Dept. of Niggling Pain

[kaffy_r]

First World Problems, Ahoy

Well, I'm not sure my diverse menu of back and hip pains qualifies as a First World Problem, but whinging about it certainly does. As I said yesterday, I'm getting tired of having to use painkillers of various types in order to sleep. Even with those aids, I haven't had uninterrupted sleep for the past couple of weeks. Even the good nights include me waking from the pain and a) getting a hot shower at 3 a.m. or b) taking more painkiller. 

I've been reluctant to restart my physical therapy exercises because a couple of them have added to my pain, so either I'm doing them wrong or they're wrong for me. But I really need to review all of the exercises and decide which ones I should restart. I mean, I can't complain if I'm not actively trying to get myself better. 

Part of my problem is that the right side of my upper back is enduring the kind of pain that I file under "is that a dull knife hacking at my side, or are you just happy to see me?" And trying to make my heating pad reach that part of my aching body while still covering some of the sore hip area is a bit of a stretch. I'm sure my physical therapist would prescribe ice packs ... but heat relaxes me. So there, she said petulantly. 

Andy and Julian came over for about an hour or so, because Andy was handling Julian alone for the entire day and he desperately needed to be in a room with other adults. We were happy to be those adults for a while. 

In the possibly TMI department, my colonoscopy date looms in the very near future. I loathe colonoscopies with the heat of a dozen burning suns, for a whole lot of reasons, not least of which is the prep work. More deponent saith naught because let's be real, talking about a colonoscopy? Ewww. 

Tomorrow I have to contact our tile installer and find out how soon he can get here to do the work. I know he had a couple of largish jobs before our job, but I'd like to have a better idea of when to expect him. And I have to nudge the condo association folks to pay me the $700 for their portion of the jobs. 

I think that's about it for today. 

Comments

[redbird]

I know something non-yuck about colonoscopies: the prep varies quite a bit from place to place, and on average has been getting less strict and unpleasant over time. So if your last colonscopy was 5-10 years ago, it may not be as bad as you're expecting.

[kaffy_r]

I've noticed that the prep package I got a few days ago looks very different than what I had to endure back in 2020. I'm going to try to aid it by dealing with nothing but clear liquids for a couple of days before the official prep begins. I'm hopeful.

[lilacsigil]

With the exercises, I don't know what's available to you in the US, but I have had great results working with an exercise physiologist. I have autoimmune fuckery going on which means it's really easy to hurt myself, but working with an exercise physiologist has really helped me know the difference between "mildly painful but will help" and "this will mess you up".

[kaffy_r]

I'm dealing with scleroderma (diagnosed at one research hospital, although my medical system insists on calling it mixed connective tissue disease, which is frankly almost worse than classic scleroderma) and no matter what it's called, it makes it so difficult to exercise. My physical therapist is dedicated, but I actually need to tell her that I think some of my problems are truly out of her wheelhouse. I'm not sure that I have access to an exercise physiologist, although I could ask about it. I definitely need to know the diffference between "mildly painful but will help" and "this will mess you up"!

[minnehaha]

Get another heating pad?

K.

Along thar line

[lsanderson]

Have you tried sleeping on an electric mattress pad? There's a few that are zoned.

Re: Along thar line

[kaffy_r]

I've not heard of those; perhaps I should go looking - thanks!

Re: Along that line, for example

[lsanderson]

https://www.amazon.com/Serta-Multi-Zone-Heated-Mattress-Pad/dp/B0FYPM5M6Y/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2HFNR1LG75A95&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dTYMq2xJIGtNgHB_9-8AXZrsJpYgYUMHIbX20D2qEccrVBkgCHflvIayHN8Yh29_EV2m-9m2EJaOjZZg_n0CW3393wB5-gmqK_pb5Iz81w0OBFK9v4qt9keaQsO78ZVXSLQW1Ak-myA39ytT2yAWaKH6VqLS_47qq8_dP8XD8e1tagbxUPSFm1Z4RnSRzXSzsvV007fpx-g2dF4uAPTLLxjdtI7Ksqd6BC-pmAT8T8s9QPpOh8iur3qzFR7VQCawFzCoZWmRkE9yUdyOgNCUonDyf-lnlgYPncUE_ABMLGw.vY8M8dElQJmfw6M0UGkjlXtaohqWpu3qpajfAWIDaKg&dib_tag=se&keywords=zoned%2Belectric%2Bmattress%2Bpad&qid=1790374178&sprefix=zoned%2Belectric%2Bmattress%2Bpad%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-6&th=1

They might go down around Black Friday or the upcoming Amazon Prime days, but they're cheapest to buy when spring is icummen in. All/most/many major department stores will have them. Most full and larger sizes have dual controls, and the one this links to has a body and foot settings for each side. They mostly have automatic shutdowns after 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 hours, and heat settings that go between slightly warm and a full broil.

Re: Along that line, for example

[kaffy_r]

This looks like something I need to check more on, because it looks like it could help me. ow I just have to wait until our bank account is a little more healthy. Thanks!

[kaffy_r]

You made me grin first thing in the morning - thank you!

Pain sucks

[jesse_the_k]

The colonoscopy prep adviser taught me the Easy Way approach to procedure prep

• low residue diet for 3 days
• clear liquid diet for 1 day
• start prep & continue clear liquid diet

Haute cuisine it ain't but no wildly urgent painful stuff either.

And after the prep they told me I'd never need another screening procedure. There is light at the end of some tunnel-shaped structure.

Re: Pain sucks

[kaffy_r]

This looks very doable, and I think I'm going to try it, starting the day after tomorrow. Thank you so much for bringing this whole thing up!

Re: Pain sucks

[jesse_the_k]

Glad to be of use!

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, I'm sorry about all the pain. And not the colonoscopy prep! It really is the most evil. *hugs*

[kaffy_r]

Thanks - some of the things folks have said here are making me feel a little better about the colonoscopy.

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, now you have an Amy-and-sunflowers icon! <3

[chez_jae]

Constant pain is awful, especially when it prevents you from sleeping.

[kaffy_r]

There are folks who are far worse off than I am, which I try to remember when I'm being grumpy about my own problems. But it's hard.

[verdande_mi]

I am sorry for all the pain and lack of sleep.

I do think, back when my hip was all out of whack and truly causing pain, it was because I had overdone it with some exercises. It's not always easy to know if we are doing things correctly, often enough or doing the wrong ones. I hope you can find some relief.

And am like you, I prefer heating pads, but have slowly come around to ice packs.

[kaffy_r]

I tried an ice pack last night while I was up at my desk. I don't know if it did much for me; it might have, but heating pads generally make my sleep efforts a little easier.