Critical hit

[Gravekeeper]

My lower back is currently so sore I cannot walk. I can barely crawl. Nothing's really helping. There's only a few positions I can lay or sit in that don't cause massive pain. I've had to book off my next 2 shifts as I cannot make it to the office.

It really really sucks, I can barely move and since I live alone that's making things extremely difficult. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do but wait for it to stop. But theresno comfortable way to sleep so I can only lay in one position. ><

This sucks. But I don't know what else to do or how long it'll be before I can move again.

[Becks]

:comforting pats: there, there™®©

I hope you get better soon!!!!!!!!!

[Soulstealer]

I'll give you the solution I'd give anyone else in this case.

One bottle of vicodin + one bottle of vodka (or your prefered drink).:devil:

And before anyone says something like "but that will kill him" I don't recall ever there being a need of a solution that would keep anyone breathing just pain free.

[Evil Queen]

Poor Gravekeeper. I'll give you nice backrubs. :) and hot compresses.

Soulstealer, you're so Evil.... :devil: I Like It!

[XCashier]

:eek: Yikes! What the heck happened?!

Lots of :hug: and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Andara Bledin]

Aw... you poor thing!

Back pain is awful, and lower back pain is the worst.

Here's hoping you feel better soon.

^-.-^

[Kusanagi]

I have had that happen in spasms to the point I cannot even breathe.

Are you sure it's the muscles in the lower back and not something like a pinched nerve or even the kidneys?

[Nekojin]

Ah, I see you've been rolling on the Rolemaster critical hit tables. Much less forgiving than AD&D.

[crazylegs]

GK,

If you'd have just asked us to help you move the body of Death to America Guy we would have helped, no need to hurt yourself about it!

[Slytovhand]

Bum, GK!

Ok - go get some good massage therapist to hit it, and probably a good acupuncturist.

These things are (if muscle related) usually very easy to treat - problem is where it is, and what's causing it so that if it's not muscle, it's a real pain (hahaha).

And I'll second Crazy... we would have helped you move the body... to somewhere obvious so that people find out and take the hint...:D

[Primer]

One thing you can try for (almost) free: a long soak in the bathtub with the water as hot as you can stand it, along with a few NSAIDs (since you're probably not like me and have Soma on hand).

If that doesn't help, or if you can tell it's not just muscle strain, get thee to a doctor!

[Mr. Rager!]

One bottle of vicodin + one bottle of vodka (or your prefered drink).:devil:



I too hear you cannot feel anything when you're dead. :p

Have you gone to the doctor to make sure it's not anything more serious?

[Umingmaq]

This sounds way too serious to be diagnosed remotely. There are so many things that could be causing it, and what works for one may be injurious if it's really something else. Except, of course, the Vicodin/alcohol solution. Please do get professional advice immediately.

Oh yes, Vicodin. A few years ago I had a severe back problem that elevated Vicodin to one of my major food groups. When a pharmacist refused to refill my prescription I was literally ready to physically explain why that was not an option. He went on to explain that the problem was in the high level of Tylenol that accompanies the codeine in Vicodin and suggested Norco. Same amount of codeine, less Tylenol. My doctor was not familiar with it, but looked it up and prescribed it. Same pain relieving effect, less nasty side benefit. I believe Canadia has different rule on Codeine, so you may have other options as well. Just keep in mind the very real possibility of addiction.

Finally, a caveat. The initial problem came on while we were traveling. The Vicodin the local Dr prescribed was so effective that I proceeded to behave as if the problem were not there. Big mistake. Just because you can't feel it at the moment doesn't mean it's gone away and that you can continue to do whatever it was that caused it. I figure that little miscalculation transformed a short-term problem into a 3-month odyssey.

[Igorina]

About two years ago I woke up to excruciating back pain. I made an appointment with a chiroprator. It was the best thing ever.

Not only did he diagnose my problem, but gave me some exercises to help strengthen my back so it wouldn't happen again.

I hope you can find something that helps you feel better.

Offering up warm polenta cake and comforting thoughts,
Igorina

[BookstoreEscapee]

Poor Gravekeeper. I'll give you nice backrubs. :) and hot compresses.

I'll come help...GK Fangirls to the rescue!!! :D


My mom swears by Ben-Gay. I recommend the "vanishing scent" variety unless you like smelling like a roll of Life Savers....

I pulled a muscle in my back once at work. I managed to finish my shift but the next night I was closing and I only lasted until 9:30. Then I went to Starbucks, got a hot chocolate, went home, and drowned my pain in Advil and a hot bubble bath.

[Broomjockey]

He went on to explain that the problem was in the high level of Tylenol that accompanies the codeine in Vicodin and suggested Norco. Same amount of codeine, less Tylenol.

Blast, another fun drug I can't take. Stupid codeine allergy.

[crazylegs]

Blast, another fun drug I can't take. Stupid codeine allergy.

You miss out on all the good stuff Broom! :D

[blas]

Looks like I better go into my closet, dust off my pink cammo neglige, and give GK a royal rub down....

