My back feels like it is being squished, and after a while I have to lay down and relieve the pressure.

[dept_geek]

I don't want to start a "mine is bigger" thread, so I will just say I have a series of disks that have "gone bad". Been that way for more than a decade (way more). Squished is a good descriptor.

Anyone who wants to talk about the (rather large) assortment of non-surgical treatments I have tried is welcome to PM me ('cause I really dont want to talk about it in public. never have. mostly likely never will). I have not ever had surgery, simply because it would be like trying to make jello stand up in the heat. It might work for a little while......


Poiuy's suggestion of pain management and treating the chronic side is a good one.

[infopri]

Does he have problems sitting up? My back feels like it is being squished, and after a while I have to lay down and relieve the pressure.

The PT people told him that he cannot sit more than 10 minutes at a time (with breaks of at least 30 minutes in between), and that he'd be better off not sitting at all.  He was unable to follow their recommendation, though, as sitting feels better to him than standing; for awhile there, he could barely stand at all.  Lying down is tough, too, because he can't find a comfortable position.  During the worst of this (when the PT itself was making everything worse), he was in really bad shape--he couldn't stand, sit, or lie down.  Now, with PT out of the picture, he can do all three, but he still can't really get comfortable.

Nothing like an academic who can't sit.  I know how hard (and frustrating!) that must be, gennimom.    I'm unable to sit for long periods, too, although my disks are fine.  I have scoliosis, which means certain muscles are always stretched out (not much problem), while others are always cramped into a little ball (big problem).  Lying down is temporarily curative, if I lie on my right side with my right arm extended over my head (stretches everything out), but it hurts like hell to do it, often requiring meds.  (On the other hand, not lying down is often not an option--and even when it is, I still end up needing the meds.)

DG, multiple bad disks must be a nightmare.  <gentle hugs>  I'm glad you've been able to avoid surgery, and I understand that you don't want to go into detail in public.  But I do hope that you've found some sort of treatment, among all those you've tried, that actually helps you get by.

[gennimom]

Ow, Infopri. I have to change position every so often, but I get some relief for short periods. I'm currently reclining on the couch. There is a small gap between my back and the pillows, which for some reason helps for short periods.

DG, I don't even want to THINK about multiple disks being bad. I'll be picking up the CD of my MRI tomorrow with the report. We'll see what that says, before I borrow more trouble!