Scary
In a little under two months, it will be eleven years since I had a spinal tap. It forced me to learn a lot about myself, pain, managing pain, and about what I call "memory pain." I needed a spinal tap because something was very wrong with my body, something that ultimately left me unable to walk for a while in 1995.
Since that time I've had arthritis from the middle of my back down through my ankles. Even though ever since I got better I've never missed a day of work, the arthritis still makes sure I never forget it's there. Hello! Usually I just ignore the pain. I never take anything stronger than Advil, and that's only at night so I can sleep. Occasionally, I will take a bus somewhere instead of walking. Oh, and I don't run. Ever. Well okay, about once a year I run just to make sure I still can.
For the last two days, when I've woken up it's been really hard to move. I seriously feel like my back is going to break. I'm pretty sure it's not, but it's still scary to feel that. To not be able to count on my body to hold me up while I do simple things like wash my hands or face and brush my teeth. The only thing that makes me feel better is stretching my back out, by laying in the exact same position I had to be in for the spinal tap. Obviously nobody is going to sneak up behind me and shove a needle in my back to extract the precious spinal fluid between my vertebrae, but I'm still slightly uncomfortable about that. Something about the vulnerability.
I have no ending for this, except to say if you ever need a spinal tap, contact me and we'll talk about it.
Since that time I've had arthritis from the middle of my back down through my ankles. Even though ever since I got better I've never missed a day of work, the arthritis still makes sure I never forget it's there. Hello! Usually I just ignore the pain. I never take anything stronger than Advil, and that's only at night so I can sleep. Occasionally, I will take a bus somewhere instead of walking. Oh, and I don't run. Ever. Well okay, about once a year I run just to make sure I still can.
For the last two days, when I've woken up it's been really hard to move. I seriously feel like my back is going to break. I'm pretty sure it's not, but it's still scary to feel that. To not be able to count on my body to hold me up while I do simple things like wash my hands or face and brush my teeth. The only thing that makes me feel better is stretching my back out, by laying in the exact same position I had to be in for the spinal tap. Obviously nobody is going to sneak up behind me and shove a needle in my back to extract the precious spinal fluid between my vertebrae, but I'm still slightly uncomfortable about that. Something about the vulnerability.
I have no ending for this, except to say if you ever need a spinal tap, contact me and we'll talk about it.
posted by Green at 4/18/2006 06:57:00 AM
2 Comments:
To put it mildly, that sounds like a real pain in the ass (that missed)! Perhaps it might be time to explore the company medical plan (if you have one). Medicine and rheumatology may have come a long way in the last 11 years.
When I read your post, I went to my Foods that Heal book, to see what the nutritionist author (Maureen Salaman) recommends for arthritis. She recommended avoiding nightshade-related foods (which include tobacco, paprika, tomatoes, and potato starch - found in lo-cost yogurt) and chemical additives (colorings, flavorings, pesticides, etc.). Stress, fatty foods, and anything that screws with your digestive system should be minimized/eliminated. Calcium is good for you, as is Vitamins C and D, as well as foods high in folic acid, pantothenic acid or zinc. I feel for you having pain - it should not be, as it wears you down and limits you in your activities. Please see a doctor to help - he or she may not have all the answers and yes, they rely on meds all too much, but see what you can do. If you don't want to take Advil to minimize the pain, you can take a low dosage aspirin - I take those children's orange aspirin when I have pain, and that is as low a dosage as you can get, but it still helps, and is better than doing nothing. You CAN be better! Take care.
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