I feel like I need a designation when I'm at the gym. I don't go around blabbing all my problems to everybody the first moment I meet them, but people wonder. Sometimes people I've met or "know" will ask why I'm doing something different. Sometimes I tell them I'm special. Sometimes I tell them I'm injured. Most times I don't feel like going through this whole story. Yesterday, one of the guys at the gym asked me why I was pouting. Because I was angry.
Maybe I'll start up a t-shirt business for when I get stuck in my own head. If you see me at your gym with SCRATCH across my back, please understand that I wish I were doing more and pushing myself harder didn't hurt.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
My dad is a rockstar!
Warning: This is not a back-related post. I feel like telling about my fun weekend, though, so here goes...
On Saturday, my tiny baby sister graduated from high school. My dad took it upon himself a year or two ago to run for school board, so he was handing out diplomas. He gave my lil buddy her diploma and a big hug. I teared up. My dad is also the fire chief in the little town where they live. He started working with the fire department a few years ago and took the whole family along. He, my good mom, and both of my sisters are now firefighters. My dad is an excellent writer and has written grants for them to get much more training and essential equipment. They are not your average hillbilly volunteer firefighters. I would set them down in the middle of any major city and expect them to give "professional" firefighters a run for their money.
The family has really pushed the Junior firefighter program, partly because when they started, the sisters were too young to be actual FF. But also because there just isn't a whole lot of appealing and constructive outlets for young people way out there in the sticks. Our family has developed a relationship with the H's through all of this. (In fact, my other little sister is marrying an H-boy in June.) The youngest H-boy is my baby sister's age and has also been heavily involved in the Junior's program. Last year there was a training accident involving baby sister and the young H-boy. He was badly hurt and had to spend time in the hospital and rehab for a traumatic brain injury. Baby sister got some bumps and bruises. She and my dad didn't sleep for weeks. H-boy graduated along with my baby sister on Saturday. My dad handed him his diploma and gave him a big hug. I cried. Good Mom cried. I suspect there were others, but I didn't look around for them.
After graduation, we stopped by the M's, whose Junior FF daughter also graduated. As we were sitting on their deck (that she built for her senior project...wow!), a storm came rolling in and the county FireCom started calling for stormspotters. My dad got up to go, and like any kid, I asked, "Hey, can I go?" "Sure!" So we hopped in the car, and he took off like a bat outta hell for the fire station. He grabbed a coat and hat for me, and we climbed in the "medical truck." He drove us out to the edge of town and we watched the clouds. There were a few funnel clouds off in the distance, and he explained what we were looking for. The radio was abuzz with all the funnel cloud sightings from our southeast. After awhile, the hail started. At first it was tiny, like the head of a pin, then pea-sized, then dime, and nickel, before turning to quarter. It passed, and the next round was far off in the distance. Dad decided to check out what was going on in town, so we went back. There was some debris lying around: shrubs, trash cans, tree branches. He drove us toward the south of town and pulled into a lot. We looked above the truck into some dark clouds. I said, "Dad, that one has rotation." He waited for the radio traffic to clear to ask the dispatcher to sound the tornado siren again. It got suddenly dark around us, and the debris...leaves and branches blew all around us. The truck rocked violently, and the noise of the wind was deafening. I looked at my dad, who looked at me and mouthed, "Tornado!" By then, the debris had changed direction and the tornado moved on. It was small and didn't cause much damage that we could see. There was a tree across the roadway and another fire truck showed up with a chain saw. That guy cut, and we pulled limbs and branches off the road. The storms had mostly passed. Awhile later, Dad put up the truck, and we headed back to the house.
Before I left, my Hubs called and asked, "So what did you do all day?"
I told him, "Went to graduation, ate some BBQ, and hung out in a tornado in a fire truck with my dad."
Hubs: "Nice."
"You know that's how we roll."
On Saturday, my tiny baby sister graduated from high school. My dad took it upon himself a year or two ago to run for school board, so he was handing out diplomas. He gave my lil buddy her diploma and a big hug. I teared up. My dad is also the fire chief in the little town where they live. He started working with the fire department a few years ago and took the whole family along. He, my good mom, and both of my sisters are now firefighters. My dad is an excellent writer and has written grants for them to get much more training and essential equipment. They are not your average hillbilly volunteer firefighters. I would set them down in the middle of any major city and expect them to give "professional" firefighters a run for their money.
