So I've been under the influence of narcotics and...

..watching "The Deadliest Catch" episodes for the last two days. I am hooked on that show and I have no idea why! lol I blame the drugs.

Oh, why am I taking narcotics? The doctors think I have a bulging disk. I don't believe them though. After all, denial has gotten me through all my other health problems thus far! ;-)

What have I missed around here?

:hi:

but I love you and hope there is no pain.

:hug:

my newest friend & drug of choice. No pain... as long as I take one every few hours. :hug:

especially if you've had any beer/booze issues. It is just a door to drooling for more.

I love you more than to let you do that.

:hug::loveya::hug:

well, not since my 20's anyway! lol :loveya:

crazy lady...

heee YAH!

:rofl:

I control it through back exercise and, early on, I had an epidural steroid injection that immediately shrunk it down so I could comfortable pull on a pair of socks again.
Narcotics...mmmmmmm......

And my MRI will be August 12th. God... I hope and pray it goes away by then! I bet Laura Bush didn't have to wait that long to get into her doc, when she had a pinched nerve, huh? :eyes:

I'm watching the walls breathe.

:crazy:

Implying I'm already under the effect. You already know, dear, that I have the worst sense of humor.

Thanks. The soft white flowers are very comforting... now, I really do need to log off before I hurt myself! :hug: :hi:

if you knew those were cactus flowers? :o

OK, maybe.

:hi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7953556&mesg_id=7953556

(I envy you, though. We Chronic Pain People don't get to even have the enjoyment of getting stoned from narcotics; chronic pain re-wires your brain so you don't get the hoo-ha from opioids. But on the good side, they don't make you drowsy like they make Regular People feel, so I guess it all evens up in the end.)

Redstone

to help you with your back, and I hope it helps a lot.

I use the stretching excercises often to relieve the pressure in my back and help cut down on the pain.

:hug:

:) :hi:

Be well.

I can tell you that narcotics are a short term relief. PT would be the next step, and if the pain is disabling enough for long enough or if it starts doing nerve damage (neuropathy) from the vertebral spaces impinging the nerves, then some type of surgery might be needed.

Interestingly enough there is no correlation between bulging discs and pain that is known. However, common sense tells one that if a disc is bulging, then the vertebral space is decreased and nerve impingement begins to occur, particularly posturally.

Rest has some benefits, ice, heat, traction, etc. are all therapies that might be employed. Muscle strengthening around the paraspinal muscles may be helpful too.

At any rate, be careful lifting, bending, and even over stretching and follow the advice and care of your physician and physical therapist for best results.

Some surgeries that have been developed are very promising laparascopic procedures that involve basically jacking up the space between the vertebrae without using bone grafts and fusing the vertebrae together.

My neurosurgeon told me that he advised against surgery until it got to the point that it was making it impossible to function.

NSAIDs can be very helpful if you can tolerate them to relieve inflammation. Narcotic analgesics may be employed short term, but on a long term basis you have to weigh the pros and cons of taking something that will create physiological tolerance and the phenomenon of withdrawal if it is ceased.

Take care of your back, pain sucks

:hi: