Spinal Arthritis Sucks
Oct. 30th, 2014 06:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
baratronI do not recommend arthritis of the spine. I don't really recommend arthritis in general, but there's something about having it in your spine that's just extra evil.
I had some injections done in January which basically fixed the problem entirely for a few months. Over the past few weeks, I have become increasingly aware of it returning in force. Yesterday things were so bad that I had to miss a lecture that I wanted to go to, because I hurt too much to be able to sit through the class without having to wriggle and fidget and stand up and change position so frequently that it would disrupt everyone else. Normal painkillers do nothing for this type of pain.
Now I don't know what to do. I have been to my Pain Management F/Up appointment, which lasted all of 10 minutes because the specialist and I were in complete agreement that I needed another set of injections. But the Pain Management Clinic admin are completely useless and gods only know when that'll actually get scheduled. I could go back on gabapentin, but I'm afraid to lose my mood control. I've actually been feeling pretty cheery over the past month or so, still a person with depression and anxiety but with those issues mostly under control, and I'm extremely reluctant to give that up.
Then again, if I'm in this much pain and discomfort, I'm not going to be able to get my work finished off because I can't actually sit still for long enough. And my department have made it very clear that I'm not getting any more extensions.
This is the kind of juggling that you have to do if you have multiple chronic illnesses which interact. No one wants to be in constant pain, but no one wants to turn into a crazy person either. Better pain control vs worse mood control is not really a good equation.
I shall, of course, be consulting a medical professional at the earliest possible opportunity. I'm not really looking for advice, because none of you have my biochemistry, or are taking my particular mix of medication. But I certainly need *hugs* and comforting pats over the internet.
I had some injections done in January which basically fixed the problem entirely for a few months. Over the past few weeks, I have become increasingly aware of it returning in force. Yesterday things were so bad that I had to miss a lecture that I wanted to go to, because I hurt too much to be able to sit through the class without having to wriggle and fidget and stand up and change position so frequently that it would disrupt everyone else. Normal painkillers do nothing for this type of pain.
Now I don't know what to do. I have been to my Pain Management F/Up appointment, which lasted all of 10 minutes because the specialist and I were in complete agreement that I needed another set of injections. But the Pain Management Clinic admin are completely useless and gods only know when that'll actually get scheduled. I could go back on gabapentin, but I'm afraid to lose my mood control. I've actually been feeling pretty cheery over the past month or so, still a person with depression and anxiety but with those issues mostly under control, and I'm extremely reluctant to give that up.
Then again, if I'm in this much pain and discomfort, I'm not going to be able to get my work finished off because I can't actually sit still for long enough. And my department have made it very clear that I'm not getting any more extensions.
This is the kind of juggling that you have to do if you have multiple chronic illnesses which interact. No one wants to be in constant pain, but no one wants to turn into a crazy person either. Better pain control vs worse mood control is not really a good equation.
I shall, of course, be consulting a medical professional at the earliest possible opportunity. I'm not really looking for advice, because none of you have my biochemistry, or are taking my particular mix of medication. But I certainly need *hugs* and comforting pats over the internet.
