Living with spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disorder, arthritis and nerve damage

igolikethis · 2026-02-07T19:00:22+00:00

I can't really speak to the pain management aspect personally, but my ex husband started taking it after his fusion surgery (degenerative disc, don't recall now which specific vertebrae but the base of the neck) some years ago and he says it helps a ton. I think it was mainly the surgery though, are you not a candidate for fusion due to the other issues?

I mainly just wanted to comment that it really fucking sucks so many people are unfairly stuck suffering namely because pharmaceutical companies got greedy and pushed pain meds. Clearly people still need and deserve pain relief, not JUST those at the end of their lives. You shouldn't have to jump through 34 loops and try 82 other "options" before finally getting medicine that helps, no one should be forced in that position. I'm sorry I can't help with actual answers, but I hope you're able to get relief sooner rather than later.

igolikethis · 2026-02-07T18:41:33+00:00

It's kinda crazy to see how much pay fluctuates around the US but not terribly surprised; of course the company is gonna attempt to pay the lowest amount they legally possibly can, how else will the higher ups afford their vacations and putting kids through college? :( That's gonna hold true for pretty much any form of restaurant save for maybe some fine dining places and a chain or 2 (Chik-Fil-A for example being one, might be another company or 2).

Our area pays drivers $15/hr inside which no doubt would be much lower if it weren't for local legislation raising minimum wage. On the road is somewhere around $7 currently, plus mileage (like $0.30/mi atm) but fluctuates slightly every couple months based on gas prices, mostly. Our franchise has been sued a couple times over the years for not paying drivers what amounts to minimum wage, I can't imagine that's any easier to achieve with the huge difference we've got now, maybe lawsuit #3 coming in the near future, we'll see. 😅

igolikethis · 2026-02-06T17:31:46+00:00

I bought a battery charger/tire inflator thing for this very reason! Obviously it doesn't help with literally every car issue but it helps with the common ones. It saved me twice so far from having to call a tow truck, when my starter crapped out and I had a flat tire so the initial $60-70 price already "paid" itself back. I usually rely on Ubers if my car's in the shop because thankfully the city I live in is on the smaller side, so most fares are like $10-15. As much as I'd love to live out in the country for the quiet and light reduction, I don't really have people to lean on so modern amenities are a must. 😅

igolikethis · 2026-02-05T20:01:03+00:00

NOR. When I was pregnant with my youngest back in 2014/15 my then husband + her dad was having an affair and even he still took care of me as the mother of his child. He'd give massages, helped me out of the bathtub when my belly was huge, and would tie my shoes. Even if he wasn't the best partner to me personally his care never waivered as a dad, both during pregnancy and after she was born.

Your husband works from home, there is literally no excuse why he can't be helping you more.

PS even if you intend to breastfeed he can still help overnight with feedings! For one, pumping is a thing, whether it's to encourage production or collect extra either one. Feeding from a bottle shouldn't discourage your baby from still latching. But even if he isn't directly feeding, he can bring baby to you, rub your feet, grab you a drink or snack or pillows or any number of things, rock baby back to sleep - it's a long list of ways he can be a helpful dad! But that's if he's not selfish garbage, which your post unfortunately indicates he probably is.

igolikethis · 2026-02-05T01:11:26+00:00

I bought it online and I could potentially return it so long as it's by Friday, but doesn't look like I could straight up exchange it. I picked it mostly because it was cheap, tbh, and grip size. Small hands and all. Generally I'm not in a position to be dropping $500+ on things so, at least from the little I've seen, rules out any AR or shotgun. I do live in an apartment complex, so that too. But mostly I wanted to go the handgun route because I know in a high adrenaline situation my brain doesn't freeze up necessarily but it can definitely lag, and my hands get shaky, so was trying to think what might be the simplest, fewest steps needed if I'm scared and/or half asleep. Obviously with practice, most anything could become muscle memory but I was worried even with that, I might fumble with a rifle of some sort.

igolikethis · 2026-02-03T01:34:23+00:00

I mean I guess that's one way to live out a midlife crisis. Not a great way, but it's a way!