The family has really pushed the Junior firefighter program, partly because when they started, the sisters were too young to be actual FF. But also because there just isn't a whole lot of appealing and constructive outlets for young people way out there in the sticks. Our family has developed a relationship with the H's through all of this. (In fact, my other little sister is marrying an H-boy in June.) The youngest H-boy is my baby sister's age and has also been heavily involved in the Junior's program. Last year there was a training accident involving baby sister and the young H-boy. He was badly hurt and had to spend time in the hospital and rehab for a traumatic brain injury. Baby sister got some bumps and bruises. She and my dad didn't sleep for weeks. H-boy graduated along with my baby sister on Saturday. My dad handed him his diploma and gave him a big hug. I cried. Good Mom cried. I suspect there were others, but I didn't look around for them.
After graduation, we stopped by the M's, whose Junior FF daughter also graduated. As we were sitting on their deck (that she built for her senior project...wow!), a storm came rolling in and the county FireCom started calling for stormspotters. My dad got up to go, and like any kid, I asked, "Hey, can I go?" "Sure!" So we hopped in the car, and he took off like a bat outta hell for the fire station. He grabbed a coat and hat for me, and we climbed in the "medical truck." He drove us out to the edge of town and we watched the clouds. There were a few funnel clouds off in the distance, and he explained what we were looking for. The radio was abuzz with all the funnel cloud sightings from our southeast. After awhile, the hail started. At first it was tiny, like the head of a pin, then pea-sized, then dime, and nickel, before turning to quarter. It passed, and the next round was far off in the distance. Dad decided to check out what was going on in town, so we went back. There was some debris lying around: shrubs, trash cans, tree branches. He drove us toward the south of town and pulled into a lot. We looked above the truck into some dark clouds. I said, "Dad, that one has rotation." He waited for the radio traffic to clear to ask the dispatcher to sound the tornado siren again. It got suddenly dark around us, and the debris...leaves and branches blew all around us. The truck rocked violently, and the noise of the wind was deafening. I looked at my dad, who looked at me and mouthed, "Tornado!" By then, the debris had changed direction and the tornado moved on. It was small and didn't cause much damage that we could see. There was a tree across the roadway and another fire truck showed up with a chain saw. That guy cut, and we pulled limbs and branches off the road. The storms had mostly passed. Awhile later, Dad put up the truck, and we headed back to the house.
Before I left, my Hubs called and asked, "So what did you do all day?"
I told him, "Went to graduation, ate some BBQ, and hung out in a tornado in a fire truck with my dad."
Hubs: "Nice."
"You know that's how we roll."
Friday, May 20, 2011
I forgot...
and I don't even have any good excuses. On the other hand, constantly updating the blog with things like, "I am currently rolling around on the living room floor in pain," and "my husband is not allowed to look at me funny because my back pain is unbearable and I will scream obscenities at him," aren't how I like to spend my blog posts. That was pretty much how it went all week. During my 4 day pity party, I tried to figure out why my muscles get so tight. Because it seems like, if they would just chill the freak out for a minute, the pain would go away. I always feel loads better after exercise, yoga, GD visit, and any other type of loosening up movements. Of course, even after those things, the pain is still there, but it's mellow and doesn't control everything I do.
For the record, last weekend sucked. I worked all weekend with a co-worker I can barely stand to be around, and we had to put in some overtime that was basically a huge waste all because of her. I know, right? Total drama. I don't if it's stress or what, but I had been waking up in the middle of my sleep all week. Sometimes I couldn't get back to sleep, or I would, but then wake up more. Generally, I dragged my butt out of bed when the dogs started whining, let them out, and fell back asleep on the couch. I slept a lot this week (to the point, I was REALLY starting to wonder what was wrong with me)!
