[drmalcolm]

I need to apologize in advance, as this is merely a self-pity post. I am very depressed right now, as I've somehow managed to hurt my back and can't even pinpoint what I did other than some overzealous jumping around during my aerobic walking workout on Saturday. It seems to be a slipped disc from the symptoms. I haven't been to the dr. yet to verify that--my husband is out of town, and it's all I can do to drive my son to and from school... not to mention that I have full desk of work and graduate classes starting next week (my plan to be constructive during our wait to adopt).

I woke up at 4 AM today and just lay there crying and frustrated as to what I'm going to do with a baby. How am I going to hold her and be the same kind of active and hands-on mom that I was with my son?

I've never had any health conditions--I feel like 36 is too young to be saying, "Oh, I have a bad back..." or "I can't do that because of this injury..."

Has anyone else dealt with a back injury before you gave birth or adopted? Does it really get better if you take it easy? Or does any little thing set it off again? Will I still be able to pick up and carry my daughter?

Thanks for letting me sob a bit. I know there is a melodramatic edge to this rant. I blame that part on PMS (sorry to the dads who might be reading this--I know you feel pain of your own during that time ).

Have a good day, all--
Christina

[journeytograce]

Christina,
I am so sorry your back is hurting. That is a pain its hard to ignore.
My DH has back troubles, and every now and again it will flare up. (Usually when doing woodworking, right now building a fence, and this has had him "layed up" a few times.)
I don't know if its the same thing that gets my DH hurting, but usually after a couple days of taking it easy, it has resolved itself.
Having your Dh out of town I'm sure makes it harder. I hope you start feeling better soon.

[DaniWestRN]

Sorry to hear about your back! I can totally relate... and I'm a lot younger then you (I'm only 29). :-) I've had back issues since my mid-teens but a year and a half ago at Christmas, I did something major to my lower back/left hip. I was flat on my back for 2 weeks. It slowly got better but I do live with a low level of chronic back pain. It doesn't stop me from doing anything including lugging my 20 lbs DD around on my hip, but every once in a while like last week I have a flare up that usually last a few days. I see my chiropractor and it gets better. Hope you feel better soon. My back is having sympathy pain for you!

[Paul&Dee]

sorry to hear about your back. I too havea bad back 6 herniated disks
I got hit by a car in 2000 as I was walking across the street
alieve works so does hot compresses
good luck
Paul

[stephdpenn]

Christina, sorry you are hurting right now. BTW we all need a self pity party from time to time.

I don't have back problems but I have neck problems so I do understand your pain. I have TMJ, my jaw joint is wore out. Yes dh has made the joke many times that if I didn't talk so much then this wouldn't have happened My mouth actually will 'lock' open or shut sometimes-PAINFUL! When it gets to bad I go back to physical therapy, about once a year. Stress bring the flare-ups on the most. Stress and adoption, do you think the 2 could be related?!

I hope you get to feeling better real soon. Take care

[drmalcolm]

Thanks so much for the kind words, everyone. I stopped feeling sorry for myself long enough to make a doctor's appointment for later today, so at least it will be good to know what it is rather than self-diagnosing.

Paul, I am so sorry to hear about the accident. Thank God you were okay. I've heard good things about Aleve.

Danielle, great news about carrying your daughter! I keep saying that I'm fine with whatever age the CCAA wants to give us... I just miss the "carrying" days and woudl love at least a year where she'll let me carry her. I was starting to think I'd jinxed myself!

Stephanie and Stephanie, I truly appreciate the sweet posts and the open invitation to the pity party! Stephanie(dpenn), it's great that you have a sense of humor about the TMJ! And you are right, I really have heard about the correlation between stress and physical conditions--could definitely be a factor!

