Me, My Back, and You
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85464)
United States
October 30, 2009 3:36pm CST
What part of your body hurts the most right now? As many of you know I had back surgery almost two weeks ago. A couple of you have been asking for an update, so I thought I'd fill you in, complete with a question that is open for discussion. My back surgery went very well. I feel I handled it better this time (they didn't knock me out completely, and I was able to stay completely still), and the pain afterward hasn't been nearly as bad as last time.
I'm still wearing my back brace (okay I took it off for a few days because it made me itch - they only let me take it off at night when I sleep), but I see the surgeon on Thursday of this coming week, and he'll likely let me take it off. This was the last resort before the 'open you up, insert rod' major surgery, and I think if this is what it will be like from now on, I can handle it. I'm good with pain, so I've built up a pretty good tolerance. (Scary part is they are going after my neck after my back procedures are finished, lol.). But things are going very well. : )
Right now I have a headache (not a migraine, so no biggie), so I'd say right now my head hurts the most of any body part. What about you? What part of your body currently hurts the most? Head, hands, heart (I hope not your heart)? 
10 people like this
35 responses
@lichee_china (506)
• China
31 Oct 09
I'm sorry to here that,why is god does that to you,why carry off your health!It sounds well that you are better now.wish you good luck and recover as soon as possible.fortune favours the brave,and you are.
@Ruby722 (796)
• China
31 Oct 09
Hello there
I have to admit i have the same problem too.My back always when i lie on my bed .It's hurts me.I dont know why cause you know i am only twenty.I thought this problem wont happen to young people.Probably i was wrong.i sit a long time in fornt of computer everyday.i think this is the real reason
2 people like this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
31 Oct 09
This must be a physically tough time for you... can't imagine myself in braces for even one day... it is a good thing that your back surgery went very well... and you are recoving quite good... you just need to be a little more patient with the braces and always think that it is good for you...
I have very little tolerance to pain... so i try to be careful but most of the time i can be a clutz... right now... my eyes hurt... but not a lot... that is because i played bejeweled blitz till 12 midnight last night... so it is all my fault...
@AmbiePam (85464)
• United States
31 Oct 09
Do you have a store that sells eye drops? I use Systane eye drops, they aren't medication or anything. But they keep one from getting dry eye, and help keep the eyes from blurring. My eye doctor recommended them because everything from prolonged use of a computer to the outside envrionment can irritate a person's eyes.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
2 Nov 09
My lower back from sitting too much. I spent the weekend scrapping with my sisters and I sat alot....and I am not used to sitting that much. I did sit on a padded chair but it was a kitchen chair with a pad on it....not too bad but not an office chair.....but in comparison to what you have been through...it's so very minor!
1 person likes this
@charblaize (1026)
• United States
5 Nov 09
I know you have received many responses, but I just couldn't resist. First of all, I am very glad things went well and that you are doing fine. Just keep the strength and you will be back to doing normal things. (as pain allows that is)
Right now, my legs, feet, knees and back hurts. I can barely walk. I went for a toooooo long of walk today and my body is telling me so. I should have known better than to walk 5-6 miles due to my deteriorating disc in my back, and fibromyalgia. It flares up and really hurts when it does. lets just see what happens in the morning...*scarryyy*
1 person likes this
@charblaize (1026)
• United States
5 Nov 09
message me tomorrow and I will u know if I am out of bed or not :(
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
31 Oct 09
My back also hurts. I am glad that your surgery went well. My son just had rods put in his back in March. He has gotten infection and we are now waiting for his back to fuse together so that they can take them out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
30 Oct 09
I do not know if it is my knees that hurt the most, because I weigh too much, or if it is my toe with the bunion that hurts the most. It is contributing to my leg and knee pain because it throws my gait off. I am looking at a joint replacement in my toe in January. I am glad you tolerated this surgery better than the other one.
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I had not either, until the podiatrist talked about it. He said that conservatively they could just go in, take out the floating chip of broken whatever, and clean off the calcified spurs and if the cartilage was good, stop right there, BUT if the cartilage was gone they could do a hemi ball replacement. It would not be a full joint like a knee.
1 person likes this
@trixyteddy (1070)
• India
31 Oct 09
I' sorry you had to go through all that pain for no fault of yours. Thats the irony of it. I hope you get completely well. I've had headaches and felt horrible, but I've never experience migraines, and I don't want to after hearing about it. Right now by the grace of our Lord, I don't suffer from any major pains. But at one time, my knees and heels troubled me a lot. I'm on homeopathic medicines and they have kind of actually cured me.
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
31 Oct 09
Well funny I read this right now. I had some heart pain earlier in the day so I took a shot of my nitro spray and as sometimes happen I got a headache and I just can't shake it. It's like a mini migraine so hopefuly I can shake it before it gets worse. Thank Goodness your surgery went well. Answered prayer is a wonderful thing. Take Care Dear Friend!!!
