One thing for another

I have good news and bad news. Don't you love those words?

The good news is that my knees don't hurt.

The bad news is that now my back hurts.

It's not too bad, but it does kind of put a damper on my day. I was going to go get some things from my storage garage, but now I don't know if I'll be able to. If the ibuprofen works, I will probably go.

Artistic Suffering

I tried shopping this week, with my mom. I did it without pain killers, but I was only able to walk around for about an hour before I got very sore. It wasn't my back, it was my knees. That seems to be the problem lately.

I have a tendency to hyperfocus on my artwork. It's almost a meditative state. The good news is, I don't notice pain when I'm in the middle of it, but when I decide to take a break, the awareness goes back to my legs. All I can say is "Ow" It's all in my knees, which isn't surprising, since I've been sitting on my bed working on this art for a good deal of time now. I just took ibuprofen, I hope it helps.

I've also been trying to work on organizing my room, but there are certain things I can't do. Like move the mini fridge. I guess I'll just have to live with it as is, for now :)

One thing that's become clear to me is that I will need to regain some sort of stamina for standing before I go back to work. While this constant rest has done wonders for my disk pain, I'm finding that I can't stand up for as long as I could even two weeks ago. We'll see what happens.

Like a Kite

The pain has persisted for the whole day. It's my herniated disk pain, right at the base of my back. It hasn't radiated at all, so it's very localized. It still hurts enough, though.

I took hydrocodone about an hour and a half ago. Since I haven't been on it for a week, the high is a lot stronger than it has been for awhile. My lips are numb, my mouth is dry, I'm kind of dizzy, and I'm euphoric. The euphoria is the reason why people abuse this stuff. As for me, I prefer to have my head not so high in the clouds. Oh well. The pain is mostly gone now.

I had to go out to buy several things today, and I'm very grateful that one of my good friends came with me. He has been a great help to me. He's also agreed to help me carry my full laundry basket down to my car tomorrow, something for which I'm eternally grateful. One thing that has made me very happy is the generosity of some of my friends. I don't know if any of you read this, but trust me when I say that your help means more to me than I can fully express :) Thank you so much, if you are reading this.

A Return

When I woke up and tried to move today, I realized my pain in my lumbar region is back. It's not terrible, but it wasn't a pleasant thing to wake up to. I think it had to do with all of the dreams I had last night. There were at least 3 different ones, and a couple of them were pretty distressing. It makes sense to me that there would be some movement while I was sleeping.

So, right now, my entire back hurts in some way. I don't think I'll be spending long stretches in my computer chair today. Even under the best circumstances, it gets uncomfortable. Today, it would be torture.

We'll see how I am later today. I don't have plans, so hopefully continuing my rest will do me some good.

One pain, or another

It has been a few days since I last updated, but there really hasn't been much to say.

I haven't taken hydrocodone since Friday. I'm actually very happy about that. The only problem I've had is a pretty bad leg pain that wakes me up at 5 am. That's been going on the last 3 nights. I've taken ibuprofen, and that has done the trick. I'm starting off with some Advil PM tonight, so hopefully I don't wake up to that again.

Currently, my mid-back is hurting, but really nothing out of the ordinary. My lumbar region isn't really bothering me. I did go out tonight, so I'm actually doing well considering the circumstances. Once I lay down, I should be okay.

Last Day

Yesterday was the last day of work until next semester. I'll try to take the pain meds only when I'm going out, but we'll have to see. My pain today isn't bad, but I don't know how it'll go when I decide to go out tonight.

Almost done

My car is still covered with a sheet of ice. I really do need to invest in a scraper, since I've left the ones that I had in Nashville. What that means is...I had to walk again today. This time, though, it was at 6:30 in the morning. I managed to make it, but believe me, it was cold and painful. I'm going to see if one of my coworkers is nice enough to drive me home after work tonight.

The pain today has been mostly in my left leg. I've been taking hydrocodone all day, and that's been managing it fairly well. Unfortunately, I was still on it while taking my last final today. I'm fairly certain that my paragraphs were legible, but we'll see how I end up doing on it.

I only have 2 more days of work before I'm done for a month. I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with myself during winter break. I'm so used to having lots of stuff going on that I really don't know what to do with myself when I have a day of nothing planned. It will still be really beneficial for me, though. Maybe I'll buy a video game or something to pass the time and still physically relax.

