tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post8135926652656316766..comments2024-01-05T06:16:49.932+00:00Comments on Expat Mum: Another day, another epidural. Expat mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-73713615473794089892016-02-17T14:45:08.932+00:002016-02-17T14:45:08.932+00:00You're right. I'm sort of OK when I finall...You're right. I'm sort of OK when I finally get up on my feet but the sitting (and peeing) is the worst. And getting socks and shoes on. Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-33311845473576146082016-02-17T14:44:23.382+00:002016-02-17T14:44:23.382+00:00Yes, I would think with an ectopic situation they ...Yes, I would think with an ectopic situation they would have more to worry about. Yikes. Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-27724154688165563832016-02-17T14:43:50.583+00:002016-02-17T14:43:50.583+00:00Yes, this started back in May when I did some gent...Yes, this started back in May when I did some gentle gardening, and I mean very gentle. It has just been getting worse and worse so I started having PT and then the sciatica started! Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-29330976467955914462016-02-16T15:58:14.330+00:002016-02-16T15:58:14.330+00:00Oh, no! I know your pain! I have a ruptured disc...Oh, no! I know your pain! I have a ruptured disc myself which occasionally plays up but when I first hurt myself(5 years ago), I was more or less flat in bed (on my stomach; I couldn't tolerate sleeping on my back) for at least 2 weeks. Walking was excruciating, as was dressing, but the worst was sitting down on the loo. I actually started getting pretty dehydrated because I didn't want to drink anything and have to subsequently face the pain involved in getting my knickers down and dealing with sitting - and then, standing (shudder.) I actually did have the epidural injection, which did help (eventually). They put me out to do it, so I can't really say what was involved. I can say, though, that the thing that helped me the most (more than the epidural, I felt) was PT. I went 3x per week for a month or more, then weekly after that. I still do the exercises to this day, although I admit I tend to be very lax about them until I start having back pain, and then I get very faithful again. The other thing that helped tremendously was ice packs. I know it sounds counterintuitive (people always want heat) but ice helps to calm the poor irritated and inflamed nerves = and has a bonus of making things a bit numb. Sending lots of healing thoughts your way. xMsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-42890839986369997512016-02-16T10:41:25.710+00:002016-02-16T10:41:25.710+00:00Ouch! That sounds excruciating. I read your MRI po...Ouch! That sounds excruciating. I read your MRI post on holiday and felt very bad for you. I feel claustrophobic just at the thought of it.<br />I thought I'd add a cheerful story for you: when I was in for my ectopic pregnancy, I apologised to the doctor for my unshaven legs (I didn't know I was going to be mortally ill that day) and he told me it was quite alright, they see worse, at least I'd washed. That still gives me giggles.Mwahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00954216492730746581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-66229033573241374372016-02-15T18:49:23.561+00:002016-02-15T18:49:23.561+00:00Oh you poor thing - this sounds awful. I've be...Oh you poor thing - this sounds awful. I've been lucky not to have back problems but my other half is prone to them and has had some horrendous back pain caused by doing something usually insignificant.<br /><br />Sending healing vibes if that helps xTrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00119443727504215312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-12752672820968448472016-02-15T00:37:18.720+00:002016-02-15T00:37:18.720+00:00Truly can empathise,after a bad fall last year I b...Truly can empathise,after a bad fall last year I broke my wrist both ulna and radius, travelled overseas for 10 days and on my return had the wrist operated on where it was plated and pinned. But, I had incredible pain in my lower back and left side and leg,the treatment you under went They tried for me with out success and the MRI clearly showed a torn and ruptured disc and compressed L1 to L4 and the only option left was to operate, which they did and fused L1-L4 with a plate bolts and pins. Recovery was three weeks flat absolutely flat on my back then a brace for walking and lots and lots of physio. Wrist has healed back has healed and every day an improvement, though I can't do the things like moving stuff or lifting heavy items and bend over for too long. I still suffer pain from time to time but that's dependant on my workload for the day. Wrist was operated on in May and my back in July 2015 at huge cost I might add. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08888011810762148412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-77230529264389913292016-02-14T16:12:05.372+00:002016-02-14T16:12:05.372+00:00Definitely going to avoid surgery if I can. Just d...Definitely going to avoid surgery if I can. Just don't have time for that! Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-70818756639655426902016-02-14T16:11:16.329+00:002016-02-14T16:11:16.329+00:00We might actually have a picker-upper in the house...We might actually have a picker-upper in the house somewhere. That's a good idea.Expat mumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17798190669591053390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-60453508231985796252016-02-14T10:00:44.258+00:002016-02-14T10:00:44.258+00:00Ow, it all sounds horrendous. Happy for you to tak...Ow, it all sounds horrendous. Happy for you to take my name in vain in the circs.Iota https://www.blogger.com/profile/08507184283437057648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-58517642613241931272016-02-13T17:36:53.072+00:002016-02-13T17:36:53.072+00:00Toni, I'm so sorry to hear you're going th...Toni, I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. I had/have a herniated disc and in 2012 was hospitalized because I couldn't move. Agree with Maggie -- that pickup gadget was a godsend when I could move. Some other things I learned the hard way: make sure you're taking stool softeners/laxatives if you're taking opioids because they slow down peristalsis. My doctors didn't advise me of this until I was severely constipated. Not fun! And if you can, get a prescription for physical therapy. My PT came to my house and showed me new ways to get dressed, walk up stairs, go to sleep (pillows under legs), get out of bed, etc. that didn't cause me enormous amounts of pain. And lastly, think hard about surgery if it's suggested. It doesn't often help, and you're probably better off paying for PT, core training, and other DIY remedies. Good luck. hugs, diDianahttp://hailbritannia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-7489594231042724112016-02-13T14:36:34.999+00:002016-02-13T14:36:34.999+00:00I'm really sorry. I've had months of that ...I'm really sorry. I've had months of that awful pain and I've had long handled *pickers up* and also a special gadget to help with socks. Shoes were a nightmare and I sometimes did't go out because of that.<br />It all seems a long time ago now as I seem fine apart from stiffness. Mustn't get too complacent though!<br />Hoping for the best for you.<br />Maggie xMaggie Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06183886005936250976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-41195979816442314552016-02-13T10:50:46.868+00:002016-02-13T10:50:46.868+00:00Very sorry - it's all sounding horribly famili...Very sorry - it's all sounding horribly familiar. I was told I had a bulging disc, but I never had that injection as they didn't think it would work. Fingers crossed that it does for you xnappy valley girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788949037047084412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4327382592404863779.post-71536916743721415102016-02-13T08:12:30.608+00:002016-02-13T08:12:30.608+00:00So sorry to read about all of this Toni, I do hope...So sorry to read about all of this Toni, I do hope that the injection works! xxAmy at love made my homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17111180584250029433noreply@blogger.com