Pain in back -- Yep, that's what it is

[HellBoundTroll]

Guess I hope Mark N. knows, 'cause Mark is most likely the only one to answer...

Although, in the event any drunken sailors, or sober surgeons wander by, I will accept answers from anyone.

So, sitting here with a whole bunch of OXY (oxycontin) and a whole bunch of ibuprofen....and a bottle of tequila in the closet, but since I have been "dry" for several months, leaving the tequila in the closet (or so I say now. ).

Anyway, did something to me back, leg, something.

When I place left foot down with any sort of authority -- ie -- with any sort of push off as would be required to actually get any power behind the step -- there is an instant pain in the back along a straight vertical line from the "waistband" and up about four or five inches. The spot is about 3-4 inches off of the actual spine on the same side as the foot.

At rest, that whole lower quadrant of the back is just sore and warm.....I would say a pulled muscle? Kind of strange, though, with the pain on walking, it almost feels as if a string is connected to the area from the foot.

A bit hard to describe, I guess, but if anyone can understand my rambles, Mark can.....he's been reading them for more than a decade...

I really HATE OXY -- which is why I have a whole bunch....they keep prescribing it and I am stupid enough to fill the RX and take it home and then never take it.

The ibuprofen would probably help, but when I had my ACDF the doctor said NSAIDS delay healing and told me not to take them.

So, any advice for a gimpy troll....
dave

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Dave)))))) ~

Neither a drunken sailor nor a sober surgeon am I, but I am an empathetic care giver with RA, so you have my empathy and healing prayers.

I'd set the Oxy and tequila aside, and take 200 mg of Ibuprofen. Take the smallest dose first to see if you get relief, if not take another one. I wouldn't exceed 800 mg, which is the maximum dose. It's best not to take it on an empty stomach. It's purpose is to reduce inflammation, which you likely have since the area feels warm. I can't see how it delays healing, but I'm not a doctor (or a sailor).

Is the pain traveling up from your leg or up from your waist?

Can you recall whether you lifted something heavy or awkwardly, or if you turned in a weird manner, to cause a pulled muscle or a tear? Could you have a herniated disc? I thought of sciatica, but that pain travels down the leg, not up the back.

Here is something you can try, and it works for me, my husband, and friends, who have taken my suggestion:

Use a paper towel, folded to meet the size of the area, which is warm. Douse the folded towel with Witch Hazel. Apply doused towel to the warm area. Secure with tape.

Witch Hazel is inexpensive and available at any drug store. It works. It reduces inflammation, distributes blood to prevent bruising, soothes pain, and promotes healing. Give it a try. Leave it on until it dries out. Reapply at any time. You can be active or at rest; it doesn't matter.

Try to rest and stay off of your feet as much as you can.

Hope you heal quickly ~

Love & Light,

Rose

[HellBoundTroll]

Durn:

I sent Witch Hazel back to her cottage a few years ago. All she wanted to do was to cook eyes of newts!

Actually, the pain travels from the waist up, which is what is strange. No leg in this whatsoever (yes, I thought of sciaticia too, but...)

Then, again, my nerve paths are so screwed up because of neck, who knows....

Are you sure I should not take four or five Oxy's. I have about 50 of them and they are pretty sad and lonely. Maybe I should wait for a drunken sailor to chip in.

Sorry, not making fun of you, just having a little fun....that's all we have when we have pain, right....As I tell friends, if I just sat around and focused on the "ow," what sort of life is that, so I try to defuse it with making fun of it. Anyway....

There were a number of studies in the old days of the 1990s that demonstrated impaired healing with NSAIDS. I am not up on the most recent stuff, but a quick consult with my friend Dr. Google found this: Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Actually, back in the bad old days when I fought flames for a living, we used to call ibuprofen M&M's and would rountinely down 1200 mg at a time. Since my 1998 ACDF, have only taken it probably two dozen times -- over more than a decade, not bad.

