Bad back...pfffftttt who'd have thought it!!!

Today is the start of my blog. I have been looking around on the internet to see if anyone has written a blog who are waiting for a double disc replacement but i cant seem to find any. I thought i might be able to put something 'back' into cyber world and all the internet sites that support us spiney's by starting one, and hopefully if all goes well restore some faith in such a difficult and painful time in peoples lifes. You know i never gave that much thought to back pain before i began to experience it myself. My 'bad back' started about 10 years ago when i was nursing on a stroke rehabilitation ward. I used to get home after a twelve hour shift and lie on the floor to stretch and crack my back, thinking at the time this was normal, when in hindsight it was the start of my problems, and if i had listened to my body i should have changed employment immediately. After a few more years nursing and some high impact accidents one being a road traffic accident where i was hit by a speeding taxi and the second being a motor bike accident where i fell under the wheels of a speeding car (neither of which was my fault) my back pain levels increased to the point where i was having daily spasms particularly in the mornings and constant headaches, for which i took ibuprofen and paracetamol daily. For years this seemed to manage the pain and i was able to go to uni qualify as a social worker and go the gym, camping, music festivals and have a lovely quality of life. However this all changed in the summer of 2009. Stupidly i decided to do some gardening and pull a rose bush out of the ground. At the time i felt no pain at all but the next morning i was unable to get out of bed. The pain was like nothing i had ever experienced. I had drank half a bottle of wine before going to bed, and woke up at 5am needing the toilet. I spent two hours attempting to roll onto my side after two hours of rolling i finally managed to get onto my side and grab the window ledge, i sat up right, desperatly attempted to stand...but nothing....my legs wouldnt carry me...at this point i began to sob...and think...what the hell is happening, i had visions of being in hospital for months, i had to pull myself together. I shouted for my friend who luckily had stayed over at my house, she came into my room where i explained what was happening, she helped me to stand and using the washing baskets steel frame i was able to slowly and extremly painfully take small steps to the toilet. I did not realise it at the time but from this point on....this was my life, 29 years of age with a constant struggle to take one step of independence. I went off work sick from this point and put on an array of medication including tramadol, diazepam, co-codamol, Naproxin i dont know if it was too many drugs too soon but i was hallucinating and barely able to lift my head from a pillow for three months. I was placed under the care of an orthopeadic consultant Mr Shackleford. He carried out an MRI scan which showed an annular tear at L5, he said he felt i should be fine with physio. I returned to work after six months had physio, however in January my health took a turn for the worse. I was continuously waking up with a numb left leg and was unable to weight bear. I therefore went off work sick again. Through desperation i arranged to see my consultant on a private basis, he recommended a discography, which was soooo painful but worth it because finally i knew what the problem was. Significant tears to L4 and L5, with a recommendation to replace both discs. Ive returned to work part time, am still heavily medicated and should be having the operation in June. Fingers crossed all goes well. From this point on i will give you updates from now until after surgery so you can follow my journey.... ups and downs, highs and lows and hopefully know that some of what you are feeling is 'normal' given the circumstances. and before i begin my journey with you may i wish you all the best in whatever brings you here xxx

Tuesday 27/4/09
I woke this morning expectining to go to work for the whole day. However the reality check hits me at 9.30am when i wake up with a numb left leg, stabbing pains in my stomach and a pain right the way up my spine. The pain up my spine feels similar to the pain you feel on your teeth when they are sensitive and you breath the cold air in on a frezzing day...only times this by 20 and take into account the length of your spine comapred to a couple of teeth! God i wish someone could take it away for an hour...i would pay them! by the afternoon and lots of medication im feeling better and manage to make two hours in work to attend one meeting. I worry if im going to be well enough tomorrow to carry out the tasks identified in the meeting. I go home take more tabs have a glass of vodka and coke and retire to bed and write this. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I dont know if other women have noticed this but my pain levels seem to intensify during my time of the month. I wonder if it is due to internal swelling/inflamation and pressure on the discs.