Back Pain Support Group
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care. In fact, about 3 in 4 adults will experience back pain during their lifetime! The term back pain includes pain affecting the neck, midback and low back. Acute back pain may begin suddenly with intense pain but typically lasts fewer than three months. Usually, chronic back pain is persistent, steady, and...
OK I am looking for someone with my problems so I will know I am not losing my mind. I have been back and forth to the doctors and still after 1.5 years deal with pain 24/7, sometimes only a 4 on the pain scale, but sometimes, end of the day and then during the night and morning are the worse going as high as 9 or 10 where I just want to cry. I try to be tough and deal with it or I will just get too depressed and make everyone around me miserable. I have had back pain for about 10 years, but only about 1.5 years ago it started affecting my legs. This happens when I walk a lot, like I cannot exercise by walking any more and when I go shopping I only last about 15 min. or less before my legs start tingling and my back will hurt worse and then my legs feel really heavy which causes my feet to drag and I walk real funny and it is soooooo embarrasing to be somewhere when this happens. I have literally fallen because of this. I have had two MRIs, first one in Jan. where they said I had two bulging discs at L5-S1. My recent MRI on Nov. 2 they tell me nothing is wrong with my back, but now they want to do an MRI of my neck; which has been feeling tight between my shoulder blades and my neck pops a lot. They are thinking that maybe something is being pinched in my neck causing my leg problems. Also, (as if I do not have enough problems) my right shoulder has felt like someon punched it and it is out of socket for about 3 months now and it goes weak to where I am dropping things or cannot do like sewing or crafting. Nights I cannot stand because when I lie down it seems to be worse because lying on my left side causes my back to feel like it is tied up in knots and my left hip area is sore. During the daytime for the past month my upper leg/hip area feels really tight. I lie on my right side and my shoulder pain gets excrutiating when I wake up an hour later to roll over. I have been sleeping with a pillow between my knees lately and just a few days ago bought a Memory Foam contoured pillow. The contoured pillow helps a bit with helping me sleep but when I wake up 2 or 3 hours of sleep I painfully need to roll over. OK I am done, if anyone has experienced these same symptoms and actually has any remedies or can tell me something their doctor told them I would appreciate any help on the road to recovery. There are just toooooo many things I want to do that I cannot do any more. One of them being going to Disney Land this coming summer, seems like I will be in an electronic cart or else stopping every 30 min. to rest for 30-40 min. I failed to mention that I am tooooo young for this to be happening. :-0
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
You are not alone. The symptoms you describe are similar to my own. I had terrible pain for over a year before my doctor finally decided to operate. Perhaps you will meet the same fate. I suggest you look into injections first. Sounds painful but they are very quick and relatively painless, and I am HORRIBLE with needles!!! Talk to your doctor.
"Good" news on the Disney Land front though, I was to Disney World 2 yrs ago and I rented a scooter. It was definitely worth it, and yanno, I didn't feel weird about it because there were TONS of other people using them too. Better to get one to be able to enjoy yourself rather than let your pride get to you and be in pain the entire time. At least that's how I felt.
Anyhow, if ya needa talk or vent or anything I'm here for ya...as I'm sure the rest of DS is too! :)
Please know that I feel for you and that I had some pearls of wisdom to share with you...looks like we are all fumbling along at this site. What a pleasure to be able to talk about it, though!!I'll follow your progress now, we are pain buddies now....LOL!!!
I use the pillow between my legs to sleep and it works find till i roll over without it and the pain starts again..
Also when i stand lets say to wash the dishes if i put my leg up about 12" highter onto the ledge under the cabinet the back wont hurt if i stand without doing this the back hurts within three minutes and my whole right hip and leg are numb and hurting to the point i have to sit down...
Riding in those little electric carts in stores may be a good idea for you to do i do all the time not only from my back but i have braces on my legs and can't walk to far.
Get a second opinion at all times. As a nurse....Im telling you to always get a second opinion.
I was told by the first doc 10 years ago taht nothing was wrong with me and that I just wanted pain meds. they never did an MRI and now there is terrible damage and the state is trying to fight it saying there is no proof it is the old injury. I have NO reflexes in my feet now either.
Don't give up and look into injections first. they did not work for me but help many people. The reason they don't work is I have no disc left in L5S1. Just an air pocket and some fragmentation. Just biding my time until the court system is done tourturing me.
Hang in there.
Hugs & God bless