Spending New Years in the hospital

[Swan]

Havent been on the bike for a while thanks to various reasons.... This time, severe and immobilizing back pain. Turns out I have degenerate disc disease, trigger point tendonitis, and we're waiting for the CAT scan. The poor nurses are afraid to touch me since even the slightest shift starts the screaming. All I can say is ow.

[Catrin]

Oh Swan, I am so sorry to read this. Hang in there and let us know how things develop. Sending warm thoughts and prayers that they will be able to help you soon.

[Swan]

Thank you, Catrin. I will let you know. For now, all these lovely pills are making me very sleepy.... :)

[OakLeaf]

(((((Swan))))) Feel better soon.

[DebSP]

Oh Swan, that is too bad. Hope you feel better soon.

[emily_in_nc]

Not a great way to start the new year, but glad you are being seen and have the sleepy pills to help in the meantime. I hope they can provide some help and that the new year will bring healing!

[Swan]

Thanks for the wishes, ladies. Seems I'm going to need them. They keep finding new things and it's just a nightmare. I've been put on cortisol as well, which is really affecting my emotional stability also. It's been so very stressful... but that might be the medicine talking!

[girlontheroad]

So sorry to hear this. Hope they find something to help soon.

[Catrin]

(((Swan))) at least answers are being found, and hopefully they can help you soon.

[azfiddle]

wow- tough way to start the year. I hope it gets better....

[Swan]

Thanks everyone ) I've left the hospital and have been home for the past two days. The physical therapists who tended to me let me know that biking wouldn't be a problem so long as I felt up to it.... and while I'm dying to get back on the bike, I can still barely stand to walk around the house. I go back for a check up and consultation on the tenth, so until then I'll just take it easy and sigh. :)

[Catrin]

Glad to hear you are home again! Take it slow, don't push yourself getting back on the bike. The stronger you are when you start riding again the less the chance of re-injury or pain. <<<<Gentle hugs>>>>

[Swan]

Muireen, would be good to talk to you about DDD and cycling. Anything you think I should know about positioning/braces/etc (I have no clue!)? I skipped out of there with a final diagnosis of trigger points/tendinitis, DDD and mild scoliosis. Crazy! The doctors are completely baffled by the DDD at my age (not even 22), but ah well... All we can do now is treat it.

Catrin, great advice, thanks! It's funny how simple it is, yet here I was about to go do 200% as soon as I could... Thanks for reminding me to stay sane lol :)

[Catrin]

Catrin, great advice, thanks! It's funny how simple it is, yet here I was about to go do 200% as soon as I could... Thanks for reminding me to stay sane lol :)

Been there, done that myself and just reinjured myself. Multiple times as some of the longer memebers here will remember who have been so patient with me :o

[murielalex]

Glad you're out of the hospital, though sorry about your diagnosis. It sounds like you really need to be careful, and I agree with the person(s) who posted that you should take it slow getting back on the bike (have some fun short rides), and look into getting a fitting. You don't want to aggravate anything, and end up in worse shape while trying to get better.

[Swan]

Thanks, ladies! I'll be sure to take it slow. My physical therapist recommended cycling, yoga and swimming as means to help my back, and since I'm already doing two (swimming and cycling), I think I'll do well with therapy. Yoga seems a little frightening without an instructor, though, so I'll just do gentle stretches each day.

I'm still not on my bike, but I'm well enough that I was able to spend time with my bike by cleaning her up more than the usual wipe down before and after rides. It was a very satisfying way to pass the time. I've also noticed that since I started riding my bike, a lot more people are doing the same thing in the immediate area! I saw two high school kids, for instance, and the old couple I was biking with... :) None of them were wearing helmets, but it's really exciting to see people pick up cycling way out here.

Actually, all this stuff is probably really boring to slugg through, right? Maybe I should just start a bicycling blog...

[goldfinch]

Not boring at all! We all learn from each other's journey.

[Swan]

Thanks goldfinch :)

I've been referred to a PT clinic, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get into aquatic therapy. *crosses fingers* The doctors and physical therapists I've seen thus far have all agreed that cycling will be very beneficial to my back pain, provided I don't hurt myself doing it. I'm so relieved about that! I have an appointment on Wednesday at the PT clinic, so we'll see how it goes from there. Since being home, my back seemed to get better, but I over the past two days I think I've overdone it a bit as it's beginning to hurt quite a lot again... maybe PT will sort me out :)

[Swan]

PT on Wednesday, but today I was able to move around as normal, with only a few twinges of pain (and a weird throbbing in my leg? hmm).
No matter how much I want to, I know I shouldn't push myself to get on the bike right away, especially since yesterday was a very painful day. I don't want to ruin myself just before physical therapy... but then I also don't want physical to put back my progress if something goes wrong. :confused: All in all the weirdest thing about wanting to recover is that I want to recover so I can start cycling again. Why can't I want to get better just to get better? Ha! This sport has ruined me (and I love it) :D

[Catrin]

....All in all the weirdest thing about wanting to recover is that I want to recover so I can start cycling again. Why can't I want to get better just to get better? Ha! This sport has ruined me (and I love it) :D

Good luck with PT (for both of us) It is also glad to hear that someone else has been assimilated :) I hear you, and I love it as well!

[Swan]

Good luck with PT (for both of us) It is also glad to hear that someone else has been assimilated :) I hear you, and I love it as well!
Hey Catrin! I hope your PT is going well... : )

Today I was given a 30min massage (w-ow!) and treated to electrical shock therapy for 15 with a nice heating pad for a blanket. It was pretty comfy! I must say, though, that while I felt much better during the therapy, shortly after leaving my back felt worse and worse until this point where it isn't possible to walk (again! dagg nabbit!). I had a sneaking suspicion PT would do this... I go back again tomorrow and Friday, so hopefully things will look up then!

