A Life of Pain

Eight years ago I had an MRI and was told I had degenerative disc disease and herniated discs. But that I was too young for surgery and that physical therapy would help. It has every time my back goes out I get a referral to a physical therapist and go through the exercises and stretches and it does help.

Just this last February I started having numbness down my right leg. It finally got so bad I started the physical therapy again. And it helped for 2 weeks, then I reached into the fridge to get a pop and my back spasmed out. That was on Saturday and by Monday I couldn't take a three steps without the back spasms. So I went to the doctor and we did another MRI and know I am waiting to see the specialist to go over the results. I have to wait two months before I can see him since he is so busy. I had a steroid shot and pain pills which have relieved my symptoms but I feel I am a sneeze away from a back blow out.

I wanted to tell my story to people who would believe me because the hardest thing about the back pain is the fact that no one who hasn't been through it really thinks its real. They laugh at you when you can not stand up straight and say you look like you have a stick up your butt.

This back pain is making me feel older then 49, mentally I still feel like I'm thirty something, physically some days I feel like I'm 80. I have to stop know because sitting at the computer makes my back hurt.

Thank you, Em