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
31 Oct 09
Yes Thank You Dear, my worst headache has left, the other headache (my brother-in-law) is stil here LOL.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
31 Oct 09
I hope you are getting more better and that's cool that the surgery went very well. Sometimes, it's best to be aware of our health like in your case, you will definitely take care of it better from now on. And me too. I went for a leg treatment before, but it was not a surgery. More like a ligament thingy, but luckily everything was alright. I used to be pretty active, and hence I would say the leg and the back of my spine are health issues that I am paying special attention now. Back of the spine because of the motorbike thingy. Hope you will get more healthy as days go by.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
2 Nov 09
I try to minimize it... actually, my mom is also pretty worried. So this online thingy has helped me tremendously to ward off those habits outside. I just stick with blogging, the lot and interacting with friends and play games.. Take care, Pam..
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 Oct 09
I'm glad u are doing well, Ambie. I know it has not been easy for u. I hope u get rid of that ol' brace when u go to the dr. I am in constant pain from arithritus & DEGENERATVE disease in my back.
@AmbiePam (85464)
• United States
30 Oct 09
Oh yes, the DDS. It's very hard to deal with. Have you found anything that gives you any relief? Capsaicin sometimes helps my neck, but I have to be careful not to get it on my hands. I end up wiping my eyes and then I get the burn in my eyeballs!
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I take pain meds every day & i use bio-freeze. it really helps but like u say u don't want to get it around your eyes. Ther is 2 places that sell it here, one is a chiropractor & the other is a rehab place. It's expensive but worth it. HAPPY HALLOWEEN.
1 person likes this
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
31 Oct 09
Hello AmbiePam, I am glad to hear that you made it through back surgery so well. I am dealing with back pain myself right now as long as a little bit of neck pain. I think I get upper back and neck pain at least once sometimes eve twice a week, I think it has to do with the way I lay at night. We just got a new bed about a year back and it is the most uncomfortable bed ever, both husband and I wake up at least twice a week with either a sore back or a stiff neck. It really sucks when you have a stiff neck because even though it is only a stiff neck it makes your whole body ache all the way down to your feet. Husband and I always sleep on the couch on the weekends that way our backs down hurt so bad so I am excited about bed tonight so I won't be as sore.
1 person likes this
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
31 Oct 09
My place has been submerged in floodwater due to typhoon, and one of the things that was damaged was my washing machine. So in the two weeks that followed I've washed clothes by hand which is really hard work, it has actually caused my hands to feel sore and numb. It didn't take long for my washing machine to be repaired(thanks God) but the numb and tingling feeling on my arms and hands took longer to fade away.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I'm glad this surgery seemed to be a success for you. Surgery scares the heck out of me.
What hurts on me? You said not a heart, so how about not my physical heart but the spirt one. I'm angry and frustraited and sad about many things..... I'm just sick and tired of it.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
31 Oct 09
hi ambiepam Right now its my right knee where old arthritis is staking its claim again. Its been really cool here at night now a and I guess I am not used to it yet,we had had so many hot days, and its a relief to cool down now.but my knee of course thinks otherwise. But it is not as bad as back surgery by a long shot.i
am so glad that things are going well for you and hope that they just continue to get better and better for you.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85464)
• United States
30 Oct 09
Do you mean what caused me to have back surgery? I was in a car wreck when I was eighteen (not my fault). My lower back and my neck were damaged quite badly. As the years have gone by, my spine has only gotten worse. The arthritis in my spine doesn't even compare to the results of the pain from the discs being torn, and some of them bulging. It's bone on bone. I'm 28 now and I've been to chiropractors, many surgeons (all of whom recommend trying to put off the 'insert rod' surgery if at all possible)...
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
31 Oct 09
Hey Ambie! Glad to hear that your surgery went as well as it could
and that you're not in too much pain considering! I hope that
things will get better and no more surgery will be necessary. I
have another friend who had back surgery yesterday (her 5th).
She has Spina Bifita and I pray that will be her last one too.
She is only 21 years old and has had so many surgeries, but that
is part of her disease. I had a minor surgery on my left side
last Thursday. I had a lump removed from my hip the size of a
large grape. It was just a lypoma, non-cancerous just painful
when I wore underwear, pants or anything! Now it is just painful
while the stiches are healing! But, it is nothing compared to
what you or my little friend are going through so I am thankful
that it is what it is! So my prayers are with you and Heather that
you both will be healed and up and about soon! Hugs, Opal
1 person likes this
@EnglishTeaDuck (862)
• United States
31 Oct 09
I am not too bad at the moment, left knee is annoying me a bit, but I did bash it on the corner of a table yesterday, which set it off. I have had arthritis since I was ten, so sometimes its worse than others, comes and goes, but mostly I'm just like 'oh, ok, there you are again!'...lol
I feel for you though - in my teen years I went through a few years where it was much more debilitating, and had various fun things done and tried out on me.
Hope you are feeling better soon! I had a collar and a leg brace I couldn't take off for a while and the itching drove me nuts, a whole back thing must be worse with that I'm sure, I hope you are free of that soon!
1 person likes this
@Picquarian (724)
• United States
14 Jan 10
My neck has been bothering me. I think I slept on it wrong. That, and it could be stress related as well.
