ladybumblebee
01-22-2008, 05:35 PM
I've posted quite a few times now but have had a rotten day. I got up this morning and promptly fell over. My issue is mainly c-spine (discs removed/ repaired/bulging and lots of nerve damage in neck and shoulder) but my left leg and arm aren't working properly. I'm at an 8 from a pain point of view - went to doc and he didn't have a clue
I had to work from home which is fine for the odd day but I travel a lot with work - 500 + miles a week and am struggling badly limping. The doc brushed me off - any help or thoughts greatly received.
A very miserable and very sore LBB:(
I had to work from home which is fine for the odd day but I travel a lot with work - 500 + miles a week and am struggling badly limping. The doc brushed me off - any help or thoughts greatly received.
A very miserable and very sore LBB:(
Sponsor
chablis3
01-22-2008, 09:17 PM
Hi lady, sorry to hear your not going well. I haven't had any surgery yet (back and neck problems), but just wanted to respond to your post to wish you well. I think you need a new doctor if your present one is brushing you off. It is quite apparent that there is something wrong with the way you are in pain, and the arm and leg not working right. Could you possibly go and see the surgeon that did your operation? He might be a better person to talk to about your symptoms rather than your primary doc.
Just my thoughts, and I hope you come up with some answers asap. Take care,
Judy
Just my thoughts, and I hope you come up with some answers asap. Take care,
Judy
sammyo1
01-23-2008, 09:04 AM
LBB, I am so sorry to hear about the doc. visit not going so well. Did you discuss more pain control? It does sound like something is going on & you need to find out ASAP. I am sorry I don't understand much about the health system in canada but can't you call & let them know what happened? Even here it can take months to get in to a specialist. Chab has a good point, what about the surgeon? I don't know how you are doing all that work, geez. I hope you can work this out, perhaps at least seeing if they will run some tests or give you something to control that pain. It would be worth a try. I hate to hear of you suffering & it sounds like its getting worse. Take care & Let us know what happens. Sammy
Ps I don't know what you use for pain, along with my meds. I will ice the area when I am home & have just recently started using the thermacare patches when I have to work or go out, They do seem to help at times & last around 8hrs. I was surprised they made a difference at all. If I am real inflammed I do not feel the heat as much but some days they make a difference.
Ps I don't know what you use for pain, along with my meds. I will ice the area when I am home & have just recently started using the thermacare patches when I have to work or go out, They do seem to help at times & last around 8hrs. I was surprised they made a difference at all. If I am real inflammed I do not feel the heat as much but some days they make a difference.
ladybumblebee
01-23-2008, 03:20 PM
Thanks ladies for your support. Never thought of calling my surgeon (how dippy am I???)
I'm really not sure how I do the work I do - it's a combination of need to(mortgage the size of a small country!) and want to (can't get my head around the fact that at 34 i may have to stop working).
Called my pain management consultant and am waiting for his office to call back so hopefully he'll call tomorrow. I read an article last night that said any lack of control from the waist down can be spinal cord compression which figures as I know how my discs are anyway - I just really hoped it would take longer to deteriorate. I'm in the UK and gp's are really there to deal with coughs/colds run of the mill normal stuff and as I'm way beyond that I think he just despairs when I go see him. Pain is better today - about a 7 but I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the warm wishes - you have no idea how much better I feel since finding this board. LBB x
I'm really not sure how I do the work I do - it's a combination of need to(mortgage the size of a small country!) and want to (can't get my head around the fact that at 34 i may have to stop working).
Called my pain management consultant and am waiting for his office to call back so hopefully he'll call tomorrow. I read an article last night that said any lack of control from the waist down can be spinal cord compression which figures as I know how my discs are anyway - I just really hoped it would take longer to deteriorate. I'm in the UK and gp's are really there to deal with coughs/colds run of the mill normal stuff and as I'm way beyond that I think he just despairs when I go see him. Pain is better today - about a 7 but I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the warm wishes - you have no idea how much better I feel since finding this board. LBB x
chablis3
01-24-2008, 11:15 PM
hi lady, yes, that seems to keep a person going, paying a mortage, pain or no pain! That article you read sounds exactly right from what I have learned, any pain, numbness, pins, needles from the waist down can definitely be from a pinched nerve. Yes, I don't think your
gp will be able to help much with your current problem. But, he should be able to figure out from your symptoms it could be from something getting pinched, and steer you in the right direction. Hopefully your pain management doc can shed some light on your problem. I still think you should talk to your surgeon, though!