I will pursue my witch buddy in the a.m. And I think I will pop a very small dose, 800 mg, of ibuprofen tonight....hey...we trolls are big critters. I'm 6'3" and weigh 205./

Man, this is turning into an essay, but, I DID NOT THINK OF IT -- it was so routine -- but had a tree fall across my driveway (my driveway is four football fields long) during 84 mph winds recently.

Had to cut it up and haul it off the road. Pieces of trunk were a guesstimated 70 pounds....hefted about 15 of those, plus a whole lot of smaller chunks over a 2.5 hour period....but the pain did not start until about four days later, so should not be related, right.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughts, I will get witchy back here tommorow and go from there....
dave

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Dave)))))) ~

You lifted 15 70-lb tree limbs? Yes, I think you've determined what is causing your pain. I recommend: you call someone to help you the next time a tree falls across your giant driveway.

I know that you're an uncharacteristically large troll, nonetheless, I still suggest starting with the lowest dose to see whether it helps you.

The thing about Witch Hazel: It can't hurt you. At all.

One last suggestion: Dude, stop refilling your OXY scripts. You have enough.



Feel better and be pain-free soon ~

Love & Light,

Rose

[HellBoundTroll]

All seriousness aside....

Regarding the OXY, I live in a somewhat rural area....actual road miles to town is only about nine, but in terms of actually getting there in bad weather, it can be a whole lot further. Floods, landslides, fallen trees, snow, ice, can all make the trip to civilization either impossible or add maybe 40 or so miles.

So, the reason I have stockpiled the OXY is in the event if I ever have a situation where I am stranded at home without power, phone, etc. and have some sort of injury, I will have the OXY if needed.

Which is why I also keep a stockpile of antibiotics, some 30 gallons of water, a week's supply of food and 15 gallons of gasoline for my generator.

No, I would not say I am a survivalist, rather a realist. If something major happens -- and it has several times in the past several years here -- the government has more important things to worry about than me and my black lab (dog).

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Dave)))))) ~

Nothing wrong with being prepared, which it sounds like you are. It's fairly obvious (to me, at least) that nature is having a field day with us, now that we've destroyed our beautiful planet. Tsunamis, earthquakes, super storms, absurdly cold temperatures, or horrendously hot temperatures. Those folks in West Virginia ~ how long have they been without water now? DAYS! Of course, that's a man made disaster by the coal cleaning plant polluting the groundwater. Yep. We have all kinds of reasons to be prepared, regardless of where we live.

I wish I could stockpile Jon's seizure meds, but we aren't even allowed to pick up his meds until the exact day they are refillable. And he takes these to prevent seizures, which means live in his case. So we can't choose to not give them to him to squirrel any away.

How is your pain? Did you try the Witch Hazel?

Hope you're feeling better.

Love & Light,

Rose

[Mark N]

Dave sorry I am just now getting back on the site as I have been having increased back pain and computer issues. It sounds as if you have strained your erector muscle in the lumbar area. It is a muscle that is often strained before you really do damage to your spine. I have found deep massage to really help with the erector muscles. As far as NSAIDs retarding healing your doctor forgot to tell you they also can have healing properties if muscle strain is the problem. NSAIDs reduce the swelling which is often part of what is causing the pain so by reducing swelling it allows your body to get back to its proper movement.

All seriousness aside....

Regarding the OXY, I live in a somewhat rural area....actual road miles to town is only about nine, but in terms of actually getting there in bad weather, it can be a whole lot further. Floods, landslides, fallen trees, snow, ice, can all make the trip to civilization either impossible or add maybe 40 or so miles.

So, the reason I have stockpiled the OXY is in the event if I ever have a situation where I am stranded at home without power, phone, etc. and have some sort of injury, I will have the OXY if needed.

Which is why I also keep a stockpile of antibiotics, some 30 gallons of water, a week's supply of food and 15 gallons of gasoline for my generator.

No, I would not say I am a survivalist, rather a realist. If something major happens -- and it has several times in the past several years here -- the government has more important things to worry about than me and my black lab (dog).