[Thor0298]

Hi all, new here. I've looked for quite some time for a place where people talk about pain etc. about four years ago, I was training for my first half marathon. I hurt what I was told was IT band but learned later it was a slipped disc in my back. One day I woke up crooked. I ended up crooked for about 4-5 months. Unable to stand straight. Then it gradually went away. About 9 months later I had to take a month long business trip. So I got checked before going to make sure it was ok. Since I'd be flying halfway around the world for a month.

First weeks overseas was good. But in the middle of the second week, I knew something was wrong and went home from work early. Within two days, I went from bad to unable to walk. After not being able to walk I was admitted into a hospital. The area I was in didn't believe in pain Meds so I basically ended up on a hospital bed, unable to move and in severe pain for two weeks while my company tried to figure out how to get me home.

After a long four plane trip home, I was ambulances to the hospital for surgery. At the time, I was basically told that is my only option. I had much muscle atrophy from laying in a hospital bed for so long, that I had to stay in the hospital for a few days. My PT post surgery went pretty well. They told me I was progressing really well. I felt good for about a year. About a year after surgery, I had more slipped discs. And on the anniversary of my whole ordeal, I started having major depression/anxiety issues. I would wake up in the night hearing screams I heard in the hospital I stayed at and things like that.

To solve that I ended up being prescribed 10 different anxiety and anti depressants in a month or two. Mostly due to the fact that I had some very adverse reactions to the Meds. Fast forward another year or so to this last spring. More discs out again. From the knee down I went completely numb. Sometime around August I was given an injection that did nothing. Then j went searching for other options as my surgeon said I basically need surgery. I went to a pain dr. He did another injection that didn't help at all. Then had me start a med-X program to see if that helps.

I'm about halfway through the med-X program. Not really seeing much change. I know I have six more weeks. But it does cause more pain the days right after I have it.

Sorry I know this is extremely long. But what does everyone here do to stay positive and keep on keeping on? I find with each day that gets harder and harder. Some days I can hardly walk as the pain down my leg is so bad. I try to stay as positive as I can but some days are really tough. Anyways. That's my short story.

[Skeezyks]

Hello Thor 0298: I've had some back problems of my own over the years. They were disabling for periods of time, although not as severe as you are experiencing. I also have tinnitus & have had a not too serious bout with cancer, along with my mental health challenges. How I stay positive, to the extent that I do, is I walk. I also do some sitting meditation, as well as walking meditation. I am also sort-of a follower of the Lojong practice taught by the Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. Lojong is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice. The word translates as: "mind training". One important aspect of the practice is summarized by my Signature statement below. This aspect of the practice is also sometimes referred to as "radical acceptance". These are the things that keep me going. I wish you all the best with your recovery...

[Pierro]

Hello Thor and welcome to PC. I too have two slipped disks, fibromyalgia and depression as well. I am so sorry your life has been full of pain in the last few years.. The main pain in my back is actually down my leg. Sciatica as I am sure you have heard of. At times it drives me crazy. I can't feel my leg, numb foot, no power and so on. That pain will drive you nuts. My depression is wise at times with pain. My only piece of advice to you is to see a doctor specialising in this field. I went to see a rheumatologist because my doctor referred me to him. He put me on lyrica. It has helped with the nerve pain a little. I am more than certain you have a compressed nerve against the disk. I am not a doctor and I am not qualified by from my experience you have to see a specialist again and get to the root cause of this pain.

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[Thor0298]

Yeah I have two discs impinging the nerve on the left side and one on the right side. Have tried gabapentin and lyrica. Neither did much but give me side effects. Currently I see my spine surgeon, a neck and back specialist clinic and my pain doc who specializes in backs. The pain itself and the situation that lead up to surgery is the main driver of my depression and anxiety I believe, as does my psychiatrist. Now I'm just trying to keep my head above water. Trying one last thing before my last two options are surgery again and a spinal stimulator. I'm 36 and really am trying to stay out of surgery as they tell me they snowball after awhile. But some days are harder to keep positive than others.

Skeezyks I'm from the twin cities also

[valeriejayne]

I have fibromyalgia, migraines, IBS, sciatica, 1 herniated disk, so far, a few bulging disk, chronic fatigue, scoliosis and situational depression. Some day there is nothing I can do about being down. Seems like pain puts you on some kind of horrible roller coaster. You start with pain, then your anxiety goes up a bit because of the pain...the increase in anxiety makes the pain worse and so on and so on. I've been there...at the point where I just wanted to end it. But because of my children, I couldn't do it. That's what stops me every time. You have to find something that matters more than you do...or I should say that's what it took for me. I also do Yoga and Meditation...I read a lot...I use heat and ice...I put myself in traction when needed...I have an adjustable bed...I have a massage cushion...I use a medium hard, medium size ball (it's actually a dog toy) to self massage in those knotted spots caused by fibro., I read a lot...and I have my dad and my children for support (My husband left me last year). Now I don't want to die, but sometimes I wish I did/could.
I hope you can find something or someone that keeps you alive...and I hope in the end it is you who keeps you alive. Love you.rself...it's hard..I'm still trying...it's really hard .