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Hi. A lot to say!
Hello There. Its been quite some time. Its been quite some changes! I'll actually lay this out in a couple of posts, the first one being my back :)
Firstly, for those I've not kept in as close contact as I should have, I'm sorry. I still adore you, and do miss you. This back injury thing has been horrific. While It is no excuse for losing touch, it unfortunately has consumed me.
I am finally getting treatment! We worked a program with my doctors who are part of a very large Catholic Organization, and they are paying for the large amount of treatment I need. This started with an MRI to see exactly what we are dealing with. Turns out the doctor is right, she really knows her stuff. Though she was more right than she knew lol. I have a herniated (ruptured) disc between L3 and L4 and have a bulging almost ruptured disc between L4 and L5. This is no doubt what is causing my sciatica as well as my pain. It is a good thing to finally have a diagnosis and not guesswork.
After the diagnosis the treatment is starting. I had my first two physical therapy sessions this week. I am back on muscle relaxers, and am still on almost constant painkillers. I sleep a lot which sucks, but hopefully that will be changing. I'll be going in for "pain management" which will be a lumbar steroid shot. Yes, in my spine. Yes it has risks. I know the risks, and we've weighed the options so please don't preach. If you love me you know the pain I'm in and you'll realize most of the "omg don't do that" comes from people not researching. It is NOT that dangerous. Everything has risks. I have a better chance of being hit by a bus than of this going wrong.
Also, in addition to the therapy and pain management I will most likely be having surgery. I've chosen to have an epidural rather than be put under. Again, I know it has its risks but anesthesia has far more in my mind. I've been under before and my body does not react well, they have a difficult time waking me and its terrifying. The surgery involves them removing a small piece of bone over the disc (s) then removing the problem material. The surgery is of course serious, anything involving the spine is serious, but it also very routine and performed often. After the surgery it will be 4-6 weeks of not sitting for more than 15-20 minutes, that will suck far more than surgery!
The one big downside is even surgery isn't guaranteed to work. The hope is that therapy + surgery will stabilized the area ad diminish or end the pain completely. The risk of reinjury will always be there though.
Anyway this is all actually good. I can finally get treatment, finally get on with life! Finally you know... leave the house? lol.
Firstly, for those I've not kept in as close contact as I should have, I'm sorry. I still adore you, and do miss you. This back injury thing has been horrific. While It is no excuse for losing touch, it unfortunately has consumed me.
I am finally getting treatment! We worked a program with my doctors who are part of a very large Catholic Organization, and they are paying for the large amount of treatment I need. This started with an MRI to see exactly what we are dealing with. Turns out the doctor is right, she really knows her stuff. Though she was more right than she knew lol. I have a herniated (ruptured) disc between L3 and L4 and have a bulging almost ruptured disc between L4 and L5. This is no doubt what is causing my sciatica as well as my pain. It is a good thing to finally have a diagnosis and not guesswork.
After the diagnosis the treatment is starting. I had my first two physical therapy sessions this week. I am back on muscle relaxers, and am still on almost constant painkillers. I sleep a lot which sucks, but hopefully that will be changing. I'll be going in for "pain management" which will be a lumbar steroid shot. Yes, in my spine. Yes it has risks. I know the risks, and we've weighed the options so please don't preach. If you love me you know the pain I'm in and you'll realize most of the "omg don't do that" comes from people not researching. It is NOT that dangerous. Everything has risks. I have a better chance of being hit by a bus than of this going wrong.
Also, in addition to the therapy and pain management I will most likely be having surgery. I've chosen to have an epidural rather than be put under. Again, I know it has its risks but anesthesia has far more in my mind. I've been under before and my body does not react well, they have a difficult time waking me and its terrifying. The surgery involves them removing a small piece of bone over the disc (s) then removing the problem material. The surgery is of course serious, anything involving the spine is serious, but it also very routine and performed often. After the surgery it will be 4-6 weeks of not sitting for more than 15-20 minutes, that will suck far more than surgery!
The one big downside is even surgery isn't guaranteed to work. The hope is that therapy + surgery will stabilized the area ad diminish or end the pain completely. The risk of reinjury will always be there though.
Anyway this is all actually good. I can finally get treatment, finally get on with life! Finally you know... leave the house? lol.
