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Title: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 1st, 2006, 8:13pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by CHTom on Jan 1st, 2006, 11:37pm 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. |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by E-Double on Jan 1st, 2006, 11:42pm 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) |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by kimmiedawn81 on Jan 1st, 2006, 11:50pm I hope things get better for you! |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Opus on Jan 1st, 2006, 11:54pm (((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 |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Jasmyn on Jan 2nd, 2006, 3:17am (((((((((((Vibes to you Girl)))))))))))) |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Phil L on Jan 2nd, 2006, 11:44am 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 |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by minnie on Jan 2nd, 2006, 2:55pm 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 |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Sandy_C on Jan 2nd, 2006, 3:38pm on 01/01/06 at 23:42:40, E-Double wrote:
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 |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 2nd, 2006, 4:28pm 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 :) |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 3rd, 2006, 2:21pm 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. ;;D |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by CHTom on Jan 4th, 2006, 12:18am 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 :)). |
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Title: Re: Lost 2 more days of work... Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 4th, 2006, 12:29am 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 :) |
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