Hey there!
I have neuropathy which is similar, but different. The similarity is in the constant pain and the issues of sitting for too long. When I sit too long, it's difficult for me to walk at first because of the pain and stiffness in my feet. There are two things that have helped me and that is not sitting for too long (the obvious) and exercise (helps blood flow, helps pain).
Of course, check with your doc first that it's ok, but I would recommend looking into exercises that increase you abdominal strength and walking. The walking is the cure-all for blood flow and increasing abdominal strength will help strengthen your back when getting up and down from sitting. The theory is, the stronger your muscles, the less your joints have to do. I'm not a doctor, so I could be wrong about this, but I've worked through a lot of pain issues and I'm just brainstorming what might help you.
The other thing is, you have to understand that you probably won't be cured. That's not giving up, but it does help you make choices. A little over a year ago I decided that if I was going to be in pain, it would be "pain with a purpose", and so I started with kempo, weight training and running. The aches I got from sports is nothing compared to neuropathy and migraines, and there's a strange camaraderie among athletes because they're ALWAYS getting injured and in pain. They're a lot more fun to talk to than patients in waiting rooms, and it helps to be around people who are fully functioning even with fractured ribs, knee injuries, etc. I know, it sounds weird, but it really does help.
My suggestion is what you can do physically, DO do. Because if you start to live like a hermit, the degeneration just gets worse and worse. So far I've reduced my insulin needs by 70% and rid myself of osteopenia, just by changing into an lifestyle. Think positive and active, as much as you can, and it will start helping both physically and mentally.
Many Blessings,
Janet
Quote:
Originally Posted by 40ish
Hi all, I'm new to the board. This seems like a wonderfully supportive place so I thought I might find some answers. If anyone has a suggestion or comment I would love to hear it. Thank you for reading!
The short version of the problem: After I sit down for any length of time I am temporarily unable to walk. The pain is extreme when I am taking those first steps. I feel completely unstable. The pain is sharp and centered in my lower back. My back feels out of alignment and I look like it is by the way I'm forced to move for about 5-10 minutes(Looooooong minutes!). After walking for a while the pain goes away and I feel normal until the next time I have to rise from sitting. I have no pain lying down. I feel better in the morning when I'm rested ....until I sit down. I also get a sharp jab of pain if I suddenly lean back a little far...ex. while swimming. I have no pain at all while I am sitting.
As you can probably imagine this is ruining my life. I go to less and less places because of the pain I have getting out of the car. I would be unable to get up from a meeting at a table for business or fun. Basically, it's turning me into a hermit. I can't park my car and walk across the street. I can't go to the movies or out to eat.
The problem started last summer and has been getting progressively worse. I did months of physical therapy with no lasting effect. The longest amount of relief was for a few hours following an adjustment with myofacial release.
History:
A year ago I had a blood clot in my leg and multiple pulmonary emboli. As a result I was laid up for a couple of months and walked oddly for a while. I was put on Warfarin and just stopped that this week. Because of this I was not able to take most anti-inflamitory meds. I tried muscle relaxants for a couple of months but they did nothing.
I've had X-rays and an MRI. They were all taken with me lying on my back. No segmental instability is shown. The conclusions from the MRI are: Degenerative Disk Disease. Severe billateral foraminal narrowing.
I have seen a neurologist who said that I had "discogenic pain and that the feeling of instability sounded like SI dysfunction" he said "no one really knows
what to do with that...why don't you go to a chiropractor"
I went to a chiropractor. I would feel good walking out of his office and then bad again when I got out of my car.
I am extremely frustrated that I have this disabling pain and I can't find a solution. In talking about it with a doctor recently I cried. She told me that the pain could be from depression and offered to put me on a drug for that! She hadn't even physically examined me herself before making that diagnosis.
I don't have pain because of depression ....I AM depressed that I have this major pain situation going on and can't find a solution. By the way I did read Dr. Sarno's book on the mind body connection... because I am open to anything that might help...it didn't
Sadly, I'm limited in the doctors and therapies I can seek by my HMO.
If any of you have experienced anything similar or no of any suggestions I would GREATLY appreciate it !
Thanks again - mae  |