Oh my fuck but it hurts!!!
I had spent yesterday morning lazily hanging out and then around noon decided to shower and get dressed to go out, as it was such a beautiful looking day out there. So I got into the shower and somewhere between then and drying myself my lower back went aaacck! Note that it wasn’t any specific movement – or even a specific moment – but over the next few minutes I went from having a painful twinge in my back to almost screaming in agony and not being able to walk or even stand up straight. And that’s pretty much how it was for the rest of the day. . .
I could just about sit up in my comfy chair with strategically placed cushions, but getting up and down was awful. Like when I had to go to the bathroom or get something to eat or drink. And I mean excrutiatingly awful. I had to take baby steps whilst listing off to one side and holding onto the walls for support. I honestly don’t remember a back “incident” being so bad (even though I’ve been having them since I was about 22). Given that they tend to happen once or twice a year I am actually very grateful that this never happened post-op … I mean, can you imagine?
So fuck. Spent all day yesterday in the comfy chair (I know from past experience that “bed rest” is one of the worst things I can do when my back is in spasm) making sure that I gently moved around as much as possible. And between the ibuprofen and white wine (a lovely rueda) I was feeling a bit more relaxed by the evening.
But I’m so upset because this means I won’t be able to go to yoga next week. I don’t mind giving up the pilates short-term, but my yoga classes are so special and I really need them.
And dammit, I was trying so hard to “get healthy” again and feel positive and get back on my feet … and now this whole weekend has been shot to hell. Saving grace is that at least the livingroom smells of orange blossom. Small blessings…
casa azahar 
You aren’t on any immune stimulants like GCSF or anything, are you? Because surprisingly, they can cause this exact effect; they had to switch my meds around when this happened to me, and the next one gave me some soreness in the lower back, but nothing serious at all. Nobody knows why it happens at all, let alone why it happens to some people but not others.
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Ouch – as a back pain expert I really do sympathise. But a Comfy Chair? I wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition!
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That sounds like the same sort of pain I had when I fell and sprained my back last March… I was fine and then suddenly, I had this excruciating ripping feeling if I moved even the slightest. I had refused the ambulance ride to the hospital while I was outside the house but had to have them come back.
By then I was upstairs and the only way to get me down and on the gurney without killing me (with pain) was if I walked down the stairs and out onto the walkway, a 20 minute process. Of course, at the hospital, the pain subsided… and then started up again as soon as I was back at the house… alone and out of earshot for anyone to help me. It was another 20 minute journey up the two front stairs and a third step into the house and 20 feet to the living room.
I know you said that you didn’t “do” anything that would have caused the back pain but sometimes just turning the wrong way while twisting just a tiny bit can cause back pain.
I once put my back up on the arm-rest in the back seat, felt a “twang” and a tendon had popped over a bone in my back… it didn’t hurt immediately but within an hour I was practically immobile.
You might want to check it out with your “team” because back pain, especially lower back pain, can be a symptom of something they might want to know about, especially when dealing with colon cancer.
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Archie… NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition…
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What they said. And feel better soon. Remember azahar is supposed to be a healing scent.
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have you tried an ice pack? If it’s “just” a spasm (and believe me I know how excruciating these things are) get yourself to a physiotherapist – they can do wonders with spasms.
Also I am one of the 70% of people that TENS machines work on – you might be too. Ask your physiotherapist to try it.
And not to be alarmist or anything. Mention it to your oncologist as it may mean something to them. For instance shoulder pain is associated with liver cancer (I could go into the reasons why but it would take too long and you haven’t got shoulder pain anyway. I just mentioned it because it is important to tell your oncologist of anything unusual)
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Ouchabugger.
In all likelihood it’s just a recurrence of your old back problem – but getting it checked out would remove it from the List of Things To worry About.
I hope you’ll be able to resume pilates and yoga pdq; anything that strengthens your core muscles will support the spine.
Last time my back went, I was able to see a physio who gave me pilates type exercises to do – and, fingers crossed, it seems to be working.
My own recipe for severe pain like this is maximum dose painkillers + TENS + filthy swearing.
Maybe Nog could see if the local pharmacy hires out TENS machines?
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What a hellish night. Woke up around 4.30 to go to the bathroom and by the time I got back I was almost in tears. Had to call Nog to help me get back into bed and put a pillow under my knees, which took about an hour. I’m still lying here (with iPhone) because I’m nervous about moving. Have never quite had PAIN like last night and I’ve had some very serious sciatica in my time.
No, not on any meds, Rain, other than Omeprazol for my stomach.
Yeah, I know this could be a sign of bone metastasis so I will tell Dr Ana about it tomorrow (am supposed to go to the hospital in the morning for a “boob job” anyhow – more on that later).
My friend and neighbour Judy might be able to help. She’s a masseuse and may have some special tricks to alleviate the spasms.
Well, I can smell coffee brewing so am going to try and make it over to the comfy chair. With an ice pack. Wish me luck!
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To add to the fine recomendations.
Mine is to try lying on your front on the floor – then get up on to your elbows – gently. Stay like that for a while, and hopefully that helps restore the curve in your lower back.
Make sure you consciously try to relax though.
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Well, I’m up! Amazing what the smell of brewing coffee can achieve.
Teuchter, it took me so long to write that last comment on the iPhone that you snuck in ahead of me. I just googled TENS machines. Seems they are kind of controversial as to how helpful they actually are, but you and nursemyra seem to do well with them. Another thing I can ask them about at the hospital. Or maybe Judy has one. I’m willing to give it a try.