Today I had a GD visit scheduled at 0930. I seriously was dreading getting up that early because I just haven't been able to get moving in the morning. To help me drift off into a peaceful slumber, I popped a melatonin before crashing out. I don't like taking anything for sleep because it all makes me feel groggy when I awake. Even though it's supposed to be natural, even melantonin makes me feel like I drank a case of beer in bed, so I just generally try to avoid it.
For the record (Mom), I have never drunk a case of beer. Shortly after I turned 21, I decided to try a 6 pack in one night. I was done after 3. That's how I roll.
This morning I awoke kind of freaked out. Mostly because I didn't hurt. I moved around a little and still didn't hurt. I thought, "I need to get out of bed and try this out." Well, that's when I hurt. But nothing like the past 4 days! I felt freaking awesome! I wasn't all stiff and painful when going from sitting to standing and reached to about my knees before I had to stop.
Fairy Dust.
or perhaps a good 8 hours of non-interrupted sleep.
and maybe the coconut water I drank yesterday helped?
I don't know. I heard it has a lot of electrolytes and is good for muscles, but I'm not convinced it's a miracle cure. I'm not convinced it isn't helpful though. And how can I go wrong getting plenty of sleep and sucking down some not-so-delicious nectar of the Gods? I put some in a protein shake today to hide the weird flavor. It worked.
Now on this sleep thing, I don't want to take stuff to put me out everynight. I need sleep therapy.
For the record, last weekend sucked. I worked all weekend with a co-worker I can barely stand to be around, and we had to put in some overtime that was basically a huge waste all because of her. I know, right? Total drama. I don't if it's stress or what, but I had been waking up in the middle of my sleep all week. Sometimes I couldn't get back to sleep, or I would, but then wake up more. Generally, I dragged my butt out of bed when the dogs started whining, let them out, and fell back asleep on the couch. I slept a lot this week (to the point, I was REALLY starting to wonder what was wrong with me)!
Today I had a GD visit scheduled at 0930. I seriously was dreading getting up that early because I just haven't been able to get moving in the morning. To help me drift off into a peaceful slumber, I popped a melatonin before crashing out. I don't like taking anything for sleep because it all makes me feel groggy when I awake. Even though it's supposed to be natural, even melantonin makes me feel like I drank a case of beer in bed, so I just generally try to avoid it.
For the record (Mom), I have never drunk a case of beer. Shortly after I turned 21, I decided to try a 6 pack in one night. I was done after 3. That's how I roll.
This morning I awoke kind of freaked out. Mostly because I didn't hurt. I moved around a little and still didn't hurt. I thought, "I need to get out of bed and try this out." Well, that's when I hurt. But nothing like the past 4 days! I felt freaking awesome! I wasn't all stiff and painful when going from sitting to standing and reached to about my knees before I had to stop.
Fairy Dust.
or perhaps a good 8 hours of non-interrupted sleep.
and maybe the coconut water I drank yesterday helped?
I don't know. I heard it has a lot of electrolytes and is good for muscles, but I'm not convinced it's a miracle cure. I'm not convinced it isn't helpful though. And how can I go wrong getting plenty of sleep and sucking down some not-so-delicious nectar of the Gods? I put some in a protein shake today to hide the weird flavor. It worked.
Now on this sleep thing, I don't want to take stuff to put me out everynight. I need sleep therapy.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Magic
Good Doc sprinkled fairy dust on my hip today, and now it's all better.
I wish it were true. I'm hopeful that day is getter closer. GD continues to tell my my back feels better to him, and I think perhaps we have found a recipe that is starting to work. I go to yoga and crossfit. He digs his elbows into my fleshy posterior bits. The si joint feels just lovely today. I know there is still something going on back there, but it isn't controlling my every thought and action.
I wish it were true. I'm hopeful that day is getter closer. GD continues to tell my my back feels better to him, and I think perhaps we have found a recipe that is starting to work. I go to yoga and crossfit. He digs his elbows into my fleshy posterior bits. The si joint feels just lovely today. I know there is still something going on back there, but it isn't controlling my every thought and action.
