My back pain saga takes yet another turn. As I mentioned
last time, I had another MRI done, per doctor's orders, after a two week round
of Cymbalta and Lyrica didn't work to alleviate the pain. (Not only did it not alleviate the pain, I
had to deal with very unpleasant side effects.)
So my doc says there wasn't anything on my MRI that showed up other than
"normal wear and tear" and for a 34-year-old, that statement doesn't
even make sense. But since I'm still in
pain, they sent me back to the neurosurgeon's office (as I'd predicted). The doc who did my
discectomy a little over a year ago took a job elsewhere so I had to see the
other neurosurgeon, who also said he saw nothing of significance on my
MRI. Now this is where it gets tricky; I read the report from the doctor who read my MRI and he
mentioned a few bulges, stenosis, and degenerative disc but these other doctors didn't think
it was significant enough to warrant my pain which is especially confusing to me.
Let me interject here. I kind of feel like I did those years
when I begged three doctors, a nurse practitioner, and a chiropractor to take
me seriously about my earlier pain. And what happened? No one wanted to believe
it was anything more than muscle strain and it turned out to be a rather large
rupture. But I digress.
I'm calling today to get my physical therapy appointments set up. This should be interesting, seeing as how I was supposed to get pain relief before starting physical therapy but now will have to start it regardless.
I go back to the pain clinic on the 12th. To be honest, I've
been in pain for so long, more than five years now, that I'm not hopeful that
there's much else for me out there. I should be positive, I know, but constant
pain has a way of stripping one's confidence. However, it's either this or
nothing. I kind of feel like this is my last chance for relief. If this fails,
then I have nothing and I will be in this shape for as long as I live. So we'll
see. I'm going to give it my best and follow instructions and see where we go
from there.
Peace, love, and trying for optimism,
Pamela
A few years ago, I had major back surgery that without I'd be a paraplegic. I've taken Lyrica and Cymbalta, not at the same time. I liked Lyrica OK, but I changed neuro's and new doc but me on Cymbalta, nasty stuff. After, 6 months I weaned myself off. I've been on a variety of inflammatory meds, nothing has really helped.
ReplyDeleteOne day, after recommendation from a fellow sufferer, I went to a Hatha Yoga studio.
I could barely walk myself into a Deep Stretch/Yin Yoga class, but I did and I did what I could. The class was 90 min. of stretches on the floor. After class, I left feeling a tiny bit better than when I walked into the class. I went back almost every day for a month, feeling better and better each day. And walking briskly into class.
Medication only has masked my pain. Yoga has relieved my pain and improved my balance, increased my strength, and I'm hopeful it will improve my neuro issues. Also, eating super healthy. Considering getting off the last medication, I'm still on, but I'm not quite there yet.
I hope you find what works for you,