I Know Whats Wrong

So I finally know what is wrong with me. The MRI showed that I have fractured the second to last disc in my lower back, which is leaking fluid, which is causing inflammation, which is causing pressure on my spinal cord, which is causing the serious amounts of pain that I've been in. It isn't something that can be fixed with surgery (which I'm relieved about). So right now I'm on anti inflammatories and muscle relaxers (to help me sleep). I also have to wear a back brace, and start physical therapy on Monday. The specialist said that the right kinds of exercise would help me heal, but that I would never completely heal from an injury like this. He also said that this would be a long healing process and to only expect a 10-20% improvement a month. Sjo!

I Laugh....Really

This is what happens when mommy has to spend most of her day lying on the couch.

A Doctor Who Finally Knows...

I have been dealing with all kinds of weird pains for the last two years now. It started out as crazy stomach pains - I went to the doctor, who sent me for a full body cat scan, who then told me he couldn't see anything wrong with me, who then made me pee on a stick and told me I was pregnant and thats why I was in pain. I miscarried a few days later. The doctor told me the pain was due to the fact I was about to miscarry. I told him that was the stupidest thing I'd ever heard. His reply was, "Well in that case your symptoms are going to have to get seriously worse before we can diagnose you." Stupid (insert unflattering, 4 letter word here).

So, I just lived with the pain. Then I got pregnant with Taz, and as my pregnancy progressed, I started getting these shooting pains down my legs, and chronic lower back pain. Some days I couldn't even walk. When I asked my doctor about the pain, he said, "You're pregnant, you're going to be in pain." I figured that I should at least be able to walk. He fobbed me off a couple of times. So, eventually I just lived with the pain...still. Another stupid (insert different 4 letter word).

After I had Taz, the pain was still there. Amazing. I visited a different doctor, who told me it was the muscles across my hips and sent me for physical therapy. The physical therapist told me it was because my hip was out by an inch. He reset my hip and I went for massages for a month to relax the muscles in my back. (I'm not complaining about that one). The therapy worked for a little while, but then...da,da,da...the pains came back full force. And when I say full force, I mean seriously strong shooting pains that buckled my legs and made me cry.

So, I went to a different doctor, who told me that my hips were all wonky cause I was born with a dislocated hip, that I would never be able to run again in my life, and that I should just console myself with the fact that I'll have to take things easy ...for the rest...of..my...life. (Ha, what are the chances of that happening with a 1yr old?). Anyway, just to be safe the doctor referred me to an Orthopead.

By this time, the shooting pains had increased, my legs and feet felt bruised, and my right foot was mostly numb 24/7. The Ortho took one look at my hip x-rays and told me it wasn't my hips in any way shape or form, (I wanted to cry), but, as luck would have it their back specialist was in that day and that he had agreed to see me.

The back specialist took x-rays of my spine and within two seconds told me I had mild scoliosis and a herniated disc in my lower back. He sent me for an MRI, and now I'm just waiting for my appointment with him next week to find out my treatment.

Wahoo! Finally somebody with half a brain that could tell me why I'm in pain, that its totally treatable, and with a little exercise and stretching I'll be just fine.

Why none of the other doctors thought to take x-rays of my back...beats me! (once again insert not so nice word for the idiot doctors.)

4 Years Down - Eternity to Go

Happy 4th wedding anniversary to me!