Monday, May 9, 2011
guh ugh
The title sums up how I feel today. I would like to blame the beer I drank after a long week of work and of being on-call for work. On-call is generally stressful in and of itself because work is always in the back of my mind. I have to be connected 100% of the time and even sleep worse than usual. But I have a job though, right? I've noticed that sugars (like bread and alcohol) make me hurt more. Maybe it's in my head. Maybe it's because they're inflammatory. Maybe it's because beer is a diuretic.
Whatever it is, I woke up stiff and painful today. Dragged my bum to yoga. I really hate yoga. It hurts me to do. Afterwards though, I love yoga because it stretches me out. The hate makes it difficult to get motivated to go. The love is a nice reward.
After, I went to crossfit. I didn't do much weight on anything and just felt achey. At least I went and tried though. I probably feel better now than if I wouldn't have gone.
I wish it were more upbeat, but today just isn't. Maybe if I go throw down some cartwheels, I'll feel happier. Yeah, I can still do cartwheels.
Whatever it is, I woke up stiff and painful today. Dragged my bum to yoga. I really hate yoga. It hurts me to do. Afterwards though, I love yoga because it stretches me out. The hate makes it difficult to get motivated to go. The love is a nice reward.
After, I went to crossfit. I didn't do much weight on anything and just felt achey. At least I went and tried though. I probably feel better now than if I wouldn't have gone.
I wish it were more upbeat, but today just isn't. Maybe if I go throw down some cartwheels, I'll feel happier. Yeah, I can still do cartwheels.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
What's all the Rage?
I finished my steroids earlier this week, and I admit, I did not take the very last pill on the very last day. I don't feel any different than I did before taking the medication. Wait. Strike that. I feel puffy...and bloaty...and still painful. The entire time I was on this med, I wanted ibuprofen. The little motrins do more for my pain than the stupid prescription. So much for a miracle drug. If you were wondering why I didn't take the last dose, it was because I was done with all the hurting and took ibuprofen instead. Apparently, if you take the two together, they can make your stomach bleed. That would be a problem.
The half life of the drug I took is 18-36 hours. With any luck, it will all be out of my system in a few days and I will no longer be puffy. The puffy is weird. I noticed it 2 days ago when I squatted to pick up some laundry. It felt like my hamstrings were bulging out of the back of my legs and keeping me from relaxing all the way. So I sat in that position and moved it around a bit until it was more comfortable. The next day, I put on my fave pair of trousers and they were super tight. Ugh. I am not a fan of puffy. I like when clothes get looser, not tighter.
I realized today, as I refilled my little pill box of delicious supplements that I have been taking said supplements for over a month now. I've never really done so religiously, but the pill box helps. A LOT. I only have to think about what I'm taking when about once per week as I refill the thing. As I divied up my folic acids, I realized some good things have happened over the past month that I would like to attribute to said folate. Now, this is generally thought of in regard to girly issues...the making of babies and such. Because that is what my good things have to do with, I will spare you the gory details. I will, however, make the following statement:
IF YOU ARE A CHICK, FOLIC ACID IS GOOD FOR YOU.
In a big way. Make sure you're getting what you need. You can thank me later.
The half life of the drug I took is 18-36 hours. With any luck, it will all be out of my system in a few days and I will no longer be puffy. The puffy is weird. I noticed it 2 days ago when I squatted to pick up some laundry. It felt like my hamstrings were bulging out of the back of my legs and keeping me from relaxing all the way. So I sat in that position and moved it around a bit until it was more comfortable. The next day, I put on my fave pair of trousers and they were super tight. Ugh. I am not a fan of puffy. I like when clothes get looser, not tighter.
I realized today, as I refilled my little pill box of delicious supplements that I have been taking said supplements for over a month now. I've never really done so religiously, but the pill box helps. A LOT. I only have to think about what I'm taking when about once per week as I refill the thing. As I divied up my folic acids, I realized some good things have happened over the past month that I would like to attribute to said folate. Now, this is generally thought of in regard to girly issues...the making of babies and such. Because that is what my good things have to do with, I will spare you the gory details. I will, however, make the following statement:
IF YOU ARE A CHICK, FOLIC ACID IS GOOD FOR YOU.
In a big way. Make sure you're getting what you need. You can thank me later.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
A Confession
Dog glucosamine. I tried it, so you don't have to.
