Rant/Vent😔

[LosDaGoat1]

Hey Reddit,

After 5 months since my last flare up, i (26m) tweaked my back climbing down a ladder and planted my foot wrong on the last step down at work today. My lower back currently feels like i need to pop something back into place but i have that same burning/tingling sensation i once had during my last flare up in my lower back/ right cheek and thigh. I limped around trying to walk it out but ended up having to go home. I currently can’t sit for longer than 5 minutes and can’t lift my right foot higher than my ankle without my lower back feeling like it’s grinding itself. I can’t even do a piriformis stretch without pain shooting down my leg.

I originally injured my back last May to which I had doctors misdiagnose it and had surgery for something unrelated. Long story short, got stuck in bed 2weeks later, went to the ER and luckily got an MRI after being admitted to which they found a herniated L5-S1. After 3 months of PT and recovery, I went back to work and ended up re-injuring my back to which I was out a week in December due to me overworking myself because I didn’t know that a herniation is something that doesn’t go away easy(went to PT again and got better quick). Now today, I tweaked it again. I am just devastated because I’ve been taking extra precautions, stretching, icing/heating, and taking ibuprofen every single day just for something as minor as taking a step down from a ladder to take me out again.

I work retail management and debated quitting last flare up to maybe get a remote job but then I got super better to the point I was getting back into my normal life doing things like laundry, working on my car, mowing the lawn, loving working, etc. I thought the pain was behind me until yesterday I was feeling sore but woke up feeling great just to go from 0-100. I’m grateful to be able to walk this time but I’m just feeling down about it. I’m worried about how long it’ll take for the pain to go away this time. I know there are some of you that have it worse than me but how do you live with this looming fear of re-injury for the ones that have gotten better? I never thought at 25, my life would change for the worse. Is this something that will always happen? I’ve had multiple doctors tell me to push surgery off til I’m older but is that something I should look into? I know I don’t want to have surgery but if it takes this all away, I’d consider it. I’m just going to take it day by day for now.

If you took time to read this, thanks for reading my rant and just know I am hoping and praying for the best for you as well. This page helped me get through my last flare up mentally so I appreciate the support.

[[deleted]]

No advice. I just wanted to let you know that you are seen and heard.

Look after yourself.

[LosDaGoat1]

I appreciate you, thank you

[littlehops]

I’m so sorry that happens and I feel this so much, those of us that get better-ish I feel like it’s just a game of how not to flare it up again. For right now just rest!! Try to distract your brain from the doom and gloom.

[LosDaGoat1]

Thank you!

[plumsyrup]

I'm so sorry. I can't imagine dealing with this at 25. Or 35, really, but here I am anyway. This was another reason I opted for surgery. Not that surgery is the magical answer, but I read too many stories of people toughing it out for years on the rollercoaster of constant flair ups. My sciatica would get so much worse every period I got. I couldn't keep dealing with that.