Counting Down

I haven't updated in awhile, mostly because I've been rather busy. I've also been relatively pain-free for most of the time.

The worst came last Wednesday, when we learned a move in t'ai chi called "Finding a snake in the grass." It is a variation of the crouch step, only...lower. Pretty much as low as you can get. You stick one leg straight out, bend the other one down, and then slowly shift your weight to your other leg, then stand up. Whether or not you get the idea from this description, the point is, my thigh muscles were screaming at me. It was a good workout, but...wow. They hurt for two days.

My main problem has been whatever decided to settle in my lungs. I've been coughing, with vigor, for a good two weeks now. I have an appointment today to address that, along with another issue, which may or may not be mentioned here.

I'm down to one or two sra sessions left. I'm also down to the last two weeks of college. Lots of change ahead for me.

Today was a very exhausting day, as well. When I walked in, the first thing I saw were sparring gloves and mitts. We spent the first 15 minutes punching each other's hands. It was pretty fun, I'll admit. Still exhausting. After that, we proceeded to work on certain steps in the form. One of them being the aformentioned thigh-killer. We did this...too many times. I didn't kill my legs as bad this time, though, since I didn't go all the way down. Don't get me wrong, though, my legs still hurt.

At least the worst thing that I have to do today is walk around. I've worked out enough today already.

Yesterday, I had some pain, but not enough to really bother me. It was mostly evident when I moved in the wrong way; I felt little twinges of pain.

I'm getting sick again. I've been coughing (with substance) since last night, and I'm getting congested as well. It's probably going to lead to another sinus infection. Joy. I'm sure that all of this isn't helping my back, either.

I feel okay pain-wise so far today, but whatever bug I caught this time is running me down. I didn't go to t'ai chi, mostly because I don't think I could make it through an hour of working out feeling the way that I do.

Something I wanted to mention: there was a comment left on my blog explaining SRA in a lot more detail. I will post this in the main posts soon, but I want to do a little research, first. I hope to have that up in the next couple days or so.

I've been pretty sore for the last couple of days. It almost overwhelmed me at work today, but I managed to make it through. I work tomorrow, too, but only for 3 hours or so, and then nothing after that. I'm looking forward to sleeping in a little and also resting my body most of the day. (My mind, however, will have to be put to good use)

Hopefully soreness does not interfere with my plans tonight.

Drawing the Line

I've realized lately that I've come to a decision I've had to make before. That decision is: How hard do I really push myself?

I've had a love/hate relationship with work pretty much throughout college. Mostly hate. But since I'm mostly supporting myself, I really need to work. All of the jobs I've had involve standing on my feet, which, of course, begins to affect my back. Most of this school year, I've been struggling to make it through over 4 hours of work without some sort of pain. This week, especially, has been tough.

So, how much should I really work? How much is too much? I'm pushing that limit right now, and I have a feeling that I'm about to find it again. I've been at my limits before.

So, as I go in for an 8 hour work day, I guess it's something I'll really have to keep in mind. I've picked up several extra shifts already, and I'm considering more. I know certain people will tell me not to push myself, but I hate being indebted to someone else. I want to be able to live somewhat normally, and I guess that's a big reason I'm having surgery.

Set in Stone

My surgery is May 23rd.

I will be in the hospital for about a week, then I will be going to stay with someone, probably my mom. After that, I should be coming back to CF. If anyone wants to visit, I will be eternally grateful to you.

Now that the ball is rolling, I feel a bit apprehensive. But you better believe that I'm glad about it. In what seems like a push for the decision, my back hurt today. A lot. Almost unbearably.

This went will change my life. Bring it on, I'm as ready as to can be.

Willpower

I'm in pain again today.

It's mostly my upper-middle back, but my left leg hurts, too. I really hope I can get through this day without painkillers, but I honestly don't know. I don't have to work, so that may help, but it's getting really bad. Plus, I have to walk everywhere today.

It's now 9:30. Lets see how long my willpower lasts.

The Come Back

It's days like this that make me want to do something about this condition.

I was in a great deal of pain earlier. So much so that 2 hydrocodone didn't take care of it.I'm okay now, but it hurt very badly while I was at work.Not only my back, but all the way down my right leg and my left knee. All of my usual pains, but at once.

I'm high right now, and I don't like it. Better than debilitating pain, I suppose.

I'm very glad that something will be done about this.

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.

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.