Other than that, I'm doing pretty well today. The pain is at a manageable level for me right now. Currently, I'm waiting for my work shift, so I may do a little research for information tidbits to bore all of you with. Guess we'll just have to see.

Side effects

Last night, I decided not to take my painkillers after about 3:30 or so. So, it wore off at about 7:30 or so. It didn't work terribly well at work, either. Today, I took the hydrocodone only in the morning, but didn't take any more after it wore off at around 11 or so.

I'm trying to keep my intake down, so I don't kill my liver. Plus, it dehydrates me, and drives my appetite to almost nothing. There's also the main side effect of the high. I called it my "happy vicodin bubble" soon after I started taking the stuff. However, I don't really enjoy being high all the time. So, as much as I can stand it, I'm going to try not to take anything.

I did have to walk to my last final today, though, since my car is currently covered in an impenetrable sheet of ice. It wasn't so bad on the way there, but the way back was pretty terrible. The pain level right now is pretty high, but I'm going to bed soon, so I'm not worried about it too much.

The thoracic pain is still around. Hopefully that goes away soon.

Sorry, but this is mostly complaining, but I haven't had any time to find anything else. Hopefully later.

Return of an old enemy

So, I did manage to get my prescription filled on Saturday, through the blowing snow and crappy roads. I thought they were going to give me vicodin with codeine, but instead, I got generic hydrocodone with acetaminophen, like the ones I had before. The only difference is, they have 7.5 mg hydrocodone instead of 5, so I don't have to take as much. They also only last 4 hours, a fact I found out the hard way today. The meds wore off right about 11:15 or so, which happened to correspond to when I started a shift at work. Fortunately, I only had to work for 45 minutes, so I managed to deal with the pain for a bit.

I do work again tonight, but I'll make sure that I'm prepared.

A bit of a side note; yesterday, I had my regular mid-back general pain that is caused by my scoliosis along with everything else. I really don't need that pain to be coming back, too. I managed to keep my back from spasming, which is good, since that would have compounded the issue. I seem to be doing okay today, but we'll have to see about later on.

Stays the same

I didn't update yesterday, but really, not much changed. The pain level is the same, the pain location is the same.

I haven't taken any hydrocodone yet, but I certainly will before I go out. I'm going to fill my prescription today. Other that that, I'm not doing much.

Both are still present

For the last 20 minutes or so of work, the hydrocodone wore off, and I waited until I got home to take more. I wanted to see where it hurt.

My entire left leg hurts. Down both the front and the back, the knee, and the top of my foot. I could put weight on it, but it hurt. Of course, there's still the back pain.

A lot of people have been saying "Ohh, that explains it" when I tell them about the herniated disk. I want to point out that the pain that I've been having recently is completely different than the pain that I usually have. Normally, my mid-back hurts, and it's spread through the entire area. Don't write off the scoliosis just because of the herniated disk. It's still there, and it's not going to go away.

Restriction

So, the first day of hyper-awareness about my daily activities has begun.

I'm trying really hard to take it easy. Cough suppression has been difficult, but I've managed to do it pretty well. I will go pick up something later tonight for it.

Other than that, I've been having other people carry stuff for me. I hate it. I hate the feeling of helplessness. But I have to do it, and everyone has been more than willing to help me out. That means the chicken salad, the finished sandwiches, the soup...everything. I can't really lift any of it. I think I'll be OK with the pizzas today, but I'll have to see on that, too.

I'm about to go back to work, so I guess I'll have an update later. I also might go out tonight, but I'll have to see on that, too.

The plot thickens!

So, I had my ortho appointment today. I was expecting x-rays. I didn't even have to take off my clothes.

The doctor came in and told me the news. I have a herniated disk. Right at the base of my spine. That basically confirms my suspicions about my terrible and unusual back pain lately.

So, what does this mean? Well, it's certainly a more pressing issue than my scoliosis. I have an appointment in a month, so until then, I have orders to take it easy. That means...no lifting, no coughing, no strenuous activity. That means, once I finish out this semester, I'm not going to find a job for break. I'm going to basically lay around and rest. It will give me a great chance to work on my websites and portfolio, at least.