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Judy
gp will be able to help much with your current problem. But, he should be able to figure out from your symptoms it could be from something getting pinched, and steer you in the right direction. Hopefully your pain management doc can shed some light on your problem. I still think you should talk to your surgeon, though!
Good luck, and keep us posted.
Judy
AnnD
01-25-2008, 12:24 AM
Yikes the doctor brushed you off...oh gosh sure hope you can go to another I mean this isn't normal by any stretch and so many things it could be all not good but to not do more testing to see what has changed or what to do ...well that is difficult to understand. Your health care system must be very different there. As for your traveling...I am guessing you are sitting a lot and that sure is not good for even a normal back but you have too many problems to be sitting for long periods of time. Are you driving or do you take a train, plane or how do you get around? 500miles is such a long distance for a back to tolerate and I am guessing you are paying a huge price just in your job. You might need to think about not so much traveling. good luck.
ladybumblebee
01-25-2008, 07:15 PM
Hello
Another day in bed today. called my surgeons office and his secretary is going to get him to call me back. Left another message for my pain consultant but no response yet. I called the health care line this morning (designed to keep people out of the emergency rooms) and they told me if it gets any worse to come down to the ER. So, as my hubby is around tomorrow I'm going to take my own advice and go down to see them.
I drive a lot and that's part of the problem. I have 40+ offices that I visit on a regular basis and I just overdid it which I think really tipped me over the edge. The worst thing is you can't go to work as you can't walk - but you spend all day feeling really guilty you aren't at work.
And, when I'm not there there isn't anyone else at work who can do what I do so my work just piles up. It sucks. Anyway - I'm scared now so I'm going to insist they check it out properly. I think they red flag spinal issues at the ER so I should get seen quickly.Thanks for your support - I'll keep you posted.
Ellie
Another day in bed today. called my surgeons office and his secretary is going to get him to call me back. Left another message for my pain consultant but no response yet. I called the health care line this morning (designed to keep people out of the emergency rooms) and they told me if it gets any worse to come down to the ER. So, as my hubby is around tomorrow I'm going to take my own advice and go down to see them.
I drive a lot and that's part of the problem. I have 40+ offices that I visit on a regular basis and I just overdid it which I think really tipped me over the edge. The worst thing is you can't go to work as you can't walk - but you spend all day feeling really guilty you aren't at work.
And, when I'm not there there isn't anyone else at work who can do what I do so my work just piles up. It sucks. Anyway - I'm scared now so I'm going to insist they check it out properly. I think they red flag spinal issues at the ER so I should get seen quickly.Thanks for your support - I'll keep you posted.
Ellie
sammyo1
01-26-2008, 11:42 AM
LBB, I am sorry you have not gotten anywhere yet. I do the same feel guilty & worry about the bills. I have done nothing but sit & worry about how much time I will need off after surgery & feel guilty laying all the burden on my husband, but I have made up my mind I will not push myself because I never want to go through this again, the worst part being I will at some point need to change careers. To much physical work.
I was wondering if the doctors could suggest anything to help you with all the long distance driving you do. Have you ever asked? I at times will carry icepacks in a cooler if I am going any distance. I slap one on the shoulder & hope it don't fall down my shirt while I am driving (ha). I often will put one behind me or whereever I feel I need it. As I said the thermacare patches help at times, I really did not think they would, as I have tried so many things.
