JimBowie1958
Old Fogey
- Sep 25, 2011
- 63,590
- 16,773
- 2,220
I have a herniated disc between my L4 and L5 vertebra with a 'mild' bulge according to the radiologist, but it still fricking hurts sitting or standing. It doesn't hurt walking. My upper back muscles tense up and hurt somehow due to that herniated disc.
But what is really hurting me right now and has been getting steadily worse is the herniated disc at my T11-T12, which causes sharp stabbing pain that pulses through my back and upper chest like electrical shocks. Sometimes it makes me stop breathing, and when I sneeze or cough it hurts. When I walk I have to step lightly or it hurts. I have to sit slowly and when riding in the car, I have to lift my ass up off the seat to avoid getting a jolt in my spine when we go over speed bumps. If I sit for more than 20 minutes it starts to hurt and the muscles start to tighten up more and eventually hurt like hell if I don't lay on my back or walk around a little bit. Going down stairs is a literal pain.
I have seen the doctor and she gave me two weeks off to treat my back with some steroids and muscle relaxers, but I cant do anything on the relaxants, I cant keep my focus on what I am trying to do. Even getting a drink of water isn't a simple thing when I am on that stuff and I have even pulled the cup out before turning the water off and made an embarrassing spill a couple of times.
My output at work has declined in quantity and quality over the last few months. I hate that. I have always been a damned good engineer and I feel I am no longer able to do the job due to this pain.
I know that whatever happens, all is in the hands of God, but then, the Kulaks and Armenians knew that too and look where it got them! lol, I seriously do feel like I am at the end of my professional life and I cant help it. And that makes me feel depressed, not clinically, but how I guess anyone would feel when they are looking at the end of productive years. I have worked since I was 14, and did lawn mowing before that to make cash and painted barns and fences. If I cant work, I don't know what I will do to feel purposeful and like I am giving some service to the community, giving back to society.
Maybe these thoughts are part of why I cant sleep too. I don't know.
I do know that I cant lift anything more than about 5 pounds without shooting pain, I cant push a mower now and had to watch my wife mow last weekend.
I see the doctor again Thursday, the 29th, but frankly I don't think they can do much for this part of my back unless it is surgery, and that shit scares me, honestly, I have read it only works about 15% of the time and 30% of the time results in paralysis for the thoracic spine area.
Don't know what I hope to achieve posting here. But this is about all I can do to let off the steam at this time of night.
Fuck it; I guess I will eventually have to fall asleep.
But what is really hurting me right now and has been getting steadily worse is the herniated disc at my T11-T12, which causes sharp stabbing pain that pulses through my back and upper chest like electrical shocks. Sometimes it makes me stop breathing, and when I sneeze or cough it hurts. When I walk I have to step lightly or it hurts. I have to sit slowly and when riding in the car, I have to lift my ass up off the seat to avoid getting a jolt in my spine when we go over speed bumps. If I sit for more than 20 minutes it starts to hurt and the muscles start to tighten up more and eventually hurt like hell if I don't lay on my back or walk around a little bit. Going down stairs is a literal pain.
I have seen the doctor and she gave me two weeks off to treat my back with some steroids and muscle relaxers, but I cant do anything on the relaxants, I cant keep my focus on what I am trying to do. Even getting a drink of water isn't a simple thing when I am on that stuff and I have even pulled the cup out before turning the water off and made an embarrassing spill a couple of times.
My output at work has declined in quantity and quality over the last few months. I hate that. I have always been a damned good engineer and I feel I am no longer able to do the job due to this pain.
I know that whatever happens, all is in the hands of God, but then, the Kulaks and Armenians knew that too and look where it got them! lol, I seriously do feel like I am at the end of my professional life and I cant help it. And that makes me feel depressed, not clinically, but how I guess anyone would feel when they are looking at the end of productive years. I have worked since I was 14, and did lawn mowing before that to make cash and painted barns and fences. If I cant work, I don't know what I will do to feel purposeful and like I am giving some service to the community, giving back to society.
Maybe these thoughts are part of why I cant sleep too. I don't know.
I do know that I cant lift anything more than about 5 pounds without shooting pain, I cant push a mower now and had to watch my wife mow last weekend.
I see the doctor again Thursday, the 29th, but frankly I don't think they can do much for this part of my back unless it is surgery, and that shit scares me, honestly, I have read it only works about 15% of the time and 30% of the time results in paralysis for the thoracic spine area.
Don't know what I hope to achieve posting here. But this is about all I can do to let off the steam at this time of night.
Fuck it; I guess I will eventually have to fall asleep.
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