She has three slightly buling discs in her lumbar region. They caused some pain last year, but nothing too long term or horrible. At that time, there was no need for surgery.
A few weeks ago, er back acted up and has gotten progressively worse, with severe pain no matter what. Our insurance turned down a referral to an accupuncturist, and she can't get to see a spine specialist until Aug. 10. What can i do to help her be more comfortable? This is killing me because I can't think of anything to do for her!
2007-07-17 16:44:54 · 10 answers · asked by But why is the rum always gone? 6 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Mostly just be there for her. I am recovering from lower back surgery for herniated discs right now. Help her find a comfortable spot to sit or lay in. Alternate heat and ice ( I always seem to prefer ice). Ibuprofen, warm baths or showers. It may help to have her place a pillow between her knees when she sleeps. Go to your primary care doctor if you can get in before August. They might prescribe something for pain and muscle spasms. If the pain is too intense take her to the emergency room. They can give her a shot if necesary.
Good luck!
2007-07-17 16:55:16 · answer #1 · answered by D M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bulging discs do not cause pain! If you tear a disc it can be painful. Then, you might be more apt to have a disc herniation. Those cause leg pain, not back pain. If you scanned the next 100 people walking down the road, you would find bulging discs in about half of them, even though they have no back pain symptoms. A discogram is a provocative test on a disc space to see if it is the pain generator. Most young, healthy non-smokers will heal on their own in 12 weeks. (95%)
2016-05-21 14:37:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the ER, get a muscular injection of some kind of pain med,(hyrdomorphone is good) get a prescription for Vicodin, and then tomorrow search your yellow pages for chiropractors and ask if they do Flexion/Distraction. If so, take her there ASAP. Make sure they're educated from NCC or PCC.
She should feel some good relief within a week, and even better after 2 weeks.
The pain meds will come in handy during this ordeal. But the chiro that does F/D will help her physically.
2007-07-17 18:42:32 · answer #3 · answered by Hangin L 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best thing you can do for her is provide her support and empathy. It will keep her strong while in pain. You can alternate heat and ice. Massage the area for her. Even with the insurance not paying for acupuncture talk to one and set up a payment plan. Making payments on something that can help her pain can't have a price tag on it in the long run. Almost all will work with you if money is tight. I know you're frustrated and want to take away her pain but you can't. Just be there for her. By the way,, love your username.
2007-07-18 09:35:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
ouch! i had the same thing happen to me as well. the first doctor said it was scar tissue from arthritis, however, i got a second opinion, a mylogram to go along with it and luckily so, because it was not scar tissue from arthrtis, it was a disc that broke off and no matter what i did, would find it's way to the sciatic nerve. i could not walk straight, sit, lay.....it was aweful! not even pain meds would help!
unfortunately, there isn't anything to do but go to the emergency room and demand they do something if she can't wait that long. if its the same issue as mine (which lasted for 6 excrutiating months) thats all you can do is either wait until her appointment or the ER.
if it is the sciatic nerve thats being pressed by a dislodged or broken off piece of disc, an acupuncturist will not help and can actually add to the issue!
good luck!
2007-07-17 16:57:19 · answer #5 · answered by Stephanie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, aren't you the guy that said you had an "on-line" stalker? That you were really worried about this "person" living in a NON realistic world and her mental/emotional stability? That you were worried about her going postal? Causing harm to others? You've actually never called her and left any strange messages(several?) on her cellphone voice mail have you? Hmmm? If you are so worried about her stability, why would you call her all of the time? I mean, I'm sure that you would never call her out of the blue and cuss her out when she was with her family or something like that , or call her 3 times when her husband was in the hospital and wanting to know how he is (he probably can't stand your stange shape-shifting, stupidass anyway!) Just a wild guess! If you were dumb enough to do stuff like that to her...I am SO SURE that she would have it documented somewhere. If you really are so worried that she may do something to you or your 2 daughters, why would you egg her on like that...seems to me like you are looking for attention, and you may be bringing it all on yourself! You have many questions posted on here talking and asking about this person and THEN even repeating your questions to make sure that they got through over and over. Who's mental stability are we talking about here? You MIGHT want to delete all of your questions and remarks about this person before she does do something. Some people on here are sooooo strange! I suggest you stop talking about her to everyone else ( at your job too! ) and delete all of the negative remarks that you made about her, oh yeah and then hoping that "she does read this" , hmmmm someone's looking for attention! Be careful what you wish for! Hey, just wondering why you left your "old" teaching position-what happened there?
2007-07-18 18:15:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This could be way out of line, but water therapy may help. If you could go to a spa where they have a hot whirl pool.
Take the pain medication prescribed by the MD and also call to see if she can get in earlier. Tell them she is in some serious pain. It sounds like she could use a nerve block. or some other treatment.
2007-07-17 17:36:43 · answer #7 · answered by happydawg 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not much you can do I had the exact same things. they do sell medicated pads to put on your back at your local drug store. they seemed to help a bit, but the best thing is to keep here off her feet and comfert her and do the chores around the house until she is better. the bad thing about bulging disc are when it is better she can go around lifting a hundred pounds every day without a problem and then one day go to pick up a piece of paper and bam it happens again. Make sure she learns proper lifting techinques.
2007-07-17 16:58:22 · answer #8 · answered by agoldstrom_us 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2017-02-24 05:48:53 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a similar condition. You can try ice, heat and ibuprofen. Otherwise, keep her as comfortable as possible- I have found that lying on the floor without moving works best. I'm sure she appreciates your compassion.
2007-07-17 16:53:11 · answer #10 · answered by neurogrrl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