Thanks again,
Christina

[smbcpc]

What a timing, Christina. I totally understand how you feel. I woke up this morning and realized that I couldn't stand up because of a sharp pain in my back and I am still barely moving around. In addition to that, I am recovering from a bad cold AND just got my period this morning (sorry if it's too much info, guys). For me it's like a vicious circle. I have a herniated disc and I am prone to back problems that come and go. Since I had a bad flu for almost 2 weeks I couldn't work out, and that gave my back a perfect excuse to start acting up again. And of course, I have to wait before I am able to work out again.

This morning I was barely able to make breakfast and started thinking "what am I going to do when we bring our baby home if I can barely feed myself". It's very frustrating and I hate feeling limited like that. At the same time, I refuse to give up and as soon as my back is better I will start working out again and doing Pilates to strengthen my back. A nice massage won't hurt either.

Hang in there and take care of your aching back with stretches and strengthening excercises. It will get better. Good luck!

[drmalcolm]

Sue, you poor thing. I hope you feel better! I totally understand your frustration.

You are right on about the stretching. I just walked in from the doctor and thankfully I am just having back spasms. She thinks that I just strained something from the jerking movements of the workout I was doing (but I had to up the ante--bathing suit season is right around the corner!!). By the way, she did also mention that periods play a big role in flare-ups for women, so some of what she gave me on the prescription was a muscle relaxer (relaxant?).

I think I need to learn to bend at the knees and pick things and children up that way. It's probably my biggest fault when it comes to physical movement.

Try to rest (ha! ) and feel better SOON!

Christina

[twoinblue]

Christina,

If you are used to working out you should heal more quickly and I cannot believe you haven't had this happen before.

My sister strained her lower back right after her son was born and could hardly pick him up much less her screaming one year old who was feeling displaced. She was pretty young at the time so it's not always age related. It would seem (and I'm totally serious) that her already enormous boobs got even bigger because she was breastfeeding and that was a factor. She required a lot of help.

As someone with an unfortunate history of injuries I can say that life does get better even after back and neck injuries. I know how distressing it is not to be able to function but hang in there. It will get better!

[Norsk]

I have had back-problems as well over the last 4-5 years. But bothe when I did a good job with my Pilates -training and now that I take belly-dancing lessons, I haven't felt anything. It's great! If I miss one practise, then I'll feel it within a short period of time.

I hope you feel better again soon! Big hug!

[lotsoflove]

Christina I hope you get better, back aches do hurt. With my last pregnancy I was 32wks and my belly was huge just rolling over, standing or get up from sitting made my back hurt so much I had tears. I did have my back massaged but sometimes it would hurt too much to be touched. Alos a hot shower with the water beating on your back may help as well. My back still sometimes hurts but not as much and I am still able to carry my 7r dd who is 55lbs up the stairs if she falls asleep on the couch, lol. Let us know how your back feels and get better soon.

[roseofchina]

Hey, we all need to indulge in a little pity party now and then. I have arthritis and degenerative disk syndrome so I know about lower back problems. It's tough! My biggest problem comes when my daughter wants me to play with her on the floor. I can get down there...but after a while...I just have to get up and that ain't no easy feat! My legs start going numb too. Whitley's a sweetie though...she'll say:"Don't worry Mommy, I'll help you up."

Hot showers might help or moist heat compresses. I'll take a dish cloth, soak it in water, and then microwave it for about a minute. That's very soothing. I finally had to have prescribed muscle relaxers when it got so bad.

Good luck to you and take it easy!

Sharon
dh - David
dd - Whitley Rose Hui

[jdr233]

I have had back problems for a long time and a few years ago was diagnosed with a herniated disc. Some of the things that help:


1) anti-inflammatories. Motrin is good.

2) rest - with a pillow below your lower back - it will take the pressure off.

Once you feel better and the pain is gone

1) back-bends - they actually help push the disc back in place. You don't have to do a full back bend. If you have one of those big exercise balls, you can lie back on it. If not, try putting both of your hands on your lower back for support and lean backwards.

2) sit ups - they strengthen your stomach muscles.

good luck,

Jennifer