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Default May 13, 2020 at 06:00 AM
  #1
Sunday night, this is all I did. I was sitting on my bed and I lay back on the bed to watch tv for about 5 minutes. Yes, I was quite at an odd angle.

When I got up my lower back hurt... and it has gotten SOOO MUCH WORSE.

At this point I can hardly stand. I almost can't sleep.

I can't get over it. I just laid the wrong way.

I would talk to my doctor but I am very frustrated with her. I noticed a rash in an area I can't see too well on Sunday and put in for an appointment. Her staff set me up for a teleconference - the problem -- I cannot see it, so this has to be in person. From the description they should have known that. Are they just going to do teleconferences from now on? Had I known that I would have just gone to the ER or urgent care. I just told her to forget it.

Stupid doctors need to stop acting like 2 year olds. I am not even a doctor and if someone wants me to go to work, I have to go. Never mind necessity of me going to work. And this was necessary.

So I wouldn't bother talking to her about this back problem because she will want to just "talk it out" by phone.
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Default May 13, 2020 at 12:24 PM
  #2
Dear Emily,

That sounds so frustrating. Wish I knew what to say.

Sincerely yours, Yao Wen
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Default May 13, 2020 at 01:24 PM
  #3
I would call the doctor because you have a rash in addition to the muscle aches. Maybe wait and see if you feel better or worse.

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Default May 14, 2020 at 07:01 AM
  #4
I don't think there is any point as I already called the doctor and she wanted to set up a telephone meeting with me. IMHO that is super useless. It it doesn't resolve by the end of the week I will just go to the urgent care. At least they will be in person.
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Default May 17, 2020 at 07:08 AM
  #5
Ugh I thought it was getting better but last night was terrible. I have this problem when I lie in bed normally, I can't really stay still. This is killing my back with this injury last night was horrible. I should have taken sleeping pill so I would rest in one position.

I can't tell if I should go to urgent care or not. On the one hand, this is by far the worst pain I have ever had. One the other I haven't taken any medication and most things on the internet say that back pain should resolve over weeks and it has only been one week. I don't have any of the other symptoms that they talk about which make it urgent.

I truly don't know what is wrong with me. Almost every week this year there has been something wrong with me.

This back injury occurred from my lying on my bed! I don't see how I can avoid that in the future.
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Default May 17, 2020 at 08:15 AM
  #6
So I just called them and guess what... they wanted to do a video appointment. Ugh -- how stupid. I need an X-ray. God. They are supposedly having a clinician call me but i am sure they are just going to be the same. I do think I am going to have to go to the ER.
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Default May 17, 2020 at 11:11 AM
  #7
Emily, could you need a new mattress? (Thought to consider since you can't get comfortable.)

I have a lot of back pain, due to arthritis--all documented via MRI. If you felt you hurt your back, then it might be muscle strain. That can be very painful.

There is only so much a doctor can due, other than medications. Have you tried a hot pad? Back surgery is a major deal, I think.

I hope it does clear up soon--in the meantime, baby it--no lifting, being careful how you sit, etc. Okay, dear one?
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Default May 17, 2020 at 11:35 AM
  #8
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Originally Posted by Travelinglady View Post
Emily, could you need a new mattress? (Thought to consider since you can't get comfortable.) :
Too bad there aren't any mattress stores open. But yes my mattress is almost 20 years old.

So I went to urgent care and nothing was broken. They did see some "severe" disc narrowing but I suspect that has been there for a while. I do have scoliosis. The doc said to just check in with the spine clinic and take motrin.

We did discuss the idea -- which might be the case -- that I don't have a great chair in my home office and I am literally sitting on that 8 hours a day (and I never bought it with that in mind) while at work I have a very solid ergonomic chair. So that causing issues.

She gave me muscle relaxants but that always makes me feel loopy so I will not be taking it.

The rash turns out to be possibly a yeast infection. Totally unrelated. She said to get an over the counter creme.