It's really salty and made me gag.
I guess I'll just go buy my own.
It's really salty and made me gag.
I guess I'll just go buy my own.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Good Day in the Books!
Yesterday was a good day! It was very much needed. Hubs and I were both off work, but he sleeps until about 3 pm (yay night shifters!). I planned the early part of my day all around my back.
1030-1130 Yoga
The instructor was new to me and perhaps better than the lady who does the evening classes. Her poses were very different, and it felt less like she was trying to cram a bunch of everything into the hour. Forward folds and down dogs are still kicking my butt.
1200-1300 Crossfit
I heart being able to go to CC's class. He had me deadlift out of the rack to protect my back, and I only picked up 113# from there. I'm not worrying about what my previous PR's were because that's a good way to get frustrated. Everything starts over, and I just have to laugh and shake my head at my numbers. I did the WOD in 17:15, scaling 15# dumbbells for the bar on squat cleans, a 4# ball on wall balls, and assisted dips. I actually wouldn't really describe what I was doing as "cleans" either. I was really just flinging the dumbells up to my shoulders. Hey, it didn't hurt my back that way. It felt so good to go there and workout with my peoples. I loved it.
1400-1430 Good Doc
Okay, Good Chiropractor, whatev. He ultrasounded, manual therapy'd, and electrified my back. Don't you wish I knew the names of what he was actually doing? Sometimes I ask, then I forget. He said my back felt better...not so tight and icky. So I don't have to go back for a week and a half. I told him about all my core exercises, and he was down with that. I've also been rolling my back and legs on my foam roller pretty hard core the last few days. It's heavenly.
Then I went home, made Hubs take me to get the oil in the car changed. I freaking hate getting my oil changed. I hate that the dudes lie about what needs to be fixed. I know they're just trying to make a buck off of an ignoramus, and I'm not down with that. Hubs has a mechanic that we use because we trust him, and he doesn't jerk us around. I wish I could find an oil change place that was the same way. This place has been telling me I need new rear shocks for the last two years. The mechanic tells me otherwise. Yesterday, they told me I needed new rear brakes and a new air filter, as well. I don't know anything about cars, but I do know how to change my air filter. Go me. And it isn't like I'm going to trust them about the brakes thing now. grrr. I would complain, but I'm afraid they'll sabotage my car or something.
Back to my good day, Hubs and I went out to eat. I was still running on the Clif Bar I had eaten around 0930. Then he bought me a giant exercise ball. Yes! I'm going to sit on it at my desk because sitting on my little one at home hurts less than sitting on a chair. I'm sitting on it now.
Yeah, it was a nice little Monday.
1030-1130 Yoga
The instructor was new to me and perhaps better than the lady who does the evening classes. Her poses were very different, and it felt less like she was trying to cram a bunch of everything into the hour. Forward folds and down dogs are still kicking my butt.
1200-1300 Crossfit
I heart being able to go to CC's class. He had me deadlift out of the rack to protect my back, and I only picked up 113# from there. I'm not worrying about what my previous PR's were because that's a good way to get frustrated. Everything starts over, and I just have to laugh and shake my head at my numbers. I did the WOD in 17:15, scaling 15# dumbbells for the bar on squat cleans, a 4# ball on wall balls, and assisted dips. I actually wouldn't really describe what I was doing as "cleans" either. I was really just flinging the dumbells up to my shoulders. Hey, it didn't hurt my back that way. It felt so good to go there and workout with my peoples. I loved it.
1400-1430 Good Doc
Okay, Good Chiropractor, whatev. He ultrasounded, manual therapy'd, and electrified my back. Don't you wish I knew the names of what he was actually doing? Sometimes I ask, then I forget. He said my back felt better...not so tight and icky. So I don't have to go back for a week and a half. I told him about all my core exercises, and he was down with that. I've also been rolling my back and legs on my foam roller pretty hard core the last few days. It's heavenly.
