I put "interesting" in scare quotes because I'm using it in the sense of that ol' Chinese curse: to wit: "May you live in interesting times."
It was a lil over 15 years ago I experienced a herniated disc in my lower back, an event that ultimately required surgery and six months of physical therapy rehabilitation, said rehab employing a regimen I truly believe was devised by Torquemada during the Spanish Inquisition. Ever since that time... which I refer to as "The Year of Intense Pain"... I wince and go into "oh, no... not again!" paroxysms of fear whenever I experience lower back pain. This has been the case for a solid week now, a week wherein we've been nursing lower back pain that simply will NOT go away. A couple of Aleves take the edge off of the pain but nothing I do eliminates it altogether. The worse part of the pain is the accompanying shooting pain in my legs, which I recognize as being symptomatic of disc problems.
The Second Mrs. Pennington was still with me when I went through that ordeal 15 years ago, or at least she was with me for the worst part of it, which was the surgery and the first six weeks of recovery. I dread the thought of goin' through a similar experience all by myself and, truth be told, I have NO ideer how I'd be able to cope without some sort of assistance. So we're sittin' here and hopin' our worst fears aren't realized. I AM beginning to wonder, though. A week is a long time to go through this sorta shi'ite; I would have thought we'd be outta the woods by now.
It's always sumthin'.
The Second Mrs. Pennington was still with me when I went through that ordeal 15 years ago, or at least she was with me for the worst part of it, which was the surgery and the first six weeks of recovery. I dread the thought of goin' through a similar experience all by myself and, truth be told, I have NO ideer how I'd be able to cope without some sort of assistance. So we're sittin' here and hopin' our worst fears aren't realized. I AM beginning to wonder, though. A week is a long time to go through this sorta shi'ite; I would have thought we'd be outta the woods by now.
It's always sumthin'.
Well, you did just do a LOT of driving. Even with good lumbar support, that tends to mess with my back.
ReplyDeleteBut I'll keep you in my prayers anyway. I'd hate to have you go through that stuff again.
I was thinking the same thing Buck. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteMy brother went the narcotics route after back surgery, and it was a disaster. My prayers your pain subsides! You may need a good masseuse!
ReplyDelete@ Alison & Chris: Thanks for the kind words.
ReplyDelete@ Christiane: My orthopedic surgeon prescribed narcotic pain relievers... Vicodin, I believe... for two weeks during the post-op phase and then took me off of them, over my strenuous objections. NOTHING killed the pain like those drugs did, which is part of the reason I use that "Year of Intense Pain" term to describe the experience. OTOH, my doctor might have saved me some serious grief based on your brother's story and others I've heard.
Buck,
ReplyDeleteWe've talked about this before and I do understand what you're going through. I've never had the surgery, but I have had several debilitating disc episodes since the big one in 2000 which put me out of commission for about two months. The phrase I use is "locked up" because the pain--or anticipation of it-- almost shuts your movements down completely. Are you at that point now? The episodes I've had since have all eventually subsided after a week or three of rest, a bit of hydrocodone, and some exercises the therapist gave me. Hang in there. I hope you can somehow weather this without a 2nd surgery.
I'm not at the lock-up stage, Dan, just at the constant pain of the annoying sort... which isn't debilitating yet. But I DO hear ya. I'm trying to take it easy but life keeps intruding...
DeleteDiazepam... has it been tried?
ReplyDeleteIt can help immensely with relaxation.
I think the Sarge is onto something about the cross country trek.
I had to Google Diazepam... and the side-effects sound scary. I've decided to (gasp!) go see my doctor if things aren't better by Thursday. She might prescribe Flexeril... that works, to a limited extent, too.
DeleteI was thinking only of its anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties ...and only for the short term ...along with hot soaks in the tub.
DeleteI had the same thoughts about the driving long distance. Hopefully it will get better soon.
ReplyDeleteBut why did it wait four or five days to kick in (the pain)?
DeleteYou may need a new bed! Maybe your sons beds were nicer :-)
DeleteI know when I need a new bed, as my left hip starts hurting and then my back. I don't spend enough on quality I'm afraid. I see the price of the really nice beds and then go get a 3-year mattress, ugh...
@ Christiane: I went big on my bed the last time around... I bought a Tempurpedic. That's prolly the best mattress I've ever owned... second to my futons in Former Happy Days... so I don't think the bed is what's wrong. I'm beginning to think the current problem is fall-out from that long road trip. Nothing else seems to fit.
DeleteI second the suggestion to get a massage. A THERAPEUTIC massage, *ahem*. :D
ReplyDeleteTherapeutic is the ONLY kind, right? ;-)
DeleteDamn skippy. In my universe, anyway. ;)
ReplyDelete