Just asking for prayers, good energies, support

Ms_Lilith

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Okay, so the ordeal happened at 7:30 yesterday morning. This is the ordeal: I was putting on a skort, which requires standing on one leg while you put your other leg through the hole, etc.

At that point, my left leg suddenly went numb, and then the numbness was replaced by blinding pain that slowly brought me literally to my knees, bawling like a baby. I was unable to move, the pain was so excruciatingly bad. I immediately took 1200 mgs (6 tablets) of ibuprofin when it happened, and as I had had pulled muscle pain like it before, just waited for the anti-inflammatories to kick in. At 11, there had been no relief, so I sent honey to get me a stronger one, at a pharmacist's okay. Pharmacist chose extra strength robaxacet. Took two of them, and by 1:00, STILL no pain had gone down. It was as bad as ever. I tried walking to the washroom (15 feet away) and it took me 20 minutes and many tears, etc.

Finally, honey called the nurse's hotline, and they punched in all my symptoms into their computer, and said "well, all your symptoms point to nerve damage or interference, and those things are definitely 911 calls". So we called 911, I got to ride in an ambulance (with very funny paramedics, though laughing hurt), and then I laid in a bed, in the middle of the hallway in the hospital for 2 hours or so, before I got seen. In lots of pain. And they wouldn't let me go pee. But offered a bed pan, right there in the hallway. I decided to hold it.

Finally, I got seen by a doctor (after some really bitchy-ass nurse dealt with me), and he says that it doesn't sound like a pinched nerve, it sounds like I've pulled the nerve, at the root. I had X-rays, just to make sure it wasn't a bone thing, and I have to get a CT scan this week. I've been ordered a week of bedrest, before we go to any treatment (I have a fantastic chiropractor and physiotherapist, folks), and he was very VERY strict on the bedrest. He said that if I move too much, I'll aggravate it more, and each movement could pull a little more and a little more, and if that happens, they'll have to operate on it.

But I still have to move.. I'm told to get up to go to the washroom, to get the blood flowing, to do muscle contractions in my legs and feet while lying in bed, and to have honey help me with stretches, mild ones. I have to take 2 T3's every 4 hours, and I have to take aspirin, to keep my blood thin so no clots form while I'm off my feet (as blood clots do run in my family). So that was yesterday.

I was admitted to the hospital at 2:20, and I left at 8:15. Last night, (oh yeah, I was injected with demerol/gravol mixture, and was stoned off my gourd), was a different story... I laid in bed, pumped full of T3's, and was still in so much pain, I couldn't sleep. I finished my book somewhere around 3 in the morning. I can't even go to the bathroom by myself.. my sweetie has to help me walk,a nd he actually has to SIT ME DOWN on the toilet, and PULL ME UP off of it. Same with bed.. I can't sit on my own, as it's a low bed, and same with my couch (that I'm sitting on).

I have to say, he won boyfriend of the year yesterday. Starting at 7:30 am, he didn't leave my side once.. he put up with tears, both of pain and frustration, he put up with long waits at the hospital, driving everywhere to get medication, catching me as I almost fainted in the hospital (switching from bed to wheelchair so I could leave... they didn't let me leave for an hour after that, as the heart-rate machine thingy didn't even register my heart rate, it was so low, and I had turned beet red with white white lips, and was covered in an instant sweat, and fever).

Today is his birthday dinner. It's here, at home, but I don't think I can make it.. he's going to drive me up from the back of the house to the front, so I can skip the stairs, and then I can shower, and hang out in the guest bedroom all day.. but sitting for that long on a hard chair? Don't think I can do it. *grumble*

Anywho, that's the update. Oh, forgot to mention, my left thigh was numb a good part of the night, but if you touched it, while I didn't feel the touch, I got this sensation that all my nerve endings were on fire. Very painful. It sucked. And my right foot was going numb. So I spent my night contracting my muscles to keep the blood flowing, and staring at the ceiling.
 
A Desert Rose said:
You have all of mine, Vixenshe.

I hope you start to feel better soon.:rose:

Thank you..

and just FYI for everyone, I'm keeping an updated thread on the GB.. I'll cut and paste into this thead when there's new stuff to report.
 
vixenshe said:
... the pain is coming back, but I don't want to wake him to move ...
Wake him. Now.

i didn't look at the GB. Did the physician think the problem spinal, or in your leg?
 
AngelicAssassin said:
Wake him. Now.

i didn't look at the GB. Did the physician think the problem spinal, or in your leg?

