The Back Story

[Matildathecat]

Hi to all fellow back sufferers. I've been on Spooning for a while but don't really feel I fit as I'm not actually ill, just have a chronic (and permanent) back injury. So please post here, no niggle too small. We can share experiences, tips and moans!

Quick history, age 48, last year had sudden crippling back pain eventually diagnosed as disc prolapse L4/5. All conventional treatments tried and failed so had micro discectomy privately.

No progress, and much worse leg pain followed. V long story short was finally seen by second neurosurgeon who diagnosed severe scarring around the nerve root as a result of the surgery. Poor outlook for surgery but we gave it a go, so had second op with similar lack of progress and final MRI showed even worse scarring. Only option chronic pain management . Had several injections with not much effect...

So, permanently disabled, use a stick, endless drugs and a lovely blue badge. Along the way dismissed from career of 25years for ill health.

Sorry, it's a grim story, but hey, I'm ok. Not depressed, have an okish quality of life with the help of my fantastic husband and friends. I walk, albeit slowly and not far, swim a bit and can please myself. Luckily my boys are young adults.

So come along and share. Moans and groans ok, tips and recommendations welcome.

Just don't tell me to see your lovely chiropractor, I might just punch you!(wink)

here

they have LOADS on offer. But some none in stock. Some not in my size.

goodness I am sorry DS is being a pain today of all days when you need him to be calm for you

live be prepared though. They have other lovely things on sale there too...

good luck tomorrow goodness will be thinking of you. you have to do it you can't leave it

goodness if you find, to take your mind off things, buying things online in sales helps, then you might want to pop on over to Debenhams. I find nothing better than spending money I don't have, and am normally quite good at not, but they have a great sale and I just got another promo code while I will PM you if you want (and anyone else, just don't want it here until I finished shopping I just got a pair of those trainers linked for just over £20. And, then you have lots of gifts brought to you as you recover from surgery

Very smart trainers! Push posh for not much dosh
Shopping is definitely therapeutic and overspending is a fab distraction!
The British economy has been booming since they found my tumour!

I should add, that, apart from two --three very unnecessary items (hoody for walking from car to gym sports bra for my almost non-existant norkage and a fabulous sports top which needs a sports bra to not flash boobs to the world) the rest of the stuff was actually for other people. Honest Guv! Get this - Trespass thermal lined coat for DD, reduced from £60 to £15!!! Same for DS (actually fleece lined raincoat) from £42 to £11! and some trainer socks for my new white trainers...£1.70!

The problem is when not exercising, is that I really want to go to the gym and burn off some sweat, so buying all this stuff is making me want to go more. I am pretending I shall be going again soon for a proper workout

I wonder how much money is actually spent by us online when we are sick ? I bet an absolute fortune.

Right. Done. I have put down the debit card before I have gone looking at tables and chairs...

Lolling
I must have spent a fortune!
Truthfully
I'll be in a sorry state when bank statement arrives so I'm hoping DH takes pity n swallows it.

Oh I've possibly turned the economy around single handedly! When my back first went I didn't buy a thing for months. It was definitely a sign that I was at least better in myself (if not my back) when the shopping began. I go in fits and starts. First it was Boden, then cashmere scarves from EBay, then Amazon, of course (one click doesn't count, surely?).

Nothing for me now, though, because in case I haven't mentioned it I'm going on holiday! (Singapore) I will be reporting in and particularly watching for reports from goodness.

Yes, eat whatever you want. Starving for too long before any op leaves you weak and ill before you even start.

Sleep well everyone and stop shopping! you do actually have to pay for that lot...

Lol
Boden was where I started, too! Bright orange dress n flowery navy trousers!
Was almost funny at urinary diagnostics when I told lady (who had said I may urinate on myself when undergoing tests) that I had my best, new trousers on! Lol

Call me a drama queen but I closed my eyes and could hear the chorus to this little ditty going round and round:

Thanks so much Pavlov. I think. I have shopped till I dropped .

