Having difficulties with standing in the shower
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
December 20, 2011 10:12am CST
It's getting harder and harder to shower. I have a stand up shower stall, not a tub. There isn't room to put a shower chair in the shower. The electric shock like pains going down my sciatic nerve down my sacrum and lower on both sides was making me cry out. My daughter came to check on me because she heard me. She told me that maybe I need to bathe in my room from now on. There are some days that I have to use the basin in my room because I can't tolerate standing, but I try to go to the shower as much as possible. This is just getting ridiculous, because the pain is coming back full force. It was so much better for the first week or so with the meds, but the pain breaks through now.
If you suffer from chronic back pain, or nerve pain in your back and legs, do you have trouble in the shower or tub? I don't know what else to do, other than maybe take my pain medicine before getting into the shower. I only take the neuronton at bedtime... I may ask him about taking it in the daytime also... he didn't want me to have it in the daytime because it can cause you to get dizzy and fall. I'm at my wits end.... really.
Your thoughts, mylotters?
2 people like this
6 responses
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
22 Dec 11
Well, I take Neurontin for my Fibromyalga. It does seem to help a lot, but they have tried to get me to up the amount I am taking because there are times that I can still feel the pain thru the meds. The other night the pain was so Bad I took one of the Neurontin and half a hydrocodone. The only think I worry about besides it raising my sugar level, or Blood pressure too much is being tired all of the time especially since I still work full time.
But personally my friend, this sounds like something you need to talk over with your doctor and decide what is Best for you. Hope they figure out something that can help you.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
22 Dec 11
I'm going to have to speak to the doctor about this because the pain is coming through the meds. I'm fixing to take another shower and I'm dreading it, so I'm going to wash up in the basin first while sitting on the shower and then shower to rinse off so I'm not standing for so long. That seems to help some.
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
21 Dec 11
Sciatic pain management has the option of some simple exercises and sometimes physiotherapy also helps. Some particular stretching exercises have been known to help manage pain. These must always be done under expert supervision initially and then at your convenience. It is not good to go on increasing the dosage of medication as this may cause complications. Please ask your doctor about these options and however difficult follow them. The final option is of course, surgery.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169530)
• United States
21 Dec 11
I think it is worth talking to the doctor about. Now that you have been on the Neuronton for a while you can see if it does indeed make you dizzy or not. Usually they want a follow up on new meds pretty soon after you get used to them. It may be he can combine it some other way or give you more relief.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
21 Dec 11
I'm going to definitely talk to him. The neronton doesn't make me dizzy so maybe he can give me more or give me something to go with it.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Dec 11
I guess you do not have enough room or the finances to make a walk in shower. Is it possible for you to get home care and will medicare pay for it? What you need is someone,a practical nurse to come in and give you a bath even if it is in your room. Are you living in your daughter's house and can they get a loan to fix up the area where you live? They should look into it.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
21 Dec 11
Hi Suspenseful. We don't own this house. I don't need someone to give me a bath. I'm still able to walk. I can bathe while sitting on the toilet and then stand in the show long enough to rinse off. I think that is the best I can do for now. The nerve pain comes from a bone spur that presses into the dura next to my spinal cord. There may come a time when I'll need a nursing home or a visiting nurse but not now. My arms get very weak also but I do the best I can.
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
21 Dec 11
I can't stand for very long at a time. I have a tub with shower. My shower chair wouldn't fit into the tub in the regular way so I put it in long-ways with the tub. It's a bit crowded but I can manage.
All you really need is a chair seat. Maybe you could find a small chair and take the back off and use it in the shower. Or look around on the internet for a very small shower chair?
Sorry I don't have any other ideas.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
22 Dec 11
I'll manage for now by sitting on the toilet to bathe in a basin and then stand in the shower long enough to rinse off... that's about all I can do for now. I have to have a high chair because if it is low I can't get up out of it. I will speak to the doctor when I go again about getting a shower chair.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
20 Dec 11
Hi MandaLee, I just said in the discussion that there is not room for a shower chair in there ... there's not room for me or a shower chair.. it's a very narrow shower stall. I wish it was bigger, but it's not.
