Author |
Topic: Lost 2 more days of work... (Read 633 times) |
|
Lizzie2
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
"L'Chaim"~Hebre w Toast~"To Life"
 
Gender: 
Posts: 4458
|
 |
Lost 2 more days of work...
« on: Jan 1st, 2006, 8:13pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Well...work finally killed me. I worked Monday to Wednesday night, and then had off for about 20 hours before working day shift on Friday. Was supposed to also work yesterday and today for 12 hours. However, because of my gimpy self, my back was starting to be bothered from a compensation injury.
My right knee is the worst of the two, and I do have a pretty nasty limp from it - can no longer take the stairs, etc. (All from prednisone...) So I started having this severe pain in my back which was shooting down my right leg. I drove home, but called my mom in hysterics because it hurt so badly.
So my boyfriend came and took me to Jefferson's ER. Joe is a 4th year med student from New Jersey.  At the ER, they told me that I could have sciatica since I have a history of prednisone use (once again...fuck prednisone)...they did an x-ray of my spine and told me I didn't have any fractures. They gave me 600mg of Motrin and 5mg of Valium. That only made me sleepy, but I was still in excruciating pain. So then, they gave me 2 percocet, a prescription for 20 percocet, and the phone number for the Rothman institute (orthopedics at Jefferson).
My dad sat with me in the lobby while Joe went to get the car to drive me home. I burst into tears again because the pain was so bad. My dad went back in to talk to the doctor, and they told him that we needed to give it at least a half hour to see if it would help. My dad drove all the way out to our hometown to a 24 hour pharmacy, and then drove the prescription back to my apartment so I wouldn't wake up and not have any pain meds to take. (Super Dad)
As of now, I still can't really walk without extreme pain - I can sit up thanks to the percocet. We have no clue what's wrong with me......but looks like I'll be calling yet another orthopedic tomorrow.
All I can say is..........prednisone is evil....and who wants to be disabled at 25. <sigh> I'm out of work without pay right now, and I have to work later this week, so this better heal quickly!!
Hope the rest of you had a Happy New Year!
Lizzie2/Carrie
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
CHTom
Guest
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #1 on: Jan 1st, 2006, 11:37pm » |
Quote Modify
 Remove
|
Sorry that you are suffering; from your description of the pain, it appears as if you might have one of your discs out of place and pressing on the sciatic nerve-be thankful that the disc is not broken. Usually a few days of bed rest will make things better, along with the pain meds. I hope that this is what you have and that you will be better soon-I've suffered from what you have as well as having a disc shatter and know how excruciating the pain can be. Take it easy for a few days, use the pain meds and I hope that all will be better in a few days.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
E-Double
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Are we ourselves?
 
Gender: 
Posts: 6458
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #2 on: Jan 1st, 2006, 11:42pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Come on L2.
I thought the New Years Resolution was for no new surprises.
Sciatica is a bitch but there are some tricks to alleviate.
What sucks is that some exercises for back might stain your knees.
Hugs to you and sleep with legs elevated or with a pillow between knees.
E (4 herniated discs, L5 S1 on up)
|
|
IP Logged |
I can't believe that I have to bang my
Head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more
Space in-between them
Gonna take a breath and try again.
|
|
|
kimmiedawn81
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Stuck in the middle with you!
Gender:
Posts: 1426
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #3 on: Jan 1st, 2006, 11:50pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I hope things get better for you!
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Opus
New Board Hall of Famer
(Insert witty comment here)
Gender:
Posts: 2509
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #4 on: Jan 1st, 2006, 11:54pm » |
Quote Modify
|
(((Lizzie)))
Sciatica is no fun but there is hope. The Motrin should help reduce the swelling. What helped me the most was alternating hot and cold along the whole path of the pain. It is amazing how the pain can stop you cold, there is no way to push through it to move, your body just won't move.
I pray this goes away very quickly.
Opus/Paul
|
|
IP Logged |
Zed-Zed-nine plural-Zed alpha,
There is no place like home.
|
|
|
Jasmyn
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Each day will be a new trick in life's journey
Gender:
Posts: 2762
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #5 on: Jan 2nd, 2006, 3:17am » |
Quote Modify
|
(((((((((((Vibes to you Girl))))))))))))
|
|
IP Logged |
Jazz 
Madness is proclaimed by society’s inability to accept its own infallibility
|
|
|
Phil L
New Board Veteran
Gender:
Posts: 176
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #6 on: Jan 2nd, 2006, 11:44am » |
Quote Modify
|
CH Tom is right about the bed rest. I've had the same thing and there really is nothing you can do, but stay flat on your back for a few days. Give's pause as to just how fallable we are as human being's.
