I spent the morning on a Zoom meeting with a variety of visitors.
And then in the afternoon, after talking it over with OH and Daisy, I made the decision to pack an overnight hospital bag, just in case of emergencies.
My back-pain changes daily (never of course getting any better) and I am scared that I might develop Cauda Equina Syndrome. What I am experiencing now is not dissimilar and if it is, then it will be all systems go with blues and twos to hospital.
Symptoms: Severe back pain, saddle anesthesia (numbness in buttocks, inner thighs), sciatica (often both legs), and bladder/bowel dysfunction (e.g., incontinence, loss of feeling).
However, as I don’t have the bladder/bowel dysfunction bit (I have everything else), I don’t think I am quite there yet. I will make an appointment for Monday to see the locum GP in residence just to set my mind at rest.
Anyway, Pepper helped by pushing clothes off the bed.
And there was lots of giggling which took my mind off packing my bag.
And then she sat beside my bag as if to say “if you go to hospital, I am coming too”.
I could happily tolerate hospital if Pepper was with me. Anyway, let’s hope it doesn’t come to anything and my imagination is just playing fast and loose with me. There are plenty of other explanations – like meralgia paresthetica or something else.
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I am so sorry for your back pain. Over the years you have talked about the mats that you lie on in bed or on floor. And other pain- relieving devices similar to TENS, etc. It amazes me how you can be in a pain crisis, yet you still go outside to take care of the 4-legged family members.
When I have severe back pain, I am in bed, on heat, doing nothing. I don’t know how you manage to carry buckets and other things that are heavy and that you must lift, in addition to all the walking over terrain you must do. Honestly I do not know how you do all this when you are in so much pain. I don’t remember if the doctors give you steroids to take while you are in a pain flareup. I am so sorry you are going through this. Truly.
Going to see a doc on Monday sounds like a good plan, instead of just waiting for your epidural appointment. Sorry you are having so much pain and trouble! Hope it’s not anything you are googling or investigating and has a much simpler solution. Pepper is doing a Good Job of taking care of you! Anyway, my thoughts are with you for less pain soon.
Oh, Frances! You are beyond even the ‘normed severe pain’ level on the 1-10 Likert scale of pain. There’s not much ‘good’ news, except in an A&E setting, they would have to address this, diagnose your problem. & relieve your pain. In your position, I think I would be very tempted to heed the A&E siren’s (bad pun) if I were in your position: pain at the 8-10 level is ,of course, the body signaling that a condition is very serious & needs to be addressed before it gets to the CE Syndrome. I don’t know the Scottish system but here that is a Blue Light Special (emergency code into the OR). I think Pepper putting her scent on your hospital bag is saying, ‘Look if you have to go, you can still smell me & that will sped your recovery!’ Sending you the very best & most sincere healing vibes, concerned thoughts, & prayers of support, knowing your decisions will be well thought out & logical.
I can only offer sympathy, Frances. I can’t begin to imagine being able to do the various jobs you manage to do when you’re in so much pain. I hope you don’t need any emergency treatment over the weekend and that you can get some help on Monday. Fingers crossed for you. Lovely to see that Pepper is being so supportive! xx