Mudhooks, I can’t imagine having to “do” stairs with this – yikes! In fact, I hope I can make my hospital appointment tomorrow. If it were today there would be no way I could make it down all the stairs here and then into a taxi. Even the thought of getting in and out of a car … nope, not going there.
Anyhow, I’m back in the comfy chair now, which is way better for me than lying down. Little did I know when I inherited this chair from Dr A last year (he redid his apartment and bought all new livingroom furniture) that it would end up being so useful. In fact, it was initially put in Nog’s “study”. But after the operations it turned out that having a chair with nice sturdy arms not only made getting up and down more comfortable, it actually made it possible.
I wonder if Judy is up now … don’t want to call too early on a Sunday morning.
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Oh Johnny, that sounds soooo good … the cobra is my favourite yoga position. It always makes my lower back “hum”. Though these days I have to do a modified cobra because I still can’t put a lot of pressure on my belly scars.
I think if I tried lying on the floor right now I probably wouldn’t be able to get up again. Maybe tomorrow?
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Maybe, but I have always found it worth doing as soon as possible when my back has “gone”.
I may have mentioned this before as well, but you do know that you can (other medication permitting) combine ibuprofen & paracetomol, max doses of each so you get pain relief and anti-inflammatory efects?
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Also, re the cobra position, I am literally only talking about getting onto your elbows a little to begin with, just to get your shoulders up off the floor.
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“Maybe, but I have always found it worth doing as soon as possible when my back has “gone”.”
Oh me too. Which is why I’m getting up from the comfy chair every twenty minutes or so and taking a walk around the apartment. Hurts like hell at first, but I eventually stop listing to one side as things loosen up a bit. But I seriously could not lie on the floor right now. I would if I could. Honest.
Judy just came over with a pair of forearm crutches that she got when she twisted her ankle last year. I really just need the one, and what a difference it makes! Instead of painfully lurching over to the nearest wall I can use the crutch to support me on the right side while I slowly straighten up.
Anyhow, Judy says I’m doing well by using the icepack and says not to put heat on it for another day or so (though some people think alternating heat with cold is best from the start). She also agrees that getting up for regular “walks” is good for me and said that tomorrow or the next day she’ll come over and show me some exercises I can do.
But really, I do actually know all this stuff, having suffered from variations of lower back problems for over 25 years now. I learned the hard way that “bed rest” is the worst thing for me, that chiropractors are a total waste of time and money, and that it’s mostly just a question of time (and that each time it’s always a bit different).
I also find it usually takes about 24 hours for me to accept that this has actually happened and then “go with the flow”. You’d think I’d be used to sitting in the comfy chair and being in pain by now, but in fact I’m finding it more difficult because of having spent so much time this past year doing exactly this. Bleh.
Now if I could just get Sunny to stop climbing onto my lap…
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I got myself a wee TENS machine for the RFA pain. It runs off a couple of AA batteries.
Can’t say it gets rid of the pain; it just makes it easier to bear somehow. After experimenting with different frequencies and pulses – I generally set the thing to warp factor 10 … and hold on for dear life 😀
I also find max dose ibuprofen AND paracetamol is the best regime for me. If things are reeeeeeeally bad, I chuck a few codeine in too.
A doctor once gave me a couple of day’s worth of diazepam to try to relax the spasming muscles.
Hope it’s easing and that Sunny has found a less painful place to sit.
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Sorry to read it, aZ. In college I had a roommate who was very good, when my back painfully popped out, at lifting me under the armpits and putting his knee in my lower back, and somehow it all re-aligned. No pain. Fortunately *knocks on wood* it hasn’t happened for years. Hope you are pain-free soon.
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One does have to be careful with the TENS machine, though.
When I had the aforementioned “twang” in my shoulder, I had to go to physiotherapy and one of the treatments was the TENS which was LOVELY…. until the day when I was left alone with it and the control was not within reach. Suddenly, there was a slight surge and where one of the cups was placed happened to be right smack on a nerve on the left side of my shoulder and the surge “burned” the nerve (best description I can give). I screamed and the pain was awful.
For months afterwards, I would feel a little sort of needle pricking which was my cue to put down what I was holding and grab the nearest solid object and I would get a wave of what felt like an electric shock on that nerve which was right under my bra back. It was so powerful, I would drop what ever I had in my hands and I would lose all the strength in my left arm.
NEVER be tempted to turn the control up thinking “the higher the better” and if someone else has attached it to you, always keep the controls where you can reach them.
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Okay, managed to shower and get dressed today! Now I am psyching myself up for going to the hospital for my “boob job”.
Really not sure about making it down three long flights of stairs and into the taxi (actually more worried about the taxi) but at least I’ll already be at the hospital if it all goes badly.
Also, it will give me a chance to talk to The Team and maybe my new oncologist Dr Ana. Plus find out when the colonoscopy is going to be.
Okay, here I go . . .
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Got a lovely surprise in the mail yesterday, as I was on my way out to the hospital. Apparently someone had been snooping around my Amazon wish list and saw this book on it (been there for ages) and decided to surprise me.
Treat Your Own Back
Thanks very much Bea. I’ve had a quick glance through and it looks very good! And thanks for also sending on your copy of Moab Is My Washpot (which arrived today) though the recycling will probably stop here – I’m a terrible hoarder of books.
And now I have two more – yay! 🙂
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That should shut me up – having recommended it to you previously.
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