KEEP AHEAD OF YOUR PAIN MED'S. Very important. The combination of Valuim (reduces muscle tension) and the pain med's will do the trick. Give yourself time to heal before going back to work --- especially if work puts strain on your lower back.
My thoughts are with ya.
Be well,
Phil
|
|
IP Logged |
When I get up in the morning and have to look down to see the grass
I know it's going to be a great day.
|
|
|
minnie
New Board Hall of Famer
my greatest joys are my daughters April & Beth
Gender:
Posts: 1059
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #7 on: Jan 2nd, 2006, 2:55pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I know what your going through Lizzie sorry you have to go through it.I've had a bad back and severe muscle spasms since I was a teen.I was working a a teaching assistant in special ed. headstart -pre-k.I would take 800 mg. every morning before work but it eventually
stopped helping.I had surgery still not better the pain and numbness down my right leg is gone but back is still painful most of the time.I have heard many times now don't have surgery for the pain have it for numbness down a limb to stop nerve damage.They say the surgery seldom relieves the pain.hope your is temporary I went many years to a chiropracter which I
do believe put my need for surgery off a few years.Good Luck
Minnie
|
|
IP Logged |
Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly
______________
You may only be one person to the world
but you may also be the world to one person.
|
|
|
Sandy_C
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Burn that bra!
Gender:
Posts: 2585
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #8 on: Jan 2nd, 2006, 3:38pm » |
Quote Modify
|
on Jan 1st, 2006, 11:42pm, E-Double wrote:
I
Hugs to you and sleep with legs elevated or with a pillow between knees.
|
|
Absolutely agree! Stay down, rest, elevate those knees. If you have to stay home from work, then do it! It's not worth the alternative.
Speaking from experience, 1 fractured vertebra and compressed 7 vertebra from a fall down the stairs.
When you start feeling better, go back to work, but if it kicks up again, you're going to have to rest. Consider going to a chiropractor - mine made a believer out of me.
Sandy
|
|
IP Logged |
Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
|
|
|
Lizzie2
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
"L'Chaim"~Hebre w Toast~"To Life"
Gender:
Posts: 4458
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #9 on: Jan 2nd, 2006, 4:28pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Thanks you guys for the advice and support! Very kind of you. I've never had a back injury before other than irritation in my mid to upper back from piano. This definitely has to do with the fact that I'm on my feet for long, long hours at work. I also got stuck with a horrible schedule last week, which didn't help. I knew it was bad, but there wasn't any way around it...I guess now they'll see they were working me too hard probably. 
I tried to call the orthopedics office to get an appointment today and also radiology to schedule the MRI/arthrogram for my left arm (I'm a mess!) and the offices were closed for the holiday, so I'll try again tomorrow! The percocet is the only reason why I'm able to sit upright, so I need to get an appt pretty quickly and try to get off the pain meds. Maybe celebrex or something like that would help temporarily.
I'll keep you guys updated. Thanks again!
Carrie/Lizzie2
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Lizzie2
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
"L'Chaim"~Hebre w Toast~"To Life"
Gender:
Posts: 4458
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #10 on: Jan 3rd, 2006, 2:21pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Alright I'm going to Rothman orthopedics (named like...#1 in the country for years) on Friday the 13th for my spine.
Also on Friday the 13th, I'm having my arthrogram and MRI of my left wrist.
Let's hope Friday the 13th brings me good karma. 
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
CHTom
Guest
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #11 on: Jan 4th, 2006, 12:18am » |
Quote Modify
Remove
|
A word of advice from someone with a long history of back problems: stay with the percocet until the pain is gone! It is an excellent medicine for back/disc pain problems and you won't become addicted even if you have to take it for a few weeks-Motrin has its place, but from your description of your pain, that is not what you need now. Discuss your situation with your doc before changing meds AND STAY OFF OF YOUR FEET, DON'T LIFT ANYTHING OVER 5 LBS AND REST! Nature and the meds will eventually take their courses and you will get better. Even nurses have to take care of themselves sometimes. Take care and listen to what your doc says (and use your temporary disability to get some extra TLC from your boyfriend ).
|
| « Last Edit: Jan 4th, 2006, 12:19am by CHTom » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Lizzie2
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
"L'Chaim"~Hebre w Toast~"To Life"
Gender:
Posts: 4458
|
|
Re: Lost 2 more days of work...
« Reply #12 on: Jan 4th, 2006, 12:29am » |
Quote Modify
|
Well I actually have to go back to work tomorrow, and I have enough percocet left for about one more day - but the appt isn't until next Friday. I will have 2 days of work this week and then 4 next week before I see the spine specialist. Well...we do the best we can, eh? <sigh>
Keep fingers crossed for me!
Carrie
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss