[1Dar]

Ok so I am really not sure what to do. I am in a considerable amount of pain….go figure right….Well anyway, I am having problems with my SI joint (in my low back) it hurts really bad and all the “tricks” the chiro has given me are no longer working. I am realy not sure what I should do. I went in last Friday and it has been bothering me off and on, not bad, just annoying. Well it wasn’t bad till about 30mins ago when I flew out of bed because the fire alarm went off…we had a fire drill in the dorm so I was startled and got up perhaps too quickly. I thought for a minute that I wasn’t going to make it down the steps when I flew out of bed….it pinched and hurt to walk. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? My chiro thinks that I might end up getting a cortisone shot because of the pain, but I really don’t know what to do.

Dar

[(JD)]

cortisone helps the swelling, as does ultrasound treatment from physical therapist.... muscle relaxant (so the muscles allow the bones to go back in) and you have to continue your stretching (ham string especially) a shot of muscle relaxant into the trigger point would help too.. not to mention pain killer.

[dottie]

Dar...I have received Trigger point shots in my shoulder joint. a mixture or cortisone and novacaine. They are painful but they do work for my joint and muscle pain. I am in need of more shots now into my knees and hips. Whatever it takes to get rid of this pain!! Take good care!

Dottie

[1Dar]

Ok so I have been stretching, but it isn't helping. I have been called a pretzel, because I am so flexible. Tonight after work I decided that maybe a swim in the warm pool would help relax the muscles. No luck... it hurts worse now than it did before I went swimming. This is sooo frustrating because I can't even call the chiro until Monday. OWIE, OWIE, OWIE...........I hate this pain. I have a feeling that I am going to end up doing the cortizone thing, even though my chiro is trying hard to avoid that route. Does anyone have any sigestions on how to relieve the pain?

Dar

[hillbunnyb]

Have you tried Ice? I know, most of us shivver at the mere thought, cold siezes us up, right? Well, put ice on your back spot and a hot water bottle on your belly. That's what I do and it really works. Good luck. Pain sucks.

[dottie]

Yes, what we won't do to get rid of this pain. Dar, I believe that you are at that point where your pain specialist will have to go the cortisone route. The Shots themselves are painful(I just hold the nurses' hand and squeeze)Within A few seconds tho the pain is no more!! It's like a bit of heaven touched me.

The Doctor askes me what my pain level is then..and I say ...zero! He smiles and goes his merry way. The shots usually last months with respect to keeping the pain at bay!Next...I will get them into my knee joints...and then hips.

I also have 2 bulging discs in my lower Lumbar area of the spine.One is Herniated and a pinched nurse. My pain pills are pretty much keeping that pain bearable.(I really don't want any shots anywhere near my spine.) But if I have too..I will do it because I do not want back surgery. Nope!!!

Take care. Let me know what you are going to do with respect to the shots. They really are wonderful. Thank goodness for cortisone!

[(JD)]

I agree about the ice... ice massages do numb the area for at least a few minutes... use a styrofoam or paper cup... freeze water in it... pop it out and wrap it in a wash cloth or such (or with styrofoam, peal back most of cup) and rub exposed ice on area. Make sure the paper or cloth does NOT touch your skin as you rub (or your SO rubs) Work through the cold burn time until it's numb.... Keep the ice moving so as not to damage your skin.

Being flexible could also be part of your problem.. if your tendons are also so stretchable and don't hold the bones in place, if the tendons don't go back to non-flexed status, per se. Do you sleep on your back, with pillows under your knees? Do you walk evenly, no limping? Even when the SI is out, it's important not to walk favoring one side or the other, as that will cause it to go out farther or at least not allow it to release. Taking very small steps slowly is best. Do you sit with full support around you, not on the edge of seats? IDK just some ideas.... things to check. Sorry.

[dottie]

Hi Sky. I do use ice packs on my back...when it becomes unbearable. My pain Doctor also has me on Flexeril, xanax, Ultram, along with the Methadone. The Methadone has helped me while all else seemed to fail.

Just don't want back surgery. Funny thing...when I was a child I used to have nightmares about something happening to my spine. Not a normal thing for a small child to dream about. Gives me the chills when I think about it. Brrr!

Thanks for your input!

[(JD)]

Yes, ice packs are good, too.. but ice massages! When the pain is so bad that even 30 seconds of relief is a bonus... that's when the ice massage comes forth.

No surgery for me, either, until they figure out what they are doing. (I mean, 25 years ago I guessed they needed to replace the disks, not put steel rods in or remove the disks.)

I'm thinking that as a child you heard a story from family chatting...about someone who got a spine problem.. maybe? TC

[dottie]

Hmmmm..I suppose I could have had those dreams because of some talk in the family or elsewhere. In the dreams...I could actually feel the pain. I was easily spooked as a child. LOL!

[1Dar]

OK so I am about ready to cry...which is unusual for me because of my extreme high pain tollerence.

Answering some of sky's questions:
Do you sleep on your back, with pillows under your knees?- I generally sleep on my stomache or side...lately l have bee forced to sleep on my side because of the pain. I don't breathe well on my back so I don't sleep on my back very often.
Do you walk evenly, no limping? Walking without limping is a sometimes. My hips are uneven an therefore I have a lift in one of my shoes. Actually in the shoe on the side that the pain is mainly on. Lately it has hurt no matter if I wear the lift or not, but when I do not wear the lift I may walk with a limp, but it is hard to tell, becaue I am so used to it. The lift is about 1/8-1/4 inch.
At times I can't walk at all or have to simply stand with my foot off the floor for a few minutes before i can even stand on it agian.

Ok well that is about all i know right now...going to try to call chiro in am, but probally cant get in till tuesday because I got called to work tomorrow,

Dar

[1Dar]

Ok so I lucked out today and got someone to work so I didn't have to and then I managed to squeeze into the chiro. He couldn't get it to release all the way...he is thinking that the muscles are tight and that is what is causing some of the problems. So here I sit at work ready to cry because it hurts to sit, but not as much to stand or lay...well actually i am not sure about laying because I havent had time to do that yet since I got back. I just want to go to bed right now! I am practically falling asleep on my chair and my shift has only just begun. might need some good techniques to distract from pain by the end of my shift. Have to go back in on Friday.

Dar

[1Dar]

ops I meant I have to go back in on THURSDAY not friday.

Dar

[(JD)]

Yes it's the muscles spasming grrrrr Have you been reevaluated for the heighth of the lift lately? It sounds to me like it may be off.. and thus causing part of the problem. I'm not allowed to sleep on my side... it's a huge no no because it allows the SI joint to be pulled out of place too easily... but if you must, make sure you tuck a pillow between your knees when on your side.. to try and keep the pelvis even.

Hey.. good you can go back a day earlier than you said! right? TC!

[1Dar]

thought i was going to die last night. If I could have walked I would have been in ER lasnight with pain. A bit better today, but i feel absolutely sick. I walk for 2-3mins and I feel like I am going to throwup or pass out. I habe been up for about 5hrs and could easially fall back asleep. grrrrrr.....this sux.

Dar