I was always worried about getting pregnant because of my back problems. I've had my L5-S1 fused because of degenerative disk and sciatica, but that actually caused further degeneration in my cervical and thoracic spine. My surgery was in August of 2006 and I didn't get relief from my "extra" back pain until October 2009. Before my surgery my pain was in my SI joints and shooting down my legs into my toes. After my surgery, the pain was everywhere in my back. It felt as though every muscle was pretending it was a rock and I couldn't stand more than 10 minutes or walk more than 5 before the pain would just be agonizing. I was given numerous different pain meds and physical therapy, but nothing worked. Not to mention, it's just not the greatest idea to be on pain pills while trying to teach...
Finally, I was referred to a pain clinic and they decided I should get a series of 5 injections every 3 months. I would get an epidural in my thoracic spine, a cortisone shot in each SI, and cortisone shots in each upper trap (as they were trigger points). I always got my shots on a Friday, because I had to spend the next 2-3 days laying as still as possible so the injections would take the most effect.
The injections would work beautifully and I'd feel human after those first 2-3 days. It was like being a new person. Unfortunately, after about a month and a half, they would begin to wear off. It'd begin in my traps, then move to my T6-T7, then eventually the SI joints would be aching again and the last 2-3 weeks before my next injections were miserable. Luckily, the doctors tried various meds to see which worked the best with the fewest side-effects, so I was able to function fairly well (while medicated) until I got my next set of injections.
I knew I would not be able to have injections if I ever got pregnant, nor would I be able to take any of the Class C narcotics that I was being prescribed, which worried me that I'd be bedridden the majority of my pregnancy or I'd be so completely miserable that I might just explode.
Luckily, for the most part, I've not done too bad. I did some physical therapy at the beginning of my pregnancy, which helped on occasion -- only if they physically moved my body around to put my vertebrae back in line. Then I suppose the "relaxin" that the body produces helped through most of it. Though if I would get overly stressed, then my back would seize up and I would writhe around in agony and cry (like that made it better!). I mentioned this to my Army OB at one point and it was dismissed as though I was just another whiny preggo woman.
Perhaps I got waved off because I keep my composure exceptionally well when others are around (save for Ty). I had a doctor think I was suffering from depression once because I was stressed and in so much pain that I had been crying before he came in the room. I know that it doesn't ease the pain help even a fraction if I yell out, sob, or wiggle around trying to find a decent position... plus it can lead doctors to the wrong diagnosis.
This past week I have been running a lot of errands with my aunt, which I normally don't do. I like to lay on the couch, in the bed, or be in the pool and stay off my feet, which we'd told her. However, I felt guilty not going places with her because she's here watching me and she's always alone when she's home. Needless to say, the heat, the stress of being up and around, and just the sheer extra weight on my body made my back begin to ache. "Ache" may be an understatement.
The muscles right along the sides of my spine from my waist to my hips were stabbing with vengeance. The left side felt worse and seemed to wrap around to my belly, as well as shoot through my body. It pulsated with anger. I mashed on my muscles with my knuckles, tried a tennis ball against the wall, and even my TENS unit, but nothing would make it go away.
My traps were rocks once again and radiated pain up my neck and into my head. Then my thoracic spine produced its usual "catch" where it's a dull stabbing (like a phillips head being jammed into my disk) and it gets hard to breathe.
Martha tried to give me a massage, but she doesn't have the necessary strength in her hands to push. My parents demanded I call the OB and tell her. After some ice and a few chats with the OB nurses, I found out I have to contact my primary care physician tomorrow to try to get a referral to physical therapy (again) and they're going to see if there's anything I can take to try to take the anguish out of it. I can deal with pain, but I can't deal with so much discomfort and suffering that I can't function. Part of me worries that my back could get permanently damaged from carrying a baby, which sounds nuts, but could quite possibly happen to me, as many medical oddities seem to do.
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