Then I went home, made Hubs take me to get the oil in the car changed. I freaking hate getting my oil changed. I hate that the dudes lie about what needs to be fixed. I know they're just trying to make a buck off of an ignoramus, and I'm not down with that. Hubs has a mechanic that we use because we trust him, and he doesn't jerk us around. I wish I could find an oil change place that was the same way. This place has been telling me I need new rear shocks for the last two years. The mechanic tells me otherwise. Yesterday, they told me I needed new rear brakes and a new air filter, as well. I don't know anything about cars, but I do know how to change my air filter. Go me. And it isn't like I'm going to trust them about the brakes thing now. grrr. I would complain, but I'm afraid they'll sabotage my car or something.
Back to my good day, Hubs and I went out to eat. I was still running on the Clif Bar I had eaten around 0930. Then he bought me a giant exercise ball. Yes! I'm going to sit on it at my desk because sitting on my little one at home hurts less than sitting on a chair. I'm sitting on it now.
Yeah, it was a nice little Monday.
Supplements Numero Dos
Last week, I halved the doses of several supplements including fish oil, Vit D, and Magnesium. You can see what I was taking and why in my first supplement post.
Now I'm taking the following daily doses:
Vitamin D
5,000 I.U.
Calcium Citrate
800 mg
*This is actually what I've been taking all along. Since 1000 mg of my brand is 5 pills, I just decided to take 4. Two in the a.m. and two in the p.m. is easy to do. I also drink calcium-enriched OJ.
Magnesium
250 mg
Fish Oil
I have the cheap stuff. In order to get all my recommended EPA and DHA, I would still be taking about 12 fish pills a day. But I don't feel like taking that much of anything, so I take 6 per day. Next time I'll get the good stuff.
Now I'm taking the following daily doses:
Vitamin D
5,000 I.U.
Calcium Citrate
800 mg
*This is actually what I've been taking all along. Since 1000 mg of my brand is 5 pills, I just decided to take 4. Two in the a.m. and two in the p.m. is easy to do. I also drink calcium-enriched OJ.
Magnesium
250 mg
Fish Oil
I have the cheap stuff. In order to get all my recommended EPA and DHA, I would still be taking about 12 fish pills a day. But I don't feel like taking that much of anything, so I take 6 per day. Next time I'll get the good stuff.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Neurologist...Smeurologist
I waited a while to update the blog because I was hoping for great things after the neurologist visit. Needless to say, I'm still waiting. In the meantime, sit back, grab a beer, and I'll tell you a story about the doctor I fired this week.
Thursday morning, my phone rang and it was MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.)'s office on the other end. They'd had a cancellation at 2pm and wanted to know if I would like to move my appointment up an hour. It didn't really matter to me. The way I've understood doctor's offices to work in the past, they set up all the appointments and then run late. The later in the day it is, the later they are for your appointment. One hour isn't much, but I decided it might save me a few extra minutes of waiting. I had already filled out my new patient forms online, but they requested I arrive at 1:45 pm, so they could get my insurance information.
Of course, I was there at 1:40, insurance card in hand. I gave it to the receptionist, who gave me a pager and told me a number would light up and to go to that booth where I would get checked in. You know, kind of like an assembly line. Awesome. I sat in the waiting room and waited. A lady called me over to the booth, verified some of my information, and took my copay. She then told me to have a seat, and the pager would go off when the nurse was ready to take me back. I had my seat. I sat for a long time. My back hurt. Bad. I would estimate it was about a 9.728 on the pain scale. My pager went off, and I met the nurse past the row of booths. She told me she had made a mistake and paged me too early. Please have a seat, and I'll page you again when MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) is ready.
I sat. I don't know what time it was when she originally paged me. I sat there in pain fighting back tears of anger and pain. It hurt to stand. It hurt to sit. I nearly walked out. I realized I had already paid my $30 and sat here this long, so MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) was going see me. I tried to readjust my attitude before my pager went off. It didn't buzz again until 2:40 p.m.
I gave the nurse my xrays and mri. She weighed, measured me, and took my temp. She told me MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) would be in to see me in a few minutes and to please put on some paper shorts. They were extremely flattering. I should have taken a picture for you. I couldn't stand or sit any longer. I supined out on the exam table.
MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) came in, and I sat up while he conducted a short interview...when the pain started, what I had done for it (ibuprofen), who I had seen (Good Doc). Then he did his exam, which mostly consisted of me pushing and pulling against his hands with various parts of my legs and feet. He asked me to lie back down, and he lifted my left leg. I shrieked. He did the other slower and asked about the pain. I told him the pain was always on the right.
He sat back on his doctory chair and told me I had a disc problem. "Really," I said. "Why wouldn't you think SI Joint?"
I didn't think my question warranted his snarky response. According to MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.), "Well, as a physician, my medical opinion is that you have a [disc problem]." (I don't remember exactly what terminology he used. It was the same old herniation pressing against the nerve story. I'm not a moron. I don't need it explained to me a thousand times, but I let him talk). He then went on to explain the one apparent test for si joint dysfunction that he did, which did not cause pain. He explained the pain I had when he lifted my legs was indicative of the disc problem. Yeah, but it's also indicative of an si joint problem. Then he talked about the MRI and blah blah blah. So he was deciding to treat my MRI and not my back pain.
I didn't ask the question as a challenge. I legitimately wanted to know what he had learned from 5 minutes in a room with me that made him so sure. When MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) gave me attitude for asking a simple freaking question, we became not friends very quickly in my little bird brain. As I explained to MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.), "It's all well and good that you can put M.D. after your name, but you still don't know where my pain is. If you'd like, I can go ahead and show you now."
As I stood up and turned around to show him, he proceeded to push on the lower part of my back, while asking if it hurt. "It hurts because you're bouncing me around, but where you're touching doesn't hurt."
Then he showed me where my si joint is. Like I don't know. He said, "This is your si joint..." I interrupted before he got out the crayons to draw me a picture. I told him, "I know. And that is where my pain is." He said maybe I had both a disc problem and si joint problem.
I have to admit, I didn't listen to much more of what he said. He offered to treat me with a steroid dose pack or injections. I did some quick mental acrobatics. I don't want some idiot poking stuff around in my spine, especially if that isn't where the problem lies. I have to do something though because this pain is freaking out of control. I thought if I go for the dose pack, then that should treat the si joint too. So I got a prescription from him. I told him about the core exercises I've been doing. He suggested that I stop and do these dorky easy ones on a piece of paper he gave me. He walked me out saying how I should call and let him know how it goes. I said, "Yeah, we'll see." And that was that. I didn't actually come out and fire him because I wanted to try this dose pack thing and I'm tired of freaking waiting around for something to get better.
I called my mom to ask her what she thought. I cried. She was already angry and frustrated with my sister's recent doctors' appointments. She listened while I ranted. I listened while she ranted. (Lil Sis possibly has compartment syndrome. She is still in high school and under my parents insurance, which is good for her because without Mom, I don't know if she could navigate all the doctors and stuff. Shoot, I'm 30 years old and still need my mom's help with this.)
Mom is an RN. She thinks steroids are the devil but pretty much believes that about most medicine. She told me it's a miracle drug and will mask the problem, so I have to keep up with pt and treating the actual cause of the pain. Since this crap has taken over my life though, she said in my shoes, she would try it too.
So I am. I guess it takes a couple of days to build up or something. I started the dose pack Friday morning and have seen no improvement yet...
Thursday morning, my phone rang and it was MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.)'s office on the other end. They'd had a cancellation at 2pm and wanted to know if I would like to move my appointment up an hour. It didn't really matter to me. The way I've understood doctor's offices to work in the past, they set up all the appointments and then run late. The later in the day it is, the later they are for your appointment. One hour isn't much, but I decided it might save me a few extra minutes of waiting. I had already filled out my new patient forms online, but they requested I arrive at 1:45 pm, so they could get my insurance information.
Of course, I was there at 1:40, insurance card in hand. I gave it to the receptionist, who gave me a pager and told me a number would light up and to go to that booth where I would get checked in. You know, kind of like an assembly line. Awesome. I sat in the waiting room and waited. A lady called me over to the booth, verified some of my information, and took my copay. She then told me to have a seat, and the pager would go off when the nurse was ready to take me back. I had my seat. I sat for a long time. My back hurt. Bad. I would estimate it was about a 9.728 on the pain scale. My pager went off, and I met the nurse past the row of booths. She told me she had made a mistake and paged me too early. Please have a seat, and I'll page you again when MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) is ready.