The magic day is January 2nd. I will continue to update daily with my pain level, but know that I'll probably be taking hydrocodone every day. The surgeon gave me a prescription for more, so I'm really not in danger of running out anymore.

I will add links to info on herniated disks soon, and I'm planning on getting my MRI sometime this week.

Same old, same old

Nothing has really changed so far. This is just mostly for label recording. There should be much more information later tonight, after my ortho appointment.

The Rest of the Day

Work went pretty well today. I had to take more hyrdocodone, since the pain hasn't gone away yet. My coworkers are very considerate and helped me whenever they could. Other than that, not much else happened.

I took a nap before class, and I'm not in too much pain now. I don't think I'll have to take anymore medication tonight.

Now I'm going to look up some MRI info. I'll be sure to post anything interesting I find.

A new experience

So, I'm done with my MRI. I might as well give a play-by-play while it's fresh in my mind.

So, I woke up at 5:30 with a lung-full of phlegm and a little bit of pain. The congestion was mostly taken care of with my inhaler, but I held off on popping pills right away. I arrived at the place with no trouble, but I did manage to walk in the wrong door :-/. After filling out paperwork and having a complimentary breakfast, I was soon taken back and put in a room where I had to change half of my clothing. The pants they had me change into are VERY comfortable. So, with everything metal stashed away and the rest of me ready to go, I went and sat in their little recliner in the second waiting room. They gave me a list of XM radio stations to choose from, ran over basically what would take place, then left me in the chair for about 5 minutes to doze. When they were finally ready, I went in to the imaging room. The MRI is basically a big tube. I laid down on the sliding platform, and they gave me headphones with my choice of radio station, a blanket, a panic button, and instructions not to move. Then, they slid me into the machine.

The machine itself wasn't intimidating, unless you're claustrophobic. The only thing I could see was the edge of the machine above my head. Needless to say, I closed my eyes. The only sensory input was sound. And there was lots of it. Not only did I have the swing music I had chosen, the machine itself makes lots and lots of noise. I knew I would find it impossible to actually sleep, but I entered what I like to call "turning inward". Basically, it's a type of meditation where you become semi-aware of your surroundings, but become completely aware of your internal thoughts. I think the rest of me slept, though, because when I "woke up", I felt like I had gotten some restful sleep.

It was a good experience. I was warm, comfortable, and relaxed. I had taken my hydrocodone shortly before the procedure, so my back didn't hurt. The only thing I really had trouble with was my congestion in my nose, but fortunately, I didn't have any real problems with that.

I will see the results tomorrow at my ortho appointment. They said I can also have a CD copy of my images, so I will be sure to post both my x-rays I get done tomorrow, and the images from my MRI when I get them.

Now, I have work.

A small bit of relief works wonders

I'm happy to say that I feel a lot better. This is mainly because of hydrocodone, but relief is relief.

By the time I got to the clinic today, my pain was nearly unbearable. A great example that the doctor knew who I was: he came in with the prescription already written. He talked to me a bit, and said something along the lines of "Don't get down on yourself about this. Enjoy whatever you're able to do, and don't feel bad about not being able to do some of the things others can do." He said other stuff as well, but that's the gist of it.

After the health clinic, I went to a friend's dorm room that was close by and let the hydrocodone take effect. Even with the highest recommended dose, I was still in some amount of pain. Still, it was nice to have the pain reduced.

My MRI is at 7 tomorrow morning, and they want me to be there by 6:30, so I'll be heading to bed soon. I'll be sure to post an update on my appointment tomorrow.

The first of a few today, I'm sure

The pain today is probably the worst it's been yet. I had to take my last hydrocodone this morning, and it did no good. One of my coworkers was very considerate and went to get things from the back today, since I continue to have problems walking.

I have a clinic appointment for 2 today with the doctor I usually see, so hopefully I can get some relief later today.

At the end of the day...

My lower back pain hasn't really gotten any better. I managed to make it through work alright for most of the day, but the real problem came about when I had to do a lot of walking. I asked one of my managers to let me do a job that didn't involve so much movement. It seemed to help a little.

As for right now, I'm exhausted. One of the side effects of hydrocodone is a small crash once it begins to wear off, since it burns up energy I really don't have much of. The rest of my back is starting to get sore now, too. I won't be taking anymore medication tonight, however, unless I really need it.

