[Sam2]

I'm losing more and more days at work. I've started lifting to increase my upper body strength, but continue to have legs that won't bend and any attempt to walk causes severe lowerback and leg pain. I'm terrified of being in a wheel chair in a couple of years.

Day after day is a fight against my migraines. There are no more medications to try and tolerance has built to the level of barely helping. Some days I can get through it, but the constant pain is wearing me down. I tell myself one day at a time, but the reality is that this will never get any better. Its only going to get worse. The pain clinic does its best to keep the pain under control, but even they realize we are losing the battle. Side effects from the pain medications are not just inconvienient. They are agonizing at time. Excuse the detail, but after two weeks of my bowel not moving despite fiber, softeners and stimulants, my gut feels like a ballon that has been blown up to excess. The fatigue often drops me.

The leg and back thing is a secondary result of having to sleep in odd positions. As my legs don't bend, I fall often, sometimes down the stairs. My Dr. has run all the tests, multiple times, gone through tons of meds, there have been well over ten proceedures related to putting in a peripheral nerve stimulator and battery. I'm tired. Not the tired that you get after a long day at work. I'm tired of fighting a battle that I cannot win. At best all the medications and holistic things slow down the progression.

Sam2

[NWgirl2013]

I'm sorry you hurt so much. It does sound so fatiguing. Like so many here, I wish I could fix it for you

[Leed]

For heavens sakes, if you have spinal problems DO NOT LIFT!!! I know you want to increase your strength, but you're only causing MORE PROBLEMS!!!

You could be doing more damage to an already damaged spine! So do NOT lift. Don't lift anything more than 10lbs -- like a bag of potatoes or something. And don't even lift that if you don't have to.

When you have to lift something don't pick it up with your back. Use you legs for strength if you can. I know you said you can't bend your legs -- do you know why? Do you have ANY idea why you can't?

If your bowels have not moved in 2 weeks, you are probably impacted, and that's SERIOUS! You may have to go to the emergency room for help. Do NOT let this go on any further!!! Go to the ER and tell them you have NOT gone in 2 weeks!!! They can help you -- but you've GOT to do something!!! Do it soon! Otherwise, very SERIOUS consequences will evolve, and it won't be pretty. I was once within just a short time of dying due to bowel impaction -- and you might be too! So go to the ER.

God bless and please take care! Hugs, Lee

[Sam2]

The lifting I do is done carefully. Presses on my back with just enough weight to tone. I'm not looking for mass, too old for that. The other lifting is done sitting doing curls, which again are with fairly light weight. You are right, trying to lift in ways that included my back would be asking for trouble.

The constipation I have lived with for years now. Its not unusual for days to a couple weeks between evacuations. I've been on perscribed narcotics for years, and it is one of the side effects. Painful, uncomfortable etc. I guess its just one more thing.

Most days i can keep my focus on accepting the whole package of problems, but sometimes it just gets to me. I read articles on how to deal with migraine pain, and everything they bring up, we've done. I guess I should feel lucky. At least its not terminal.

I appreciate the feedback. I can see where the thought of the second paragraph might bring up some worry. If this were the first time, I would be more apt to be nervous about it. Its not though. Its fairly common. I just keep wondering what other secondary problems are going to emerge from the primary problem of constant migraines.

Sam2

[Leed]

Gosh Sam, I wish I had an answer to the migraine problem. I could count on both hands the number of migraines I've had in my lifetime. And believe me, I totally sympathize with anyone who has those horrible, terrible things! I'd rather give birth daily than have those once a month!!! I've NEVER had such pain in my life!

Does ice help at all? Have you tried Aspirin? I don't know if Aspirin would be dangerous with whatever else you're taking, but I've used it and it DID seem to help a LITTLE -- and putting the ice on the back of my head kept me from vomiting. That was something, anyway. lol

I just wish I could be of more help. Like I said, I've never had such pain in my life. I hope you find something that helps you, and SOON! Keep us posted, will you please? God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

[Sam2]

I guess its just frustrating. My pain Dr., who I wouldn't trade for the world, has me on several medications. We tried so many over the years, and finally had to resort to a cocktail of opiods. The main problem with those is that tolerance to the drugs builds quickly, requiring higher and higher doses. Eventually, they hit the danger point. That is where I am now. We may not be able to raise the dose, yet they barely allow me to function.

When I have pain in my back and legs, I can use my mind to help work through it, but when the pain is in my head, that doesn't work so well. I do have a peripheral nerve stimulator implanted around my right eye, but alone, it does little. I'm sure everyone on this part of the forum knows how isolating chronic pain is. Most of the time, I stay in the dark. Its hard not to be grumpy with the people around me, but they don't deserve to become a victim of my pain and they haven't done anything wrong. I dont' know what I would do without the friends I live with. At least its not fatal.

Leed, if the guys were the ones giving birth, the species would become extinct! I don't know how women deal first with the strain of carrying the baby, then delivery! It looks and sounds horribly painful.

I appreciate the support. Most of the time I try to accept the pain, but the past couple of months have been particularly bad.

Sam2

[Gr3tta]

Hi sam2. I have struggled with migraines in addition to other pain for many years. Migraines are so horrible! I get really sick to my stomach with mine, which makes things worse. You've probably tried it already, but if not Max-Alt works pretty well for me. I still get a headache but its not as bad, and the pills dissolve, so I still get the medicine even if I get sick. I also find that ice directly on my eyes helps some, and so does sitting upright as opposed to lying down.
If you are becoming tolerant to the opioids for your other pain, could you take steps to knock back your tolerence? A good friend of mine has been successful at utilizing "mini-detoxes." Meaning he takes opioid pain meds as prescribed for two weeks, then goes one week without them entirely, then repeats the cycle. It means he's pretty much in agony every third week, BUT it means the medicine actually IS effective the weeks he takes it. It has kept him from building up a really high tolerence, and it has helped with the other associated negative side effects.
I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope you will find some new things that will be more effective.