Spending New Years in the hospital

[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!! As long as I go slow and not very far, I can cycle again! Woohoo!!!!

[Catrin]

I am back on the bike!! 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...