The problem is a nerve root in the sacro-iliac joint (or thereabouts). Sitting is okay, as is lying down, it's just moving too much could cause more damage.

That I have a fever right along with this whole thing is of worry.. not a HUGE fever, just half a degree celcius over normal.

I think the fever broke last night, though. And I can't wait to have a quick shower. I stink like hospital.
 
vixenshe said:
... they didn't let me leave for an hour after that, as the heart-rate machine thingy didn't even register my heart rate, it was so low, and I had turned beet red with white white lips, and was covered in an instant sweat, and fever).

\My lord. I'm so sorry vixenshe. Nerve pain is the Worst. Been on crutches from mine before but nothing like this. So sorry. (and how wonderful you have your sweet boyfriend there with you. Give him birthday kisses from us, if you are up to it. Have him give you some from us, if you're not.) :(

:kiss:
 
vixenshe said:
The problem is a nerve root in the sacro-iliac joint (or thereabouts). Sitting is okay, as is lying down, it's just moving too much could cause more damage.

That I have a fever right along with this whole thing is of worry.. not a HUGE fever, just half a degree celcius over normal.

I think the fever broke last night, though. And I can't wait to have a quick shower. I stink like hospital.

Isn't fever supposed to mean infection or something? Are you sure they've diagnosed it right and know what they're doing? Got two opinions? (Just nagging because of familiarity with too many doc screwups, and this sounds bad enough not to mess around with.)
 
Phoenix Stone said:
Isn't fever supposed to mean infection or something? Are you sure they've diagnosed it right and know what they're doing? Got two opinions? (Just nagging because of familiarity with too many doc screwups, and this sounds bad enough not to mess around with.)

I had the flu all week before this, and was feeling shitty on Friday from that flu.. they didn't think the two things were related. I don't care either way, and I'm going to my doc in a couple days. Plus the nurse's hotline is going to do a followup call today, and if they are concerned, will instruct me to get to the hospital again.


And as for the boyfriend.. I could not be luckier. I .. he is just so amazingly marvelous.

*smile* I will certainly give him birthday kisses from all of you.. and he showered them on me yesterday, as I lay on the gurney, bawling. He is so good to me.
 
Oouch! Vix, that's awful!
I've only had to endure nerve pain once from a pinched nerve in my back and that was enough to send me bawling to the ER.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you.:rose: :kiss:
 
wickedwanda said:
Good luck to you and hold onto that guy.

I second that :rose:
Good luck and BIG HUGS to you Vixenshe......I know we haven't interacted much but I've always enjoyed reading your posts :rose:
 
Hope you have a speedy recovery. From what we hear of your man though, we can rest easy knowing he will take good care of you so that is a big plus emotionally for you. Rest, folow doctors orders, and ask questions if it doesn't seem to be going as they tell you it should.

Catalina :rose:
 
Small update:

I have been living in the guest room of our house, as it has a higher bed, and it's up by the kitchen and bathroom (the one with the walk-in shower)... He's been wonderful, and my best friend made the 5 hour journey to come see me and help take care of me for a few days.

Still in massive pain, and the numbness isn't going away on my leg (except when the nerves feel like pop-rocks, or are burning).. shitty. But I have good people who love me to take care of me.


I'm just about to head back upstairs (being driven around from the back of the house)..

Love you all!
 
vixenshe said:
The problem is a nerve root in the sacro-iliac joint (or thereabouts). Sitting is okay, as is lying down, it's just moving too much could cause more damage.

That I have a fever right along with this whole thing is of worry.. not a HUGE fever, just half a degree celcius over normal.

I think the fever broke last night, though. And I can't wait to have a quick shower. I stink like hospital.
Well, I'm not a doctor, but I do sometimes play one, at home. :)

This sounds like a classic case of Siatica. Depending on your age, or how physical you are in your life, the siatic nerve has been pinched or damaged in some way. Age can be involved because the vertabra age and degenerate, pinching the nerve. Physical activity can be involved if you are very active physically, with a lot of running, jogging, or gymnastics. A disk can be pushed or pulled out of position and ride up against the nerve.

It doesn't take very much to cause a lot of pain. the initial pain is sometimes from a pinch, but the residual pain (although it feels the same) is just the damaged or irritated nerve recovering.

Pain and/or numbness is always on one side (there are two siatic nerves, one on each side of your pelvis), in your ass and hip, down your leg (usually the outside of it) and on down into your toes.

Sometimes the pain feels like it is centered in your toes, sometimes it feels like it is in your lower back, and sometimes it shoots between both.

