Please send any hugs today! I had an MRI for my back pain on Sunday.

[Radio_Lady]

I did OK, and didn't exhibit any claustrophobia. The technician was very calming and said she deals with this all the time. (Thanks, Terry I-don't-know-your-last-name).

I'm still really terrified about hearing the results. Have to stay on Percocet to feel just wonderful!

Right now, I feel alright.

[ThomCat]

1. A bunch of us have back pain for one reason or another.

You're in good company. Though I sincerely hope that you're only temporarily a member of the group.

I hope the MRI shows something that is readily fixable with Phys. Therapy. In the meantime, yes, Percocet is wonderful. :)

[Radio_Lady]

3. Thanks, ThomCat. I'm trying to maintain my composure.

"Keep a good thought in your head..." is what my husband says.

[crim son]

2. I have a friend who had back pain for two months.

He was on serious painkillers. The MRI indicated that his spine was "degenerating" - he was told. I gave him moral support while he resigned himself to a life of pain. Fast forward eight or nine weeks. With no treatment, the pain spontaneously disappeared and hasn't returned since, spinal degeneration notwithstanding. My wish for you: the same scenario, or one better... say, the pain vanishes tomorrow. :hug: -Lisa

[Radio_Lady]

7. Wow, what a story! Sure he didn't go to Lourdes and utter some kind

of a prayer?

Thanks for posting this...hopeful commentary!

[crim son]

19. Totally sure (though he is Catholic)!

And totally true. :)

[Katina]

23. What happens is this

with degenerative disk disease and even with herniated disks is that they try to relieve the pain while the disk continues to degenerate and atrophy. When that happens, the disk shrinks back and no longer puts pressure on the nerve root. So they always try to do the most conservative treatments first before resorting to any kind of surgery.
They start with the pain killers (as you know) and usually oral steroids (like prednisone) THey may even give you muscle relaxants. They should also start you on a physical therapy regiment. If none of this works, then they take it to the next step, epidural injections of corticordsteriods. Because these are put directly into the dura, they reduce the swelling and inflamation. They figure that if it doesn't work after 3 treatments, then you become a candidate for surgery...and there are all kinds for minimally invasive to full out disk fusion. If you want to know more, you can IM me.

[Radio_Lady]

24. Katina, thanks so much for this outline. I am putting you in my

buddy list and printing this reply to show my doctor when I see him next week. Stay tuned for more queries. I appreciate the outline.

[Katina]

25. no problem

there are lots of informational sites on the internet. Google :lumbar herniation treatments and you will get a bunch. They are a great source of info so you can talk to your doctor with some information, and not be totally at his/her mercy. Knowledge about yourself is everything when it comes to good medical care.
Good luck..and enjoy the percosets :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

29. Most of the time, I try to know more than he does -- it isn't too hard!

He's a nice young Indian fellow, but I must admit since he made a rather significant error in my medication a few years ago (I can't discuss it more than that now), I've become more inclined than usual to learn all I can about the illnesses that come up. You've done a very succinct job of explaining the various modalities involved in back therapy in just a couple of paragraphs. Yes, I did have eight days on reducing doses of oral prednisone, which didn't seem to help or hurt...

I used to do field research on medical malpractice claims and workers compensation cases for a couple of large Massachusetts insurance companies. I learned a lot at that job in the 1970s and early 1980s and have "second-guessed" several doctors on some difficult problems.

Back at you -- later. Have a great week!

[NewWaveChick1981]

4. Hugs coming your way...

:hug: :hug: Positive vibes for you!

[Radio_Lady]

8. Really, Chick... you folks are great!

[Darth_Kitten]

5. hug!!!

:hug:

[Radio_Lady]

32. Oh, Darth_Kitten! I didn't mean to leave you out.

Let's see -- a red pepper and a square black kitten licking its lips.

Love 'em both, and you, too! Thanks -- you're special to take the time to post this!

[Haole Girl]

6. I hope you feel better soon!

Back pain sucks. One never does realize how much they use their back until they can't!

Mine only improved after pool therapy (physical therapy with swimming pool excercises), and I swear by it. Don't know if it could help in your case, but just thought I'd let you know (just in case).

[Radio_Lady]

9. Well, we're headed to Florida in October, so I will be in a lot of pools!

I have to look up those exercises.

Thanks, KC2.

[Haole Girl]

15. You're welcome!

Even though I know you were half kidding, I feel I owe it to you to give you fair warning about something.

This is the story (I'll try to make it brief): I was hit, in my car, by a truck (broad-side into the driver's side door). I had what they called Sciatica for about 6 months. They tried Anti-inflammatory Drugs...such high doses, in fact, they gave me red/itchy hands. Finally, the doc was about to try cortisone shots, but told me there was one more thing he wanted me to try first. I went to a gym, and a group of us (we looked so pitiful trying to get in and out of the pool) did very specific exercises. This is the weird part: When we stood at the edge of the pool and each of us swung one leg out into circles, in the water, I could feel a sort of crunching in my hip socket...it was as if something which was caught-up in the socket got loose!! It was quite strange. Then, about 4 hours later, that evening, the pain hit! I called the doctor's emergency line, crying, and the nurse prescribes 7 (I'll never forget it...seven) pain pills for me. The weird part? After that night of intense pain, the Sciatica never returned!! I think it's fair to tell you, too, that I do stretching exercises to keep my hamstrings from tightening-up, too (since the physical therapist told me that is the cause of a lot of back pain).