[Catrin]

I've not been there yet, I see Bill Friday morning bright and early. I hope he can help, if not I've the name of a good chiro who specializes in shoulders.

I am glad to hear that you at least received some temporary relief and they can resolve the problem for you.

[Swan]

PT is a nightmare. I really don't think the therapists know what they're doing, as I always end up in extreme pain and crying within the first few minutes of every appointment. I don't want to keep going, and I can barely convince myself to keep doing the stretches they put me through when it hurts bad enough to cry like a baby. I felt like I was getting better before, but every day after PT, even after the hotpacks and EST and massages, I feel worse and worse. My back is almost as bad as it was when I had to go to the hospital, but I'll spare anyone that reads this the long-winded horror story of my PT experiences. I'm just really frustrated and upset and I don't want to bother with this anymore, even though I want to heal up.

[Catrin]

{{{{Swan}}}} sending you lots of very gentle hugs, I hope they can give you relief soon! Have you considered going to another physical therapist? There are certainly a range of skills and experience out there...

[goldfinch]

Ask them why it should hurt so much and if it is "normal." Call you doctor and ask the same questions.

[luvmyguys]

More gentle hugs . . .

Dh has had to do physical therapy for more than one issue, and he finds that often, it does hurt at first, and then it gets better. That said, asking the doctor if the pain is normal is a good idea.

[emily_in_nc]

It shouldn't hurt to the point of tears! The PT I had after I fractured my pelvis and had surgery to pin it back together in '05 didn't even hurt that bad. It was challenging and there was "discomfort", but not to that point. Definitely talk to the PT about your concerns.

[Melalvai]

Did you mention the throbbing in your leg to anyone? Is it still throbbing? With forced inactivity because of your back pain, I'm concerned about blood clots.

I read "The Pain Chronicles" and it sounds like a lot of time, PT is still guesswork. Don't feel guilty about taking charge of your health and saying "no" if you think it is wrong. I strained my lower back recently and the OMM treatments have either not helped or made it worse. (I think I'm the one who made it worse, trying to do different activities thinking that would make it better, but that coincides with the treatments so I am not sure!)

[smilingcat]

Agree with Goldfinch and others!! Do talk to your PT and to YOUR DOCTOR about the pain and especially the throbbing pain in the leg. PT maybe overdoing it and your body may need to go slower with PT.

Tell your PT and your doctor of the pain you are having!! Tell them everything about the pain and discomfort you are having. Remember, they can't feel your pain or see your pain.

[OakLeaf]

Oh man (((((Swan))))). Ask your PT why it's hurting you so much - why you're not getting relief - and/or how soon you should start feeling better. How closely are they working with your doctor?

[murielalex]

More gentle hugs. I've had a ton of PT due to various injuries over my long life, and what you're saying, hurting to the point of tears, isn't right. Talk with your doc asap.

[Swan]

Thanks, everyone, for all your support... I did talk to the person in charge of the PT clinic and he was very concerned that the therapists working with me the past two days were pushing so hard. He mentioned that because my muscles/tendons are so tight (a natural reflex when in pain), that the stretching is more difficult than it should be. I should continue the stretches, but at my own pace, and stop if it hurts too much to continue/if I feel like I have to force myself. That came as such a relief, because the first stretch they have me do each day (a simple hamstring stretch!) is the most painful of all. I'll phone the doctor when he opens tomorrow, but until then no word from him.

Melalvai, the throbbing/burning in my leg ended after two or three hours. I was also concerned about blood clots, but I've been doing everything I can to avoid them. It seems like the pain came from stretching too far during the hamstring stretches, since it went away like any usual stretching soreness. The tendons/muscles connected to my spine are far too tight, so when I go to do these stretches, I often can't even straighten my leg out all the way. It doesn't hurt my leg.... just my back, and quite a lot! It might be that in trying to continue stretching, I pulled something in one of my legs. I wouldn't put that past it, since during the stretches I was definitely feeling muscles/tendons/whatever they are move how they shouldn't.

After two days of recovery from PT, I can say that my mobility has increased quite a lot, even though it's still fairly painful (nothing like Friday though!). The pain seems to have localized to a smaller area (lower back to tailbone, rather than mid-back to tailbone), which I'm ever grateful for. Bending/reaching is still a major issue, but I can do it now with only some major discomfort instead of excruciating pain. I wonder if that's because the stretching/EST/massage has loosened me up, or if it's because I'm not stretching and my body is recovering?

[Swan]

Update: PT hasn't much improved, nor has the staff. Hamstring stretches are the worst, though -- I don't even get close to feeling the stretch in the hamstring before my back starts screaming. I met with the clinic owner ten minutes until closing last appointment, and he suspects it has something to do with my hip.... okay. Anyway, he did something weird with the angle of my hips and it helped a ton, so I'm sticking with that for now. I'm being referred to the 'sister' clinic closer to my job sometime next week as well. PT may be a hellishly painful and expensive nightmare, but I can say that today I was able to look at my bike and think, "soon I'll be on you again."

[Swan]

I am back on the bike!! :D As long as I go slow and not very far, I can cycle again! Woohoo!!!!

[Catrin]

I am back on the bike!! :D As long as I go slow and not very far, I can cycle again! Woohoo!!!!

Yayyyyy! I am glad to hear there was a successful reunion :) I am ready for a test reunion with mine but the weather won't cooperate - 60 degrees when I am in the office, cold, windy, rainy, whatever when I am not...but it IS January...

[emily_in_nc]

Wonderful news, Swan! :p