Ten Ways to Manage Back Pain

I like this one:
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Ten Ways to Manage Back Pain:

I am a joint replacement surgeon. In the operating room, in a given year I perform over 300 procedures related to joints, arthritis, and injury. In my office, half the patients I see have hip and knee arthritis; the rest have every other joint involved. The most difficult for many physicians to manage is back pain. I know that I am not alone in this.

Back pain has many sources. In general, there are so many experts out there concerning back pain that I am now wholly convinced that no one knows what the heck they are talking about in this entire specialty. One day surgery is good, the next it's bad. The alternative medicine people will extol the virtues of acupuncture to nutrition. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. There are more pillows and beds and commercial crap you can buy than there is room in the entire state of Rhode Island.

How can a reasonable person try to help themselves with back pain when the medical specialties are in such disagreement?

Here are a few things that may help you:

1. Be your own best doctor. We often are more discriminating when buying a car than when seeking medical advice. After some period of time, you will know which mix of interventions help more than others. I am often amazed when a patient comes to me and says that they have back pain and have been in physical therapy for 3 years and it does not help. What exactly were they thinking after the first year?


2. Understand the source of your pain. Some people have back pain from a degenerative condition, like arthritis. The joints in the back of the spine can wear and cause pain. Other sources of pain can be from a sudden injury or muscle strain. Sometimes the pain is due to a nerve being irritated by some disc material in the spine. There are even many valid theories that stress causes back pain. If you try to get a handle on the origin of the pain then this is a good place to start.


3. See the right doctor. There are many physicians out there -- family medicine, internal medicine, rheumatologist, orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, chiropractor, and others -- that have a keen interest in back pain. There are may more from each of these specialties that don’t care as much about back pain. Choose a physician who has back pain high on their list of diseases they want to treat.


4. Do not listen to lawyers. Many patient hurt their back on the job, in a motor vehicle accident, or in a slip and fall. The lawyer you choose may send you to a group of doctors who do every test under the sun and a series of bogus treatments not designed to make you better but to build your legal case. The only time a lawyer refers a case to me is when the first doctor, who was probably in their pocket, messed up the case so much, they actually need a real doctor to bail them out. While it is possible that the doctor your lawyer sends you to is good, ask around; you will probably find otherwise.


5. Understand that there will probably not be one single treatment method that will work on its own. I have generally seen that combinations of drugs, rest, exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and more are needed in many situations. While it is important to try a number of these modalities, set a time limit on each of them. If there is no improvement within the first two months from a specific modality, the chances of it helping in the long run are low.


6. Choose your physician or other health professional carefully, then listen to their advice. I can't tell how many patients want their back pain to go away but when I recommend something the patient says that they do not want to do that. For example, I may recommend taking ibuprofen. I will then get the response, "I don't take drugs." Then I may recommend epidural steroids and I hear, "I don't want any injection." Then I send the patient to a chiropractor and I hear, "I don't believe in that." The list goes on. In the end, I am not exactly sure why the patient came to me when EVERY treatment I offered was rejected. This does not mean to accept any treatment blindly and without question. On the contrary, be open to any and all suggestions and try to stay away from biases that carry over from rumors and hearsay. Evaluate each piece of advice with an open mind and then make a decision.


7. Surgery is neither aggressive nor conservative. Surgery has a role in back pain, but not a large role. When properly indicated, surgery will always be a good choice. When not indicated, it is unnecessary and a problem for the patient. Get 2-3 opinions if surgery is recommended.


8. Don't be afraid to take it easy for some time period. You may not be able to return to 10 mile runs for 6-8 weeks. This is not the end of the world. Respect the pain and the injury. If you do not, your back will tell you.


9. Try to return to reasonable activities and work as soon as you are cleared to do this. Too many people stay out of the mainstream of work and this causes a culture of not wanting to get better. If your doctor feels it's safe to return to work in some capacity, then you should do so.


10. Make sure you do all you can to get a real diagnosis. If the doctor was with you for 3 minutes and never laid a hand on you, the diagnosis of back strain is probably wrong. A good history and physical examination is often correct 85-90% of the time. Tests like MRI's should be used to either confirm a diagnosis already known or to distinguish between one or two different diagnoses. Since many people over age 50 have significant findings on their MRI even if these patients do not have back pain, be careful with MRI's not connected to a comprehensive office visit. The finding in the office needs to correlate with any test.