Good luck. I hope my story might help somebody else! :hug:

Disclaimer: this is not medical advice! :-)

[Radio_Lady]

17. Your story is incredible! I'm so glad you're better.

Thanks again, KC2

[Haole Girl]

20. No problem

My back never gives me problems now...so there is hope! I am now knocking on wood...

[Radio_Lady]

30. Oh, oh. It's bad luck to be superstitious!

[swimboy]

10. Hugs!

:hug: and :grouphug: and :swimboylove:

:loveya:

[Radio_Lady]

12. Hello Swimboy! I was just thinking about you because of the last

post, above. Y'know -- swim boy exercises?

[buddhamama]

11. hugs and good vibes

:hug: I hope you feel some relief soon. Keep us posted on your condition. Take Care. :hug:

[Radio_Lady]

13. Appreciate your comments so much, Buddha Mama!

[Left Is Write]

14. Definitely...

:hug:

[Radio_Lady]

16. Oh, just linked to your Blogger page. You're one pretty lady, but

BUSY, too!

Good luck with this school year. It seems aeons ago that there were the two of us with five children.

God, how DO you DO it?

[Left Is Write]

18. Oh, thank you...

I don't feel overwhelmed, but I often wonder how my mother did things with five children!

[wildhorses]

21. very gingerly so as not to hurt you...

:hug:


and saw the black dahlia this weekend, I liked it better than I thought I would. Am curious to read the book. Did that family really exist?? They were one SICK family :wow:

[Radio_Lady]

33. Wildhorses, you might want to see this page posted on Court TV.

http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/dahlia/index_1.html

Introduction - The Black Dahlia Story

Elizabeth Short has been portrayed many ways in the six decades since her body was dumped in two pieces on an empty lot in Los Angeles: Manipulative playgirl. Aspiring starlet. Naïve cock tease. Troubled soul.

Above all, time has immortalized Elizabeth Short as the pin-up girl of Los Angeles Noir. The Black Dahlia. Fascination with her life, and especially her death — her gruesome, violent, unsolved murder — continues to this day.

The story of the unemployed 22-year-old waitress has inspired dozens of books, Web sites, a video game and even an Australian swing band. The quest to pinpoint her killer has become a hobby for generations of armchair detectives. And this fall, Hollywood will recast her tragic plight in a star-studded Black Dahlia movie.

MORE AT LINK ABOVE ---->

[flamingyouth]

22. I hope you can get some relief soon.

I have a lot of problems with my neck following some car accidents and some on-the-job injuries (the latter are from a long time ago, the accidents were last year and this July), so I can relate.

Hope you can get the results soon. Waiting for them is the worst part.

I have been really lucky to have an excellent physical therapist, an amazing acupuncturist and remarkable Pilates and yoga instructors who have all helped me through the past year. The neurosurgeon recommended surgery, but I opted against it at this point and am still plodding along. Pilates can be very helpful for your back, once your problem has been diagnosed and if your doctor thinks that's appropriate for you. My parents are in their mid 60s and both do Pilates. It has really helped them.

Hope you feel better soon! :pals:

[av8rdave]

26. Consider hugs sent

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Best wishes for a fast recovery!

[Jamastiene]

27. Here you go:

:hug:

I'm glad you scored some Percocets. They make me nauseated if I have to take them and keep doing stuff, but I love them when I can curl up on the couch with my cats and a good movie. They make me so dreamy and laid back. As high strung as I am, that's an amazing feat.

Here's hoping your MRI gives simple results that can be fixed with doctor prescribed bed rest for a few days. I'm not sure what your history is, but I hope all is well for you. :hug: :pals:

[libodem]

28. Sending a hug

I have chronic back pain, as well, and so I send hugs and regrets to you. I so hope physical therapy will help you. The pool as mentioned above is wonderful. I've had an MRI, CT-Mylogram, the nerve root blocks, physical therapy, and now I'm waiting for a bone scan. I had my neck fused a couple of years ago and it's been alot better. If my bones are strong enough, I believe I'll have a fusion in my lower back. Anyway, a guy I know was telling me about having incredible sciatic pain that was crippling him. He says to me, you know what fixed it? A divorce. He tells me after he divorced his wife, his back never hurt him again. Never had to take rolaids or bi-carb, again either. Sister, I sure hope it's just stress, or a little muscle pull.:hug:

[Radio_Lady]

31. I am ABSOLUTELY CRACKING UP at your response, Libodem!

Does this mean I have to divorce my husband in order to get some relief? Do you know it's husband #3, who refers to himself as my "current" husband -- and he has been around for 33 years?

I loved your answer. One of the best laughs I've had all day! (Not the part about your pain... just the funny part.)

Seriously, they are doing a bone scan? I'm sending you a hug back...

:hug: