shouldve known..

I read your post this afternoon at work and I'm now replying to it, so forgive me if I can't remember the stuff you wrote, ok?

Thank you for writing about J's back pain. I also suffer from back pain. I have scoliosis and had back surgery in my late teens. Now pushing up there in age and am in pain most of the time. Doctor said it's arthritis in the back. Plus, I have some bulging discs. I'm thinking it's my crooked tailbone that's causing the pain, but haven't brought that up to him. If that's the case, I wonder if they can remove it -- the tailbone has no use in the first place, right?

And thank you for writing about the steroids. My doctor is wanting to give me steroid shots in my back if physical therapy doesn't work out. After reading what you wrote, I'm going to think twice about getting it done (originally, I really wanted the shots -- because I'm in such pain).

I haven't scheduled an appointment for physical therapy yet. I'm exercising and walking on my own like I have no back problem (because I need to drop some pounds) and I'm hoping the pain will ease up once I do lose the weight. But, for the majority of the exercises I do, it hurts me, but I try not to let the pain get to me.

So, why am I exercising still and wanting to do 5k walks? Because I read somewhere about one lady who asked if she could run anymore if she has arthritis in her back and she was told she could if she took it slow and easy. That inspired me to get moving.

Yep, it can get frustrating at times when dealing with a hurting or sick SO. I can understand how you feel. He is sick with the flu right now (we don't know how he caught the flu during the end of summer) and one, he's acting like a little baby. Two, I'm worried about him because I'm 40 miles away from him and it's frustrating me because I can't be there to help him (but he's "highly contagious" as he puts it). Of course, he gives me the guilt trip -- what a big baby! ha!

I hope your J begins to feel better. And to Kristie, your D!

Kristie -- I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. That is really terrible and I really feel for her.

My brother is a physician's assistant and he's told me about burning the nerves. This was a while back that he mentioned that to me. I think he said it would be an idea to have done, but of course, there's always a con to the procedure -- just that I don't remember what it was at the moment! I think it was something like, the doctor has to make sure he's burning off the correct nerve. Otherwise, you're in trouble if he doesn't.

I'll have to ask him the next time I see him.