Not Sure If This Post Belongs Here On The Road Or Not

Sisters,

I have been suffering from mild to severe lower lumbar back pain for years. Recently it got so bad I had to go to the ER. When I followed up with my GP, he did x-rays and discovered I have Scoliosis and Arthritis in L4 & L5. Oh my gosh - I am only 29! Why wasn't this caught earlier?? School nurses run a Scoliosis check on your back..and docs do too! I wonder.. if they caught this years back if I would even be in the pain I am in now. Hmmm. A back brace years back could of had straightened out my spine. My gosh! I am in shock.

I have a follow up with my GP today and am going to ask him to tell me the honest truth: should I work or be put on disability? I don't want to really screw my back up by doing the only thing I am qualified to do (waitressing). Soon I will be without medical insurance and can't afford doctors bills, etc. Right now I am on Mobic (for the arthritis) and Percocet (for break through pain - which is constant).

I don't know if I should cry or scream.

Amy

I'm so sorry to hear you are having more trouble. Did you have the back pain before your hyst or has it come up since? I hope they can find an easy "fix" for you, but on this road it sure seems hard to find. Hang in there and i hope you feel better real soon...and yes, I'm really surprised the scoliosis was not picked up long go, makes ya wonder. Love, Cathy

Amy
I'm sorry that your back is giving you so much trouble. I don't know anything about back troubles, that's one of the things I haven't had to deal with. I can't offer any advice but did want to send some s your way. I'm glad that you do have an appt to discuss this with your doctor.

Well, you could try both. and It couldn't hurt, could it?

I'm really sorry you're having such health problems at such a young age. Hopefully you'll be able to get things on an even keel and not even be bothered by this stuff except maybe every once in awhile.

Joselle

I will say a prayer for you dear. I endured back pain and a lot of it went away with hyst but I had to see a chiropractor because the pain before hyst was so bad that I hunched over and stayed that way. Now I am getting better but I hate it that you are so young and have all those problems. Let me know how you are and you will be in thoughts and prayers.

(((Amy)))

I'm sorry that you are suffering! I can definitely empathize with you and am curious to hear what your doctor has to say about the working vs. disability thing.

I have suffered with lower back pain for quite some time. I had MRI's done of my cervical, thorasic and lumbar spine. They showed a herniated disk and a protruding one in the cervical area, mild scoliosis and spurring of the thorasic area and a protrusion at L5-S1.

It was thought that some of the pain was radiating from an ovarian mass, but the TAH/LSO proved that theory wrong. I have recently been switched to Ultram and Parafon Forte for the pain which is almost daily.

I resigned from my job in early Jan. because I simply couldn't handle the 8 hour days (and the majority of my job was done sitting.) My insurance ran out on March 1st and I am considering applying for disability now.

Good luck and do let us know how things go!