Bedrest is necessary to allow the nerve to recover, then to keep from blood clots, muscle degeneration, etc., you need to get up and move around. It will still hurt, and you might even feel like you are making it worse by moving, but actually they say siatia pain will subside on it's own with little or no additional help.

You can check the Internet for different methods to follow, and you can even find questions to ask your doctors, if you want more info.

I had siatica about 7 years ago. I was flat on my back for a week, then was told to get up. It hurt to breathe, and just the thought of moving for bathroom breaks or to get food was not fun.

I had a lot of fruit, pudding cups, fruit packages, etc. bedside, to get me through the first days of not wanting to move. I also was given prescription anti-inflamatory drugs to help the nerve settle down. Ibuprophen is an anti-inflamatory drug, that might help, if you don't have other prescribed meds. I was given Naproxen.

Tylenol isn't in the same med class, and would help with pain, but not much on inflamation. But, follow your doctor on that, for sure. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, I only play one at home.

after the initial injury (these are usually treated as a sports injury), you should put moist heat on it, every hour, lasting about 20 minutes. I was given the incorrect info at first, by one chiropractor quack (yep, some of them are) who said ice packs only, to dull the injury area.
I was in such pain after a few days, I ended up calling my MD and they said to put moist heat on the point of injury. They said they never prescribe ice only after the first 24 hours. The ice was correct, but only for the first 24 hours. Then, you need to change to moist heat.

You can alternate these, if you want, but never use either without some form of cloth between you and the ice, or heat. I found that a heating pad (one that has a plastic cover so you don't get shocked!) and a damp towel between, worked well.

I don't want to give you unlikely expectations, but the first time I used the heating pad, the pain seemed to just melt away. Of course, it didn't do so well with subsequent treatments, but it did always make the pain less.

The thought process behind a sports injury is this, in case anyone reading might want to know--at least this is how it was explained to me...When the body is injured, it sends blood to the area to help heal it. In the first 24 hours, you should add ice every hour, about 15-20 minutes at a time.

Some doctors will tell you to use ice as much as you can stand it, in this timeframe. There are different schools of thought. Remember to mever use ice directly on the body, or you will damage your skin. Always put a cloth between you and the ice.

Something like an ankle sprain, etc, will hurt worse, if you allow too much swelling. Reducing any swelling, will cause it to hurt less, allowing faster recovery for you because of that less pain.

After the first 24 hours or so, you want to start putting moist heat on the area. Heat, because you want to stimulate feeling, and healing. Moisture is to help any muscles or bones to stay limber or flexible. Dry heat would not be good, in this case.

As with the ice, try moist heat for 15-20 minutes at a time, every hour. Of course, doctors have their own thoughts on all of this, so follow their recomendations.

The ice could be alternated with the heat, for periods of time, if the pain is still intense. Ice numbs the pain, where heat is more likely to help it melt away. But, be sure you start the moist heat soon enough, to get it's benefits going.

You may be given exercises to do, to keep the area limber and also to help strengthen any muscles that have been weakened because you don't want to move. Inactive muscles tighten up and that can irritate your natural alignment and just cause more pain you don't need.

The Siatic nerve is a large one. As you are now feeling, it supplies feeling to quite a large area. There will be strange feelings in this area for a while.

When you get hurt like this, you don't want to move, and when you do move, you try to find ways to move where it doesn't hurt. Don't move too much in unusual directions, or in extremes, for fear of re-injuring that area. Just move as normally as you can, but slower, getting help from others in the first few days, if you need it. And, do the stretching exersizes you are given. They will help keep the muscle tone equal, too.

I spent a couple of weeks in various degrees of pain after I got back up on my feet. If Siatica is what you have, don't think it will go away quickly. BUT, don't think it is something you can't get over, with time. Obviously, follow doctors recomondations for the fastest recovery.

Believe me, I know some of what you're going through. And, if you ask, I'm sure you know many people who have also had this. Of course, I had never heard of it before I was blessed with it. I guess it isn't something we like to remember, after it's gone. (but, you won't soon forget it).

Now, if you DON'T have Siatica, it sounds like you have something very close to it. If you doctor doesn't happen to suggest any of the above treatments, you might ask if they will help. Asking is free, and the answer could make you feel better!

You are having a rough time of it, right now. Take it easy. Rent a few movies or something. Stay comfortable. Think of ways to relax as much as possible. As you know, moving around hurts!


EDITED to fix some spelling. It never fails.
 
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