They were going to give me an anti inflammatory injection but I said no. I swear doctors lose their mind when you do so. It is just that this year has been so bad for me health wise I just can't take any chances and it would be just my luck to have some bizarre reaction.
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Default May 18, 2020 at 06:47 PM
  #9
So I decided today perhaps this covid time period has been the problem. Usually each day from 7 am until 6:30 pm I am sitting. Though I have an ergonomic chair I am either walking or sitting all day. But in over two months I probably sleep 2 hours more per day, go to bed at the same time as normal and, in an 8 hour day, I probably lie on the couch with the lap top at least 4 of those 8 hours. I honestly am not sure I stand for more than a few minutes each day. Though I do get up probably 1 or 2x per hour -- it probably isn't for more than 2 minutes. While, when waiting for a train or getting a snack out and about when I am at work, I probably will stand for 15 minutes or more. I am wondering if my back muscles have become weak from all the lying around.
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Default May 20, 2020 at 07:04 AM
  #10
It seems like some relief is happening. My theory is this. The lumbar curve area is a weak area generally. When I lie on my back stress is put on the area. Because I have a larger rear end keeping the curve from fully getting support. I use pillows under my legs to stabilize the area but still there is a slight stress. When I sit or stand this stress is less because the stress is on different muscles. So after two months of lying on my back much more than usual -- the lumbar curve area was weak and stressed. Then I directly challenged the area by lying back in an awkward position and stretching over my head and -- it failed.

So I went out and purchased a back stabilizer. This takes about 20% pressure off that area. Sort of lifting up my torso. With that I sit all day. And truly by the end of the day it doesn't feel like I have a problem.

But it isn't good to wear that all the time less your muscles get weak so at 6 I take it off and sit on the couch with a pillow and a hot pad on my lumbar area. The hot is supposed to bring circulation to the area and I swear that is the best treatment. After about two hours of that I go to bed. I usually sleep on my back but I saw something yesterday that said I should sleep in the fetal position to give the lumbar curve a rest. So I have been doing that. Either sleep on my right or my left.

I had a thought last night... I have had terrible back problems since the start of this year and you know what else happened at the start of this year? I moved my TV from the dresser on the left side of my bed to the bureau which is directly in front of the bed. So I think I have encouraged more lying flat to watch tv as opposed to slightly side ways.
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Default May 20, 2020 at 10:14 AM
  #11
I hate lying flat. One of the reasons i hate the dentist. Then they start tipping you backwards and im like, hey im trying to breathe here!
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Default May 20, 2020 at 03:17 PM
  #12
Sounds like you are getting a handle on things, Emily.
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Default May 21, 2020 at 06:28 AM
  #13
Ok now I am getting a handle on this. I would say the pain is about 50% better. I am starting to wonder if the back stabilizer doesn't work so much by causing support but rather keeping my back warm for the day. Each day after wearing the back stabilizer around 3 PM it is as if I forget i have a problem. But each day it is at its worst point when I get up. I have been laying almost exclusively on my sides when in bed and all day long I sit, I don't lie down. Things have definitely improved since Sunday. As soon as mattress stores open up I will need to get a new one. I had considered the sleep comfort one but I don't like the idea of it being plugged in.

I definitely need to lose weight asap. I Mean like 30 lbs. I had stopped intermittent fasting because I thought it caused back problems but if I am having back problems without doing it perhaps that means it wasn't the cause.
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Default May 23, 2020 at 06:21 AM
  #14
So my back seems to hurt less every day... owing I think to sleeping on my sides at night and not lying on my back during the day. But, get this... now my hips are hurting me. Apparently lying on my side all night isn't do them any favors. I think I might have to wear the back stabilizer at night when sleeping (it supports the curve of my back)

Ultimately a new mattress will be needed but I don't know how long it will be before I can go shopping for one.

Also weight loss... necessary now.
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Default May 23, 2020 at 03:29 PM
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Ok so the level of pain on the hip today cannot just be sleeping on it wrong. In fact I am remembering it hurting so bad in bed last night it woke me up at 2.

My only guess is that I tried to move my legs on my bed headboard to do some stretches and in the process of doing that, I must have hurt myself. I cannot believe how badly though. I can't imagine it is a fracture or anything or dislocation because I can still walk and stand on it, but getting up from the couch is BRUTAL.

What is happening!?
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Default May 23, 2020 at 03:44 PM
  #16
Dairy. Arthuritis! I pretty much cut out dairy a couple of years ago, and my beef intake is relatively low. I get like what half an ounce in a lean cuisine type meal? That has made my random aches and pains pretty much disappear.

I was getting to where a hamburger on Tuesday guaranteed a limp on Wednesday. Ha ha little Popeye joke there. But it was true.

Also, the biblical saying holds true the older you get, re exercise - the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Really, do HALF what you think you can, or what you want to. I have a hard time with this, but then i end up sleeping for 3 days because i did too much. My doctor warned me not to overdo at my last checkup. Im 68 and bmi 44, so he definitely has a point.
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Default May 24, 2020 at 07:03 AM
  #17
The only thing is this all started up December when I was fasting... so I don't think it can be anything I am eating. Things are better today so I must have pulled something. I think it has to be a combo of being stuck at home with covid, and menopause.

I allegedly have a physical coming up June 8th (if they keep the appointment) and I am definitely going to ask my doctor about it.

I have paid for some blood tests on my own that I will get on Monday to see a few things. I am checking vitamin B12, Magnesium, Fibrogen, insulin... etc. All things my doctor refuses to test.

Recently I have been really into red meat, prior to now I wasn't having it but I wondered if that wasn't doing me more harm than good. The more I look into the Carnivore diet the more I learn about how I have been chronically not getting enough vitamins. I don't particularly like red meat but I have been adding it back into my diet lately, 1 time a week or so. Yesterday I had a rib eye. Mnnn
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Default May 27, 2020 at 06:49 AM
  #18
Ok I finally seem to be resolving everything. I would say my back has healed. Phew. My hip has healed. Phew.

I did get my blood tests yesterday and the results already came back on some tests.
- I never had my blood type officially tested before and my blood came back O positive. Phew. I have been using my sophomore year of high school biology class results up until now.
- Vitamin B12 and Folate were excellent. I suspected as much as I have been having more meat and taking a supplement.
- My TSH was more elevated than it has ever been in my life but still normal. I suspect this has to do with Menopause. This distresses me as it probably means my metabolism is tanking. I will ask my doctor for another test at my physical.
- My fibrinogen came back at the high end of normal. I can't tell if that is good or not. But apparently losing weight can cause it to go down so I need to lose weight.

I am awaiting a few other tests which might not be good.
- fasting insulin.
- RBC Magnesium.
- IGM immunobodies (to check on my Mgus)
- C-reactive protein to check on my inflammation.

I have to admit to being shocked about the post menopause me. My body is just falling apart. I didn't think that would happen so quickly and so fast. In addition to my blood tests being not to my liking my BP seems to be creeping up as well as my heart rate.
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Default May 27, 2020 at 02:48 PM
  #19
And the hits keep coming.

2012 fasting insulin 5 mg (ideal) -- now 11 (not ideal). I am likely insulin resistant.
C-reactive Protein a wopping 6. To compare in 2012 it was 1.5. This is considered high. Definitely have some inflammation going on.
The good news is that the IGM immunoglobulin went down. That is consistent with an infection easing. This is the one thing I want to go down for MGUS.

I just cannot believe how menopause changed my body substantially. I am the same weight and same eating habits I had in 2012... the only difference now is that I don't have estrogen due to menopause.

Not sure how to approach it.

I just keep thinking that a carnivore diet would work for me but not sure if could manage it while working (not to mention the expense)
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