NOT! (Nursing Open Thread) is a community forum hosted by Nurse Kelley to provide folks with a regularly-scheduled interactive place to discuss their health problems, share remedies that have worked for them, seek suggestions, or raise bloody hell about their situation. Everyone is welcome to participate and lively discussion is encouraged. Nurse Kelley's only rule is this: Be kind.♥
Back pain. It's the topic that never goes away, right? When I wrote a Nurse Kelley Sez diary about it in early November there were more than 200 comments, some from people who had great tips, but more from people who can't find anything that helps their pain.
It breaks my heart. Every diary I write has comments about back pain. The causes are myriad, the issue complex, the solutions only partial successes. We're going to keep talking about it and, hopefully, each conversation will yield a tip that helps someone feel better.
I threw the kitchen sink at my own back last Friday when my physiatrist knocked me out and gave me seven steroid injections. Four degenerating facets that cause chronic aching when I make just about any movement - injected. Both sacroiliac joints - injected. My epidural space, narrowed by spinal stenosis and bulging discs and the source of my sciatica - injected. Whoo-boy! I'm still dealing with the side effects of too much steroid at one time, but it got the job done. For now, my back feels great.
Jump right in, my friends. Who's got a new pain management tip?