[BookstoreEscapee]

Looks like I better go into my closet, dust off my pink cammo neglige, and give GK a royal rub down....

Isn't the guy suffering enough? You have to give him pink camo nightmares, too?

He'd probably rather you just skipped the negligee...:eyewaggle:

[blas]

I don't really have a pink cammo neglige, but I figured it'd be worth a shot :eek:

[BookstoreEscapee]

I don't really have a pink cammo neglige, but I figured it'd be worth a shot :eek:

I didn't think you would, but I'm sure GK knows where you can get one...

[Mango]

If you're interested in trying acupuncture, you may want to get in touch with Dai Sue Low. Ms. Mango has seen him a couple of times and thinks he's amazing. He's at Horley and Earles, slightly north of Kingsway. 604-434-8726. Good luck and hope the pain subsides right quick.

-Mango

[Palsgraf]

Drink LOTS of water. Lay on your side, with one leg extended down, and the other bent at the knee up towards your chest.

Best of luck.

[sportsmom]

Blast, another fun drug I can't take. Stupid codeine allergy.

Double check with your doc on that one. I am also allergic to Codeine, but I can take Vicodin because it is synthetic. Not sure if your case would be the same, but you might want to check on that one.


Either way, I fell your pain GK. I'm going through an episode of back pain myself and understand how bad it is. Hot compresses and soaks help wonderfully.

[Gravekeeper]

Either way, I fell your pain GK. I'm going through an episode of back pain myself and understand how bad it is. Hot compresses and soaks help wonderfully.

I'm just taking over the counter Methocarbamol and Ibuprofen for inflammation now.

I've actually learned that heat is bad for this. The rule as it was explained to me is heat for muscles, cold for ligaments. In my case its the ligaments that are hurt. Specifically the two at the base of the back that attach the spine to the pelvis on either side.

Heat soothes and relaxes muscles, but doesn't help the inflammation of the ligament thats causing the muscles to lock up or spasm. Ice on the other hand helps the inflammation and by proxy will eventually make the muscles calm down.

So heat for a muscle sprain, cold for a ligament.

[OfficeSlug]

Personally, I think sitting in a chair for a shift (and then some) is the culprit. Every few months, I get this rarin' pain in my lower back too...

Office work. It'll kill us.


Get better, GK...

[Luna Baby]

Gravekeeper, it sounds like you're on the right track. I was going to suggest the ice if you hadn't already gotten that advice. My chiropractor has always advised 'ice first, then once the inflammation is down, to alternate between ice/heat'. I've treated off and on with a chiro for about 12 years now and that's always been the standard advice upon leaving the office. Also, once you move to the heat, try to make sure it's 'moist heat'. There are different kinds of heating pads that can do this, some are electric, others you heat in the microwave (they contain special beads that extract moisture from the air and it soothes onto the skin) or you can DIY with a hot/moist towel.

Good luck with your treatment and I hope you feel better soon.

[Jester]

My one experience with Vicodin was when I was 16 and managed to use my chin as a brake off my bicycle, effectively shattering my jaw.

After they wired it shut, they gave me Tylenol with codeine for the pain. And, probably due to my high tolerance to drugs, the Tylenol with codeine had exactly no effect, and I was still screaming in pain.

So they upped me to Vicodin.

The next three days were a blur, and I really can't say I remember much, other than the times when the drugs would wear off and I would be in pain, asking for more.

Amusing way to spend three days if you are a sixteen year old!

[Andara Bledin]

So they upped me to Vicodin.

The next three days were a blur, and I really can't say I remember much, other than the times when the drugs would wear off and I would be in pain, asking for more.

Amusing way to spend three days if you are a sixteen year old!

Ah, Vicodin.

When I had my accident, they gave me Tylenol with codeine and it was equally as effective; it didn't do jack.

So, when I had a seriously nasty sinus infection (I'd gone in because I was getting shooting/stabbing pains in my ear from the pressure), they gave me Vicodin, instead. I took a half dose on an empty stomach. I sure as heck won't be doing that ever again. I literally had to hold onto the desk I was sitting at so I wouldn't fall out of the chair because my equilibrium was so messed up. I eventually had to lie down, but I still felt like I was going to fly off the side of the bed. It wasn't any fun, but I do have to say that it totally made the pain go away.

^-.-^

[Geek King]

Funny, but while Vicodin does kill pain for me, the times I've had it prescribed, it really doesn't affect me otherwise. After my wisdom teeth were removed, I sat at home the rest of the day and play video games while on Vics, and I really didn't notice any issues. One of my friends hates me for it, because it knocks him off his feet, and he gets oddball hallucinations. His reports of the visions are amusing though. :D

[Andara Bledin]

I think that most of what Vicodin does that goes outside the pain-killing aspect is related to how little you've had to eat.

If I've eaten a decent meal before taking any, then I just get the pain relief. If I haven't eaten enough (less than, say, 2 pieces of bread), then my equilibrium goes a bit out of whack.

I don't get hallucinations, though. So far, only sleep dep will do that to me. Not even LSD gives me hallucinations. *shrug*

^-.-^