It's all just a bad joke
Oct. 1st, 2007 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kitanziSometimes I feel like I've had just one nebulous, frustrating health issue after another since I turned 30. It's not really true, and it's not exactly the doctors' fault either, but sometimes it feels that way.
Today's installment was my lower back. I have had minor lower back issues for as long as I can remember, and didn't really think enough of it to mention it to a doctor. Random pain, a spot around the base of my spine that was excrutiating if anything put pressure in the wrong place, things like that. Everything seemed to move okay, just don't touch it and it's fine. Well, lately that's not been true. Over the last few months it's become more of a problem in sleeping, with some relief from putting pillows under my knees to change the angle of things (although that seems to eventually cut off circulation to my legs - can't win some days) and finally I made a doctor's appointment for this morning after enough days of waking up very early and in pain.
The result appears to be a set of XRays, many questions from everyone in sight on how I hurt myself (I didn't! Or if I did, I was ten years old at the time or something!) and a doctor who was very, very repetitive in asking if I had pain or tingling in my legs. (She was also rather confused that I can touch my toes and do a pretty deep backbend without pain. I don't get it either, I just demonstrate it since it's true.) The patch of "don't FUCKING touch that" seems to have grown, too, as she thoroughly proved by POKING all over my lower back to find out where it hurt. It still aches - but if this gets me long term help, it's worth it. I also have a couple of prescriptions, they have several vials of blood and a cup of urine, and we jointly have an appointment for me to get a complete physical the week after OVFF. (That will also address a possible blood sugar issue and get my yearly birth control prescription taken care of.) *sigh* I'm not a good patient, I know. I stubbornly want to just cope with things right up to where I can't anymore, and then I want it fixed, dammit. I'm just a little scared this will somehow follow the same progression my shoulder did - months of pain, pills, shots, physical therapy that does piss all, and then surgery. Granted, it did make all the difference in my shoulder, but I really don't want to do that again, and the idea of doing it on my spine this time makes me shiver.
Today's installment was my lower back. I have had minor lower back issues for as long as I can remember, and didn't really think enough of it to mention it to a doctor. Random pain, a spot around the base of my spine that was excrutiating if anything put pressure in the wrong place, things like that. Everything seemed to move okay, just don't touch it and it's fine. Well, lately that's not been true. Over the last few months it's become more of a problem in sleeping, with some relief from putting pillows under my knees to change the angle of things (although that seems to eventually cut off circulation to my legs - can't win some days) and finally I made a doctor's appointment for this morning after enough days of waking up very early and in pain.
The result appears to be a set of XRays, many questions from everyone in sight on how I hurt myself (I didn't! Or if I did, I was ten years old at the time or something!) and a doctor who was very, very repetitive in asking if I had pain or tingling in my legs. (She was also rather confused that I can touch my toes and do a pretty deep backbend without pain. I don't get it either, I just demonstrate it since it's true.) The patch of "don't FUCKING touch that" seems to have grown, too, as she thoroughly proved by POKING all over my lower back to find out where it hurt. It still aches - but if this gets me long term help, it's worth it. I also have a couple of prescriptions, they have several vials of blood and a cup of urine, and we jointly have an appointment for me to get a complete physical the week after OVFF. (That will also address a possible blood sugar issue and get my yearly birth control prescription taken care of.) *sigh* I'm not a good patient, I know. I stubbornly want to just cope with things right up to where I can't anymore, and then I want it fixed, dammit. I'm just a little scared this will somehow follow the same progression my shoulder did - months of pain, pills, shots, physical therapy that does piss all, and then surgery. Granted, it did make all the difference in my shoulder, but I really don't want to do that again, and the idea of doing it on my spine this time makes me shiver.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 10:49 pm (UTC)Back pain is really not fun. I'm sorry to hear you're hurtin'. I hope you feel better soon and that it doesn't end up scary like you said.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 11:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 11:45 pm (UTC)I wonder if Doctor Lee is still down on Buford Highway... he's the acupuncturist who treated
Definitely thinking with the alternative medicine, one way or the other, here.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-01 11:47 pm (UTC)I would know absolutely nothing about that.
Just remember that, in the long run, you're better off knowing what the problem is, so that they can fix it earlier in the process than what happened with your shoulder.
She was also rather confused that I can touch my toes and do a pretty deep backbend without pain. I don't get it either, I just demonstrate it since it's true.
I don't believe that. I shall have to see it in person to be convinced. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 06:56 am (UTC)Good advice. I know no one likes going to a doctor's office or, worse, the EW. But a problem untreated can escalate to a higher level, requiring a higher level of treatment. You only get one back in life! Getting the problem looked at when shots, medicine or physical therapy can help (it *can* help - don't give up on PT) is better than waiting until it needs surgery (back surgery is quite iffy in its results).
You might also ask for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test, which shows a lot more detail than an X-ray.
BTW, Chosen One has been sleeping with 3 pillows under the lower legs for years to ease back pain, with no circulation problems. Try adjusting the positioning of the pillows, or using one less pillow?
'a doctor who was very, very repetitive in asking if I had pain or tingling in my legs.'
Trouble in different sections of the spine manifest themselves in different parts of the body. She may have been trying to pinpoint where in the spine the problem is. Depending on which lumbar (lower back) vertebrae is / are the problem, symptoms could show up in the buttocks, the upper legs or the lower legs.
Keep pursuing it, lass. The fact that the 'patch of "don't FUCKING touch that" seems to have grown' should reinforce your determination to deal with this.
Best wishes,
Ann O. (not a doctor)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 05:09 pm (UTC)Finding out what the reason is is a good thing - even if you end up simply with confirmation that it's not one of several usual/frequent/nasty things the doctors can think of that would be a good step, if frustrating. But it would leave you free to try things like acupuncture/-pressure, physical therapy, yoga, pilates or whatever alternative therapy you come across that sounds potentially promising/appealing to you. You're bound to find something that'll help.
In the meantime - I'm sorry you're in pain, I hope for you that you'll find relief & cure/management process soon & I send s heap of these: *hug*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 02:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 06:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-02 05:06 pm (UTC)I hope, for your sake, that they can figure out what it is. Even if it's scary. Because after 15 years of no one having a clue what's wrong with my back (I have a herniated disc, but that's in addition to my other problem), I can tell you that it really sucks. You can't fix something if you don't know what is wrong with it. So I would like them to figure out your problem, have it be easily fixable, and then go ahead and fix it.
Oh, and I'd like a pony. *grin*
*gentle hug* Good luck with it; I'll be sending good-back-vibes in your direction.