Well, I’m going to a chiropractor now. I have been for about a week. It only took me over a year and a half of ridiculous pain and discomfort to finally make the move. You can go just so long with your heating pad and Aleve as your BFF’s. Now it looks like Dr. Stevens will be my best friend three times a week for the next couple of months. To be fair, there were times when I wasn’t feeling too horribly….you know, just bad, but not ‘staying in bed with the covers over my head’ bad. I always seemed to justify my procrastination….insurance costs, things came up, holidays, etc. Maybe I needed something else to fall into place besides enduring the pain to push me into taking action...like the fact that I started on Medicare last month; though I hardly expected to take advantage of it quite this soon. It’s amazing what one can endure to get out of going to doctors of any kind and the ensuing barrage of appointments it can all lead to.
I haven’t been so lucky lately when it comes to having to go through some of those medical tests and such. I guess it catches up to us all some time or another. I’m like my dad…bless his soul. I’m not the best preventative person around, and usually wind up at the doctor’s office if something doesn’t feel right. Even then, I take my time before actually going. I think I made this my modus operandi all my life because my mom always seemed to be at one doctor or another when I was growing up….and she got worse as she got older. I shouldn’t say ‘worse’ because maybe she was doing the right thing for herself. I just always thought she went overboard when it came to doctors….not at all what I intended to do as an adult. Best laid plans….
I pretty much followed the course of my plan, veering off every so often; but getting right back on track. Surprisingly, I have managed to stay pretty healthy….all things considered. Lately however, my plan seems to have a mind of its own. I’ve been trying to take things as they come without getting too bent out of shape; but I have to admit that these latest issues with my back have stressed me out more than they ever use to. Couldn’t be that I have gobs more time on my hands and not enough of ‘other things’ to keep me busy…stopping me from letting some of this stuff roll off my back as I use to….could it? It helps when you are your own psychiatrist, doesn’t it?
Getting back to MY BACK….
Seems I’ve got a moderate amount of degeneration going on; which is no surprise really. Some showed up in my last CAT scan, and the doctor said it’s normal for people as they get older. I guess NORMAL is relative; and depends on a lot of factors surrounding each person and their lifestyle. I’m told my situation can be fixed; or at the very least slowed down. I have a couple of discs in my neck and at the bottom of my spine that are compressed with little cushioning between them. So the doctor is adjusting those vertebrae each time in the hopes that when the cushioning between them is built back up, much of my back problems will subside. For someone who has never really had back problems until now, I’m hoping right along with Doctor Stevens….that he’s right. It will be interesting to see if ALL of my niggly problems get taken care of. My achy back has gone on to produce a pinched nerve in my right leg and some very tender and sore areas at the base of my butt. So sitting too long at the computer…or anywhere else tends to aggravate that area….and going up and down stairs KILLS.
Time will tell if it all will be healed….I have to have faith that even delinquent ‘ol me can be saved. Can I hear an AMEN? ~Joy xo
Ouch! I was thinking I need a stand up desk, have you seen those? Though if I used one, then my knee would probably hurt more than my back. Gah!
Posted by: Denise | February 08, 2012 at 03:39 PM
Joy, Thanks so much for stopping by my blog to wish me well! Very much appreciated. Not many commenters these days :-)
I hope your back gets better fast - nothing as nerve wracking as back pain ...
Best wishes and many smiles.
Posted by: tamarika | February 09, 2012 at 04:49 AM
"I’m not the best preventative person around...."
At one time, some years ago, I read the results of a study that concluded that it was cheaper to only seek medical help when needed than to routinely seek it.
For some months, I used my computer standing up. Fortunately, I have a cabinet (from my father-in-law's drug store) in my sewing room that is just the right height. I still observe the practice of reading newspapers standing.
Walking, swimming, and working out with weights have done more good for me than anything the physical therapy people had me do. And, the best thing was that Dr Zorba mentioned on his radio program the efficacy of taking two Aleve every 12 hours for two weeks to provide relief from pain (not provided by presciption narcotics, in my case), allowing me to do my normal exercising.
Oh! I almost forgot to mention something else that helped me: giving up use of reclining chairs.
Hope your chiropractic sessions help. Me? I don't/have never wanted anyone's hands all over my alibaster body!
Posted by: Cop Car | February 09, 2012 at 09:12 AM
Dear Joy ~~ I am so sorry your back has been troubling you and hope the chiropractor can help you a lot.
Thanks for your comment and I was so glad to find a good person last time I went shopping and got some help. I am feeling much better now and got a good report from my doctor and think I will feel better still before too long.
You are often in my thoughts too dear friend. Much love and hugs, Merle.
Posted by: Merle | February 11, 2012 at 03:17 AM
Sounds good, what you are doing. It's so important not to let chronic pain get the better of you. Wonderful that thanks to Medicare you can get what you need without going to the poorhouse.
Yoga is what helps me most, and swimming. I was able to eliminate neck and shoulder pain through posture correction and simple yoga exercises. No back problems, so far. I haven't lost any height, so I guess I have no spinal compression. My husband has lost a couple of inches and is now shorter than I am. He could benefit from yoga, but I can't sell it to him. He gets plenty of exercise fixing things around the house and doing yard work, but those activities don't help your spine.
Posted by: Hattie | February 11, 2012 at 11:28 AM
I had two herniated discs and I can really identify with your pain. It's the worst!!! The good news is I found an amazing doctor who made it go away. I hope your doc helps!!!
Posted by: Kay Dennison | February 12, 2012 at 08:01 PM
I hope all your "doctoring" helps. It's not great to be in perpetual pain.
I'm not one to go to the doctor's. The last time I went a month ago, she said she hadn't seen me since 2005! That was bad.
Feel better soon.
Carol
Posted by: cassieb1@gmail.com | February 13, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Oops, I missed this post.... sorry to hear that your back has been playing up, hope the Doc. can fix it for you.
Posted by: Peter | February 14, 2012 at 08:18 PM
Glad to hear you're having some pain relief and treatment. No doubt you'll soon be doing handsprings.
Would be curious to know what causes degenerative discs to build themselves back up besides the physical adjustments? Have had success with a Physical Therapist and an Osteopath for different issues on two different occasions in my life. I think the bottom line is the degree of knowledge and skill application of the practitioner, whatever the discipline. The patient following any instructions and using common sense are key, too, I think.
Posted by: joared | February 19, 2012 at 09:22 PM