Went to the hospital today · 7:02am Aug 19th, 2015
Hey all.
So, I got to ride in an ambulance today, as a patient.
Yesterday my back really hurt. I tried to sleep it off, which usually works, but this time I got worse. Much worse. By five in the afternoon, even standing was impossible. I would literally yell out in pain and agony, then fall down. Lucky for me I never broke anything in a fall, as I almost always landed on my bed or a couch. I have never in my adult life screamed in pain like that, not even for the appendicitis. It hurt worse than anything I've experienced.
Ultimately, I had to call 911 to get an Alberta EMS to help me. They were super professional and nice. In fact, I was seriously impressed with everyone that helped me today. The 911 operator, the nurses, the EMTs, the doctor, all of them. Kudos, seriously. They were awesome.
The EMTs gave me some happy gas, which dulled the pain enough to let me walk to the ambulance. I got to breathe that stuff as I needed until I saw the doc. They also gave me an IV and some kind of super NSAID. It helped a little, but then the doc gave me a shot of a narcotic that really helped.
The doc also gave me a few percocets to help with the pain in the near term, and a script for Tylenol #3 (a combo of Tylenol, codeine, and caffeine which may take a day to fill as most pharmacies don't keep it in stock here), and a referral for physical therapy. He also took a good chunk of time to really explain everything to me, and offered a ton of great advice that I WILL be taking.
He said to use the painkillers so I can move, and then do just that: MOVE! Walk as much as I'm able to. Don't overdo it and fall down, but move and walk as much as I am able to do safely. That will help ease the spasms in my back muscles, while laying down too much will make things worse! I couldn't move before, naturally, but the pain meds will help me move (but keep my cell phone on me in case I fall). He also had a ton of advice for avoiding it in the future.
I'm extremely grateful he gave me the happy pills. No over the counter stuff was working, and some docs won't prescribe the narcotics up here. They're very tightly controlled. He even told me to stop using the over the counter medicine Robaxacet, as studies cast serious doubts on its effectiveness, and it may actually be detrimental. He apparently has had similar pain, so he knows what its like.
Also there with me the whole way was my wife, Violet. She is AWESOME. Super supportive, loving, caring, kind, and kept talking to me to keep my mind on something other than pain. Violet is best wife, period. I love you, my darling.
Anyway, that's why no writing today. I have a regular doc appointment tomorrow, but Celestia knows if I'll be able to make it. At least I have a good excuse. :P No matter what, though, I gotta fill these prescriptions.
Wish me luck!
-Cv
I'm glad you're alright
Glad to know that you got the help you needed. Keep on keeping on, my man.
If I may offer some advice as someone who's had to deal with a herniated lumbar disk:
Your doctor is completely right about not laying down too much and keeping as active as you can. I put off seeking treatment for my injury for several weeks, hoping that resting my back would make the problem go away. By the time I actually did see my physician, the muscles in my back had weakened and the tendons in one of my legs had tightened up to the point that I could barely walk. It turned into a vicious circle of each problem aggravating the other, and the rehab for my leg ended up being just as painful as the rehab for my original back problem.
Good luck with your physical therapy. Learn to love the stationary bike--I don't know why, but stationary bikes seem to factor into every rehab plan, regardless of the actual injury.
Ow; I'm sorry. Good luck. That seems to be in rather short supply where your health is concerned...
3330975 The good news is my injury doesn't involve a spine injury. Symptoms indicate it's all in the muscles, and those recover much easier than anything involving the spine.
Still hurts like crazy, though.
Holy crap, CV. It feels like we're watching you slowly fall apart in front of us from across the internet, and I wish I could help but there's really nothing I can think of that would be useful. Don't hesitate to ask if there's anything that comes up that we could help with.
Yikes. Well, do whatever you need to do to stay in one piece. Any idea what caused the muscle spasms?
Man, you've got my sympathies. Daily physical exercise + doing your physio is the key to enabling your body use its own regenerative powers.
Good luck!
My mom has back issues, and the phys. therapy peeps gave her this cool little electrotherapy machine, that uses four electrode pads to deliver minor electrical shock (more like a tingle) to the afflicted area. I've tried it myself, made my lower back feel so loose again :D If they have something like that available, it's certainly less-intrusive and could do wonders, depending on the actual issue. Cool thing is, you can wear it and use it while you do housework or other menial activities :V
It's called an 'EMPI Select Tens Unit', This link is a review/overview of it, see if Doc is interested in trying that for ya. Less weight on your brain from prescriptions, as well.
It even has a preset for 'Hand/wrist', which, I'm not certain on, but it could benefit your other situation, perhaps?
Best wishes :B
This is scary, glad nothing really bad happened!
Sheesh. That escalated quickly. Glad you've got it under control and a plan. Hope you recover swiftly, Cv.
So, your muscles started rebelling because you didn't move enough?
I've never heard of something like that, which surprises me, given that I spend most of my time sitting on my behind--not exactly something that involves alot of movement. And I never had such a problem. Or was there something different involved?