Flippy - I Rant, You Read
Monday, October 17, 2005
More Doctor Fun - Admit It, You Just Can’t Get Enough
After much reading, talking to my chiropractor a second time and talking to my brother (a chiropractor), it sounds pretty much like surgery is unavoidable. When you get two chiropractors saying, “Yeah, that’s pretty bad, I think you’ll need surgery”, that’s fairly definitive. Chiropractors very rarely want anyone to go the surgical route, if they can be helped any other way. So, I have a consult with an orthopedic surgeon on November 8th, the earliest appointment I could get. Next week, I have to go to his office for a twenty minute consult with someone on his staff. I guess to see if I’m worthy or something. Anyway, I’m hoping that maybe that consult can get my appointment with the doctor moved up. My hope for seeing the sports medicine specialist was dashed when his office informed me that he didn’t do spinal work. It’s too bad, as his office is so much closer and convenient - he’s a couple of blocks from the chiropractor and maybe a block away from the radiologist and not too far from the house. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men…
Honestly, I thought I’d go in for the MRI and they wouldn’t find much. I’m the only person in my family who’s never had surgery of any kind. I thought I’d keep that streak for a good long while. The positive side - hopefully I can get rid of the pain and bladder problems for good. That would make me ever so happy. I do realize that I’m going to have to change my lifestyle. Less time on the computer, as all of this sitting is bad for my back. Lose a little weight - it can’t hurt. Exercise, so I can strengthen all of the muscles that’ll keep my new back all shiny and new car scenty…or something.
Tomorrow, the day I’ve been looking forward to for about a week now. I have an appointment with an MD associated with my chiro, so I can get some pain meds. Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Soma, etc. - my leg pain laughs at you guys. The only relief comes from sitting on ice packs and that only helps until I get up and walk around for a bit. It’s better than nothing, but it isn’t enough. I’m tired of basically moving from place to place in the house and seeing which spot is most comfortable. It almost makes me want to weep when my bed isn’t comfortable. I love reading before bed, and sleeping. I LOVE sleeping. Right now, I have to sleep on my right side, with a pillow between my legs (yes, Silent Leanne, only a pillow) and not move the whole night. Although, I must occasionally move because sometimes I find the pillow on the floor. I’m sure it freaks Cricket out when my pillow drops right next to her head suddenly in the middle of the night. I’m sure she’ll be very happy when this whole nonsense stops.
When I win the lottery, I’m going to get The Swopper ergonomic desk chair. We’ve tried it out at the Relax the Back store and it seems really comfortable. I’m accepting that if I want to spend time on the computer, I need to get a decent chair.
And now, this ends one of the longest days of my life. Tomorrow morning, I will NOT wake up at 5:37am. I will NOT shower at 6am. I will not be in my car, in traffic (that was a shock) at 7am, even if it is my only opportunity to listen to Mark & Mercedes, my favorite morning team. Good night.
Next entry: Cricket's Crappy Crap Previous entry: For More Amateur Doctor Play
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surgery would suck, but pain relief would rule.
all my best to you my friend.
hey! its only 19C there. i’ll be over tomorrow for coffee…..
xo
jenB on 10/18 at 12:04 AM -
Wait—that Swopper picture—are those just the foot pedals?
At my temp (no one knew it at the time) job last year, we had those fancy schmancy Henry Miller (yes, I know) chairs ... they were muy comfortable and I tried to take mine as *severance* ... it was a whole chair, too, not just food pedals.
Nn on 10/18 at 04:40 AM -
WHOA!! That is one funky chair! Now I want one too. How can you resist THIS from the description: “Provides a fun energetic experience while seated.” Sounds fantastic. I never have fun while seated.
Belinda on 10/18 at 06:32 AM -
Well, crap. It’s crappy to see a report saying your back is messed up, but I suppose it’s worse if the report said that everything was normal and “well, she IS a woman so it’s all in her head”.