Take some advice do the best you can & try not to worry about what you cant do, god forbid you cause yourself more problems by pushing to hard. I know I will have to take my own advice, I am much better at telling others(ha). I have gotten better at not beating myself up, hey we can only do what we can do. I hope you can get somewhere with these docs. Perhaps ask on the pain managment board for some suggestions for making all that driving more comfortable, worth a shot. you never know what you may discover. good luck & keep us posted. Sammy
I was wondering if the doctors could suggest anything to help you with all the long distance driving you do. Have you ever asked? I at times will carry icepacks in a cooler if I am going any distance. I slap one on the shoulder & hope it don't fall down my shirt while I am driving (ha). I often will put one behind me or whereever I feel I need it. As I said the thermacare patches help at times, I really did not think they would, as I have tried so many things.
Take some advice do the best you can & try not to worry about what you cant do, god forbid you cause yourself more problems by pushing to hard. I know I will have to take my own advice, I am much better at telling others(ha). I have gotten better at not beating myself up, hey we can only do what we can do. I hope you can get somewhere with these docs. Perhaps ask on the pain managment board for some suggestions for making all that driving more comfortable, worth a shot. you never know what you may discover. good luck & keep us posted. Sammy
ladybumblebee
01-26-2008, 02:20 PM
Hi Sammy,
Yes I have asked and have now bought an automatic car - manual stick shift being the preferred option in the UK, as my manual car was killing me. I did have a lovely hard suspension sports car, and now have a great big 4x4 soft suspension big lolloping thing which does help.
I'm supposed to be careful with the amount of driving but my condition is chronic and unpredictable. My employers asked for an independent medical report which told them that i will have bad episodes and i can't stop/help it so I shouldn't feel bad but i still do. Strong work ethic I guess.
I've been better today but feel delicate - so I'm just chilling. Screw the housework - feet up and try and feel better. All the warnings are there that my disc has slipped further and as I've been through it three times I should know by now really. I'm going to go see my surgeon next week.
Thanks for the kind thoughts.
ellie
Yes I have asked and have now bought an automatic car - manual stick shift being the preferred option in the UK, as my manual car was killing me. I did have a lovely hard suspension sports car, and now have a great big 4x4 soft suspension big lolloping thing which does help.
I'm supposed to be careful with the amount of driving but my condition is chronic and unpredictable. My employers asked for an independent medical report which told them that i will have bad episodes and i can't stop/help it so I shouldn't feel bad but i still do. Strong work ethic I guess.
I've been better today but feel delicate - so I'm just chilling. Screw the housework - feet up and try and feel better. All the warnings are there that my disc has slipped further and as I've been through it three times I should know by now really. I'm going to go see my surgeon next week.
Thanks for the kind thoughts.
ellie
chablis3
01-26-2008, 10:48 PM
Hi Lady, I am glad to hear your going to go see your surgeon. He most likely will be able to shed some light on what is happening with you. But, if the pain gets too bad, maybe a trip to the ER would be a good idea. With all that traveling and work you do, it's no wonder your in pain. I don't even work outside the home anymore, and I hobble around most days just from housework. Congratulations on your new car; hope it proves more comfy for you. Take care of yourself, and do lay in bed and rest when you can; hard to do in your position with work, but hope you can pamper yourself a bit for now.
Judy
Judy
sammyo1
01-27-2008, 08:19 PM
LBB, good for you, housework can wait. If we would just listen to our bodies alittle more, hard to do. I know I am struggling to get over this guilt trip about work, & I am down to working just a few hrs. aweek. Still its something. I can't stand not making my own way or contributing but I will have to after surgery. Everytime I have been off work for the last 3yrs it has been do to being sick, not any vacation. Makes me so mad that I would love a vacation & have had so much time off due to all this. I promised myself & my family that all goes well we would have a small vacation no matter what. I hope it happens I think we could all use it. Guilt all the way around the board here. I am curious to see what your surgeon says, at least get something for more pain control,let them know you have to keep going & it is to difficult with the pain level you have. Everyday life can be hard enough but to do it in pain every single day is a whole different story. Darn well wears you out. good luck & keep us posted. Sammy