Sometimes back pain goes away as fast as it came on. In some situations it stays longer than you want. Either way, I hope these tips can help you navigate through this problem.

Dr. K.

(WebMD-Ten Ways to Manage Back Pain)
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Some information from the internet

I like to do research for as long as I can stand it (there is a psychological pain that comes about from reading about or talking about my scoliosis). Here is some stuff I've found today:

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Surgery Choices

The main type of surgery for scoliosis involves attaching rods to the spine and performing a spinal fusion, which is used to stabilize and reduce the size of the curve and stop the curve from getting worse by permanently joining the vertebrae into a solid mass of bone.

Other techniques are sometimes used, including instrumentation without fusion, a technique that attaches devices such as metal rods to the spine to stabilize a spinal curve without actually fusing the spine together. This is only done in very young children when a fusion, which stops the growth of the fused part of the spine, is not desirable. The child usually has to wear a brace full-time after having this surgery.

What To Think About

The timing of surgery for scoliosis in children is controversial. Some experts believe that surgery should be delayed until the child is at least 10 years old and preferably 12 because spinal fusion stops the growth of the fused part of the spine. However, the rest of the spine will continue to grow normally in children who are still growing.

Surgical treatment in children and teens usually requires several days in the hospital and limitations on activity for approximately a year. In adults, the average hospital stay is longer.

Adults who have surgery for scoliosis that results from changes in the spine due to aging (degenerative scoliosis) are more likely than children to have significant complications. Even though surgery usually reduces their pain, other complications may occur, such as pseudoarthrosis and wound infections.

(WebMD-Scoliosis-Surgery)

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Should I have surgery for Scoliosis?

Introduction:

Surgery for scoliosis is only done to correct severe spinal curves. Most cases of scoliosis are not severe and do not require surgery. Consider the following when making your decision on whether you or your child should have surgery for scoliosis:

• If your spinal curve is less than 25 degrees, have it examined by a doctor every 4 to 6 months to see whether the curve is getting worse. Treatment is not necessary.
  (this is the category I fell into when I was in high school)
  
• If your spinal curve is between 25 and 45 degrees, treatment may be necessary and may involve bracing. Bracing is usually effective in preventing a spinal curve from getting worse, but it cannot correct a curve. Bracing will not help an adult's scoliosis. (this is the category I fall now. As I have told people, bracing will no longer help me.)
  
• If your child has a spinal curve greater than 45 degrees, or if you have a spinal curve greater than 50 degrees, and the curve is getting worse, surgery may be considered.

Medical Information:

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves abnormally from side to side, rather than being straight. The spine may also be twisted (rotated). Scoliosis involves spinal curves, greater than 10 degrees, that are usually S-shaped or C-shaped.

Scoliosis occurs most often in girls who are 10 to 16 years old. In the general population, about 1 in 100 people (1%) have some type of scoliosis.¹

See an illustration of scoliosis.

What kind of surgery is done for scoliosis?

The main type of surgery for scoliosis is a spinal fusion. In this procedure, the curved part of the backbone is straightened with rods, wires, hooks, or screws. Then small pieces of bone are put over the spine. These pieces of bone will grow together with the spine, fusing it into proper position.

Instrumentation without fusion is a technique in which metal rods are attached to the spine to stabilize a spinal curve without fusing the vertebrae together. This is only done in small children when fusion of the spine, which stops growth in that area of the spine, is not desirable. The child usually has to wear a brace full-time after having this surgery.

What are the risks of surgery for scoliosis?

New problems that could develop from surgery for scoliosis include the following:

• Problems associated with back surgery, such as nerve damage, lung problems, or spinal cord damage.
• In a child, spinal fusion will stop growth in the area of the spine that is fused.
• General complications from surgery, such as blood clots or infection or complications from anesthesia. The risk of these complications is higher in older adults.

Talk to your doctor about your or your child's chances of developing problems from surgery.

Other problems include lost time at work or school for recovery and the possible need to wear a body cast or brace for a few months after surgery.

What are the risks of not having surgery for scoliosis?