These back problems REALLY suck, don’t they? The wear and tear on your emotions are the worst, I think. I truly wish I had lots of helpful advice for you, but I have my own back pain hell that I can’t solve. Z-Coil shoes have helped me, especially since I’m on a concrete floor for a good part of the day. They are ugly, but feel good.
moonandsun03 on 10/18 at 08:54 AM -
Maybe going straight to surgery is a good thing. If this were me, I can tell you that they’d put me through months, if not years, of rehab and p.t. and PAIN PAIN PAIN, only to decide that I wasn’t improving and surgery would be required anyway. This way, you just get the badness over with, recover and get on with life and fun and stuff.
Helly on 10/18 at 08:55 AM -
Hey, at least there are drugs, right?
Jack's Raging Mommy on 10/18 at 08:59 AM -
Hey good luck with the surgery stuff
I hope that you’ll be proud of your shiney new back when it’s all fixed
celine on 10/18 at 09:23 AM -
Flippy - truly sorry to hear about the pain. But hey - you can pretend it’s a hocky injury, and afterwards, you and Tie can compare scars…..
<sigh>
Mikey (Helly’s mom)Mikey Wagy on 10/18 at 10:56 AM -
Definitely the best thing about surgery is getting a cool scar. I hope you can get this taken care of really soon! I’ve known people with chronic backpain - I know it really affects your whole life.
ESL Nancy on 10/18 at 12:34 PM -
While I totally feel that the Swooper chair is a fair trade for the ant farm, I, uh, think you’re stuck with a kidney in this case. Eep!
Surgery is shitty when it’s the only option. Maybe you can ask for a *fancy* new back! Like one that glows in the dark or makes beeping noises when you go backward (um, maybe not) or that has a secret compartment to keep your keys in! And the new-back scent is a fabulous perk, too.
I hope the drug-quest went well today - and that they gave you the super-duper-pills that they hide in the back room for their friends…
Dana on 10/18 at 02:21 PM -
Jen, we waited for you for coffee and you didn’t show. Was it this http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3994021 that kept you away? Honest, it was only flooded in front of our house, and the whole back yard.
Ms Nz, that would be a Herman Miller chair. Less fun than Henry, I guess. I’ve never tried one of those, but I know they’re supposed to be comfy. Today when I went to Pickup Stix and got dinner, I killed time at the Relax the Back store and tried out the chairs. This one was also super comfy - http://tinyurl.com/day36 The Swopper is interesting, but it’s hard to know if I could use it for any length of time. They’re cute though.
If Tie and I ever compared scars, I’d want to be in a lot better shape, Mikey. But then, it could be like the scene in Lethal Weapon 2 (3?) where Mel Gibson and Rene Russo compared scars. It would be best for both of us if that’s as far as it went. We’re married folk….and ewww, he’s a boy.
MoonandSun, we saw those shoes on a guy at the vet’s office. We came home and looked them up online. They look weird, but comfortable. We’ve seen some newer ones that don’t look as obvious to the casual observer.
Belinda, I think it’s time to live it up and have fun…while you’re seated. Really, sitting is already pretty good, but to have it super-charged into fun. Priceless.
Hmmm, a glow in the dark back - I could make money with that! That would be so cool.
Ugh, the pain pills, they’re kinda strong. They just hit me and I think I should probably stop typing for a bit.
Flippy on 10/18 at 07:40 PM -
Little-known fact: Henry and Herman Miller were brothers. Whilst Herman tinkered with furniture-making, Henry would write copy for the assembly instructions. Around the time Herman reallized mesh was a more cost-effective material than memory foam, Henry’s fertile imagination couldn’t be contained by the manuals. Plus, he was a dirty, dirty boy. So, after THE TURN OF THE SCREW was successful, he never looked back. The brothers, however, remained close. (Herman was extremely *supportive*)
Nn on 10/19 at 07:15 AM -
The Z-coils really are worth it. I have finally ventured out in public with them, but I’m a dork and wear extra long pants to try and hide them.
My honey now has a pair. Twice she has be practically accosted by young men, asking if she wears them to improve her “vertical”. Apparently they think she plays basketball. Anyone with 2 working brain cells would know by looking at her that she doesn’t. I think the z-coils blind them and they don’t even see her, just the giant springs.
I hope today is a better day for you.
Regards,
Your Sister in Back Pain Hellmoonandsun03 on 10/19 at 08:55 AM