I,ve hit the Internet shopping tonight too. Dh is away and a very hyper/tricky DS has been home all day after vomiting yesterday. He is extra hungry at present due to a growth spurt but lacks basic common sense ( autistic) and will eat copious quantities of whatever he takes a fancy to. Have to watch him like a hawk but somehow the whole 6 pack got smuggled past me, with several eaten and smeared around before I realised. Was a bit tired due to a 4am start. Thought I'd best respect the 48 hr no school rule incase it wasn't the yogurt gorging. M&S online had a 20 percent off day, so I ordered ds a stuff able jacket and me a top. Quite restrained for me. I needed a distraction as I got close to murder (ds) earlier. He uses (much too aggressive) physical affection to try and distract me from telling him off/ removing filched items, and can really hurt me. Thinking he needed lots of sensory play( to reduce the back threatening mummy squashing) I got out the corn flour and water play. Well it's going to take several clean ups to get the flour cleaned up. Still it's only flour.
I have some reebok pod bottomed trainers ( hardly used although comfortable) from last years Jan sales so could not justify a second pair. Actually time I used them again.
Hope you all sleep well.

goodness how are you getting on? Hope DS is sleeping soundly. Hope you have some nice chocolate there and xxx

magso I remember playing for flour with my dd, a bit messy yes but fun. Amazing how it goes hard or liquid like that isn't it. Yes i enjoyed it too.
Hope your DS has settled down now and has a better day tomorrow.

Magso, I hope the clear ip wasn't too tricky. Remind me how old your DS is? Clearing up corn flour - now that's a labour of love!

Feeling the urge to find an annoying post and put something frank, blunt, truthful and opinionated on it... before running all the way to the anaesthetist. I've got the pre-op minxies!

Just wanted to say I'll be thinking of you today Goodness. I hope you're as calm as possible and know the op will go well. Hope you have a good morning with ds. Take care and best wishes. ((((huge hug))))

Calming thoughts for Goodness and Scone. Will be thinking of you.
(Ds is 14 but a curious mix of teen and young child)

Go goodness,! I sense a fighting spirit. Go on, tell someone what you really think (only not me, please). Hope you are calm and have someone with you this morning, though probably not your ds, bless him..

I've said bye bye to DH, we've never had so long apart. Think we'll survive...

Check in later.

scone I thought your op was next week, so sorry time has run away with me. I am thinking of you too today. I hope you are not too nervous. It will be fine and I bet you will wake with much reduced pain at the very least. Remember that clicky button you get given is to be used to the max afterward ok that goes for you to goodness

matilda if you don't come back on or if I don't come back on (yeah right! i live on MN!) then have a safe flight. Hope you are not too sore from your injection and feeling some benefits already.

goodness I get that from time to time, that urge to go and cause a little bi of trouble. Say what I think without an awful lot of tact. I like 'minxiness' I am going to steal it to explain when I feel like that Just go do it. if you create a storm you can always blame surgery jitters. But I bet you find a few people agree with you, lots of people are afraid to rock the boat but will do so when someone else has the balls to say it. Go on do it! And link it please!

magso Flour. I have not actually ever done flour play. Does that make me a Bad Mother? I am absolutely not tidy at all. But I am not good with paint and glitter and dough type mess. I think it's because our kitchen is always a little messy as oddly when the house is perfectly tidy never i am more inclined to say 'lets do some painting!' or bake a cake. How are you feeling today? Have you figured out the new pain yet? Do you think it's part of the sciatic pain?

Lots of love and good wishes to goodness and scone for today do update us when you can.

Good luck to matilda too is your flight today? Have a wonderful trip. Wish I could go too, but I must say I don't fancy the flight, hope your back injections are working well for it.

My back has been a little worse yesterday. In the evening it was quite painful lying in bed and I ended up taking all my painkillers (only one dose of each kind I mean, it wasn't that bad). It felt a lot easier this morning, but I took some naproxen which I had stopped, but I thought there might be some inflammation again. It is now just a bit achy. I am not sure why it is playing up I don't feel like I have done anything different than last week. I will try to go really steady.

Now just going to check AIBU to see if goodness is telling someone off

Pavlov, :(
Xxxxxx