A severe spinal curve that is progressing and is not treated with surgery is likely to get worse.

As scoliosis gets worse, the bones of the spine rotate toward the inner part of the curve. If the upper part of the spine is affected (thoracic curve), the ribs may crowd together on one side of the body and become widely separated on the other side. The curve may force the space between the spinal bones to narrow. The spinal bones may also become thicker on the outer edge of the curve.

In severe curves, the misshapen ribs may reduce the amount of air the lungs can hold and may cause the heart to work harder to pump blood through the compressed lung tissue. Over time, this may lead to heart failure.

Scoliosis that is present at birth or that develops in infants may be worse in the long run than scoliosis that develops later in life. If an infant or young child with a severe spinal curve does not have surgery, it is likely that the spinal curve will get worse. This is because the more growing the skeleton has to do, the worse the curve may become.

How effective is surgery for scoliosis?

Surgery for scoliosis effectively prevents further curvature of the spine and usually can make the curvature less severe. Surgery may also help decrease pain and allow people with scoliosis to do more daily activities than they would otherwise.

Each person who has scoliosis is different. Talk to your doctor about what impact surgery for scoliosis is likely to have on you.

Wise Health Decision:

Use this worksheet to help you make your decision. After completing it, you should have a better idea of how you feel about surgery for scoliosis. Discuss the worksheet with your doctor.

Circle the answer that best applies to you.

Does scoliosis have a major impact on your life?	Yes	No	Unsure
Do you (or your child) have scoliosis caused by an underlying factor that can be treated?	Yes	No	Unsure
If you (or your child) have a severe spinal curve, do you want to wait to see if it progresses?	Yes	No	Unsure
Do you have a spinal curve greater than 50 degrees that is progressing?	Yes	No	NA*
Does your child have a spinal curve greater than 45 degrees that is progressing?	Yes	No	NA
Do you (or your child) have a spinal curve less than 25 degrees?	Yes	No	NA
Are you comfortable with having surgery?	Yes	No	Unsure
Does your home or work situation allow you to take the time necessary to recover after surgery?	Yes	No	Unsure
Has bracing or another treatment for scoliosis been effective?	Yes	No	NA
Do you (or your child) have severe scoliosis that is irreversible and caused by a disease or an unknown factor?	Yes	No	NA

*NA = Not applicable

Use the following space to list any other important concerns you have about this decision.

What is your overall impression?

Your answers in the above worksheet are meant to give you a general idea of where you stand on this decision. You may have one overriding reason to have or not have surgery for scoliosis.

Check the box below that represents your overall impression about your decision.

Leaning toward having surgery

Leaning toward NOT having surgery

Yes

(WebMD-Should I (or my child) have surgery for scoliosis?)

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If I come up with more later, I'll post it.

It all comes back around...

Well, the day of relief didn't last, I'm sad to say.

For my first shift, I worked about 20 minutes before the pain level was too high for me to tolerate. The pain is different than the pain I normally experience. This time, it seems to be centered right next to the vertebrae about an inch above where my pants usually sit. It's a sharp, stabbing pain, and it's very localized, not spread throughout a region of my back like I'm used to. Hydrocodone helped a little, but it still hurt enough that I was unable to walk correctly. I'm not sure if there's something else causing this, or if it's a new pain associated with my scoliosis. I have an MRI on Tuesday, so I'll mention it to them when I go in for it.

My right shoulder is also really tense, which may or may not be related. I usually carry my bag on that shoulder, but I haven't had problems with it yet this semester.

I took the hydrocodone around 11. My back pain is coming back. That means it's coming back after only 4 hours after I took the medication. It's supposed to last 6 hours. I only have 3 pills left. I plan on taking two later, for my second shift tonight. I'm planning on going to the health clinic tomorrow to get more prescribed to me, and I should really get this persistent sore throat checked out, too.

I'll probably have an update later, after my second shift.

R&R

Well, I'm happy to say that my whole day of loafing has done me pretty well. My pain level has gone down without medication, and here's to hoping it stays that way for awhile.

A side note that really doesn't have anything to do with my back...I have something resembling a cold. Probably a cold. Although it's mostly my throat and lungs, not so much my sinuses. It seems rather...insignificant, compared to all the back stuff I'm dealing with. Well, I guess we'll see on that, too.