I sat. I don't know what time it was when she originally paged me. I sat there in pain fighting back tears of anger and pain. It hurt to stand. It hurt to sit. I nearly walked out. I realized I had already paid my $30 and sat here this long, so MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) was going see me. I tried to readjust my attitude before my pager went off. It didn't buzz again until 2:40 p.m.
I gave the nurse my xrays and mri. She weighed, measured me, and took my temp. She told me MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) would be in to see me in a few minutes and to please put on some paper shorts. They were extremely flattering. I should have taken a picture for you. I couldn't stand or sit any longer. I supined out on the exam table.
MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) came in, and I sat up while he conducted a short interview...when the pain started, what I had done for it (ibuprofen), who I had seen (Good Doc). Then he did his exam, which mostly consisted of me pushing and pulling against his hands with various parts of my legs and feet. He asked me to lie back down, and he lifted my left leg. I shrieked. He did the other slower and asked about the pain. I told him the pain was always on the right.
He sat back on his doctory chair and told me I had a disc problem. "Really," I said. "Why wouldn't you think SI Joint?"
I didn't think my question warranted his snarky response. According to MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.), "Well, as a physician, my medical opinion is that you have a [disc problem]." (I don't remember exactly what terminology he used. It was the same old herniation pressing against the nerve story. I'm not a moron. I don't need it explained to me a thousand times, but I let him talk). He then went on to explain the one apparent test for si joint dysfunction that he did, which did not cause pain. He explained the pain I had when he lifted my legs was indicative of the disc problem. Yeah, but it's also indicative of an si joint problem. Then he talked about the MRI and blah blah blah. So he was deciding to treat my MRI and not my back pain.
I didn't ask the question as a challenge. I legitimately wanted to know what he had learned from 5 minutes in a room with me that made him so sure. When MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.) gave me attitude for asking a simple freaking question, we became not friends very quickly in my little bird brain. As I explained to MrBigShotNeurologist (M.D.), "It's all well and good that you can put M.D. after your name, but you still don't know where my pain is. If you'd like, I can go ahead and show you now."
As I stood up and turned around to show him, he proceeded to push on the lower part of my back, while asking if it hurt. "It hurts because you're bouncing me around, but where you're touching doesn't hurt."
Then he showed me where my si joint is. Like I don't know. He said, "This is your si joint..." I interrupted before he got out the crayons to draw me a picture. I told him, "I know. And that is where my pain is." He said maybe I had both a disc problem and si joint problem.
I have to admit, I didn't listen to much more of what he said. He offered to treat me with a steroid dose pack or injections. I did some quick mental acrobatics. I don't want some idiot poking stuff around in my spine, especially if that isn't where the problem lies. I have to do something though because this pain is freaking out of control. I thought if I go for the dose pack, then that should treat the si joint too. So I got a prescription from him. I told him about the core exercises I've been doing. He suggested that I stop and do these dorky easy ones on a piece of paper he gave me. He walked me out saying how I should call and let him know how it goes. I said, "Yeah, we'll see." And that was that. I didn't actually come out and fire him because I wanted to try this dose pack thing and I'm tired of freaking waiting around for something to get better.
I called my mom to ask her what she thought. I cried. She was already angry and frustrated with my sister's recent doctors' appointments. She listened while I ranted. I listened while she ranted. (Lil Sis possibly has compartment syndrome. She is still in high school and under my parents insurance, which is good for her because without Mom, I don't know if she could navigate all the doctors and stuff. Shoot, I'm 30 years old and still need my mom's help with this.)
Mom is an RN. She thinks steroids are the devil but pretty much believes that about most medicine. She told me it's a miracle drug and will mask the problem, so I have to keep up with pt and treating the actual cause of the pain. Since this crap has taken over my life though, she said in my shoes, she would try it too.
So I am. I guess it takes a couple of days to build up or something. I started the dose pack Friday morning and have seen no improvement yet...
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