I am so miserable. I hurt my back three weeks ago coming back from a trip and carrying heavy luggage around the airport. I finally went to the doctor and he said it was a muscle spasm but he wanted me to have x-rays incase it was a herniated disc. The x-rays didn’t show anything but I suspect that x-rays would only show a break. I’m in so much pain. As soon as my back feels a little better I overdo it and then it hurts again. Right now I’m on muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories. My doctor said that the next step would be physical therapy but I can’t afford it and I don’t know what to do. I’m really suffering. It’s hard for me having small children. I live in a big house with two stories and it’s hard to get around. I’m especially miserable because right now I have bronchitis. I am just getting so frustrated because I am falling behind around the house. My husband owns his own business so he isn’t home a lot to help me and he isn’t a very compassionate person. He tells me to stop complaining. I’m in so much pain. He’s being really unfair.
#1 by dares2ca on March 1, 2010 - 2:04 am
Quote
First- I am really sorry for the condition that you are in right now. I work with patients every day that have similar problems to yours.
First, While I hate to say this, I don’t trust your doctor. You can not see a herniated disc on x-rays. Discs are invisible on x-ray (unless they are calcified). You need an MRI to get the best view of a disc. Also, usually they do not do an MRI unless you have symptoms that travel down your legs or arms, or have numbness or tingling.
More than likely, you damaged some ligaments in your back(called a sprain). These will take 4-6 weeks to heal. In the process of them healing, the muscles are having to work extra hard to compensate for the damaged tissue. If you do too much work, you will fatigue the muscles and re-injure the ligamentsand injure the supporting muscles(called a strain). While you need to do activity, it needs to be light activity.
Next, your back is probably out of alignment due to the damaged tissue not holding the spine in proper alignment. You really need to go to the chiropractor. Since it has been 3 weeks, the tissue should be about halfway through the repair process. Your body should be able to handle a chiropractic adjustment. This will realign your spine and take pressure off any tight muscles that were being caused by the misalignment. I know that money is tight, but you need to take care of yourself first.
More than likely, with a good chiropractor, you will start seeing some very good results within 1-2 weeks (many times sooner(some of my patient’s feel better immediately)).
I am also sorry that your husband is not understanding of this condition. It is serious and can turn into a chronic problem if you do not get it taken care of now. You need to put your foot down on this matter. Everything that you do for him is dependent on you being well. You need to do what has to be done to receive the proper treatment.
In addition having the emotional issue of a non-understanding husband can cause a psychosomatic response. This means that your emotions can create or enhance pain in your body.
In the event that this continues to get worse- You ABSOLUTELY MUST go back to the doctor to real out anything more serious.
I hope and pray that everything works out.
#2 by Peace Love Twilight [TSL] on March 1, 2010 - 6:31 am
Quote
Wow, that’s a tough one. Well, since you can’t afford physical therapy, maybe you could go online to some doctor websites or even google something like how to give yourself physical therapy for back pain. Or, this may be the best possibility, that you may have to go back to your doctor or local hospital and request to have an MRI done. Simply explain the situation and tell them that you would feel much better if you had this done, to ease your own mind also. I hope everything turns out ok for you!
#3 by imklo928 on March 1, 2010 - 6:54 am
Quote
try actipatch for relieving the swelling and inflammation…it is not that expensive and lasts for like a month!
#4 by ibsawdus on March 1, 2010 - 12:25 pm
Quote
Take my advise and do the physical therapy..It may cost you some now but by putting it off it could be even worse..Went through the same thing last year..Got so sick I was hospitalized..Fighting the pain and not sleeping good brought down my Immune system and I got a virus..After i got out of the hospital I still had to do the physical therapy..It felt so good! I am sorry your hubby is a jerk , but maybe he doesn’t realize how bad you hurt.Maybe call a parent or friend to help out around the house and with the kids.Hope you fell better soon.
#5 by pearlene on March 1, 2010 - 5:48 pm
Quote
You may have herniated a disc. Or you may have inflammation that just needs time to heal. I had a ruptured lumbar disc for four months before I had an MRI done. The docs didn’t want to do the MRI because they seemed to think I was simply being hysterical. Once the MRI was done I was in emergency surgery within two days. Now I have chronic pain from the disc scarring the sciatic nerve. Do not wait! Insist on an MRI. I also had (note: past tense) a husband who worked offshore, had no sympathy for me or anyone, unless he had a paper cut (lol) or something weeny like that and then he wanted to howl at the moon and cry “oh woe is me, I is hurt!”. Surprisingly enough, once I left him, my pain, while still present and on some days very bad, got easier due to less stress in my life. Having someone treat you like you just need to “get over it” is unfair and just plain stupid on their part.
#6 by mlj9380 on March 1, 2010 - 6:34 pm
Quote
Request your doctor to do an MRI or CAT scan of your back. An x-ray only shows what’s going on with the bones, you could have a pinched nerve or something.
I’d go see another doctor and get another opinion if anything.
Unfortunetally, there isn’t a whole lot that can’t be done about back problems sometimes. A doctor may suggest therapy or even a chiropractor. I’ve got a problem with my sciatic nerve and they can’t do anything for me when it acts up. I get pain from my lower back that runs down into my heals at times.
The best thing to do until you can get another opinion is to rest and take it as easy as possible, even when it’s feeling better. Your back needs time to heal and if you keep aggravating it, it is possible to only worsen your condition.
Good luck to you!
#7 by ChasB on March 1, 2010 - 7:55 pm
Quote
Here are two sites that will help youhttp://www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/pai…http://spine-health.com
spine injuries don’t always show up in x-rays,, it took doctors a few years to figure out I had a cervical spine injury,, keep track of the pain in a little journal and take it with you to the doctors,, it will help
oh and here is one I just thought ofhttp://health.discovery.com/centers/pain…