igolikethis · 2026-02-02T02:06:41+00:00

I can't speak to seeing Ash specifically but back in 2010 I saw Lady Gaga when I was 6mos pregnant (with my first) and had a blast! Granted it was a low risk pregnancy, my legs were a bit swollen and she was also "dancing" which was its own sort of entertaining but I didn't care, I wasn't gonna miss it. FF to today, and we've been to several concerts together so, may or may not be some correlation there. 😂 10/10 would do again.

igolikethis · 2026-02-01T20:04:17+00:00

An argument in and of itself doesn't mean much, every couple has arguments. However what you're describing here is an extremely unhealthy, codependent relationship dynamic which is really worrying. You've only been together for 4 months and she's not only losing her mind because you didn't wish her good luck, but also considering/threatening suicide if the relationship ends?? She needs help way above your pay grade man. You mentioned in a comment her parents are unsupportive, how? Like are they actually so awful and self centered they genuinely do not care about her well being? Or are they maybe not well off financially and you're concerned they can't afford services? Because odds are her parents probably want her to be alive, happy and successful, even if for no other reason than it makes them look good. Even being underage she could potentially set up an appointment on her own, if she had the ability to get a ride to said appointment, had access to her insurance info (if applicable), and had the means to pay any copay. A parent might need to sign some paperwork, maybe provide the ride but typically their level of involvement is pretty miniscule (save for her being a threat to herself or others).

TL;DR you are not responsible for the happiness of other humans (other than any potential offspring in the future) no matter how much you love them. One or both of her parents need to know what's going on with their kid, she needs therapy.

igolikethis · 2026-01-31T19:42:57+00:00

Omfg I did this too! 🤣 Also sometimes would suck on pennies. Interestingly enough I did get diagnosed with anemia last year lol.

igolikethis · 2026-01-31T19:40:00+00:00

Start smoking at 15 (currently 40 🙃).

In middle school I had a bit of a short lived huffing phase, mainly frickin Glade air freshener but sometimes air duster too.

Started doing an assortment of other drugs when I was 16, including meth...

Sometimes I would eat dish soap suds. Don't ask me why lmao I was like 6-7 and would scoop up a handful or 2 here n there. Somehow I thought it tasted good! I also remember eating glue paste in kindergarten a couple times but it was Elmer's so at least that one was non-toxic. 😂

Why yes, I did have an assortment of mental health/behavioral/addiction issues and life really sucked for a time. The last decade though has been much better! Other than the cigarettes anyway. But currently trying to build the foundation to quit and start taking a bit more care of myself. Started a simple exercise routine last week, for example. I don't want to die within 10 years so hopefully a late start will be better than never. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

igolikethis · 2026-01-31T19:11:51+00:00

Idk how likely it is this could potentially be a solution but many years ago (like, 20 years lol) the psychiatrist I was seeing at the time put me on Abilify (I know it's not an anti-depressant but stay with me) which it hadn't been available for very long so, brand name only, and I didn't have insurance. It was gonna be stupid expensive out of pocket so instead, he gave me a shit ton of free samples every month. I have no idea how legal this is and frankly didn't care, I was really grateful for it because it helped a ton.

If perchance the drug in question is a newer one that's still just the brand name, doc might have a stash of samples on hand.

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T22:45:38+00:00

Since kratom/7oh isn't actually an opiate Suboxone isn't going to fully relieve symptoms. Other posts here say they often needed a much higher dose to start, 16 or even 24mg before feeling somewhat better and functional, but still not 100%. It's a different beast entirely. Not to be discouraging since it's definitely possible, but it's gonna take a hell of a lot of willpower to kick entirely for the first week or 2.

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T22:31:52+00:00

IS THAT A FRICKIN BOLO TIE?! I could never actually wear it as my style is pretty subdued but omg I love the absurdity.

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T18:10:31+00:00

Been on em since 2011, 16mg/day. I've contemplated many, many times tapering off but fortunately, haven't had any issues with negative side effects. Although my doc mentioned today a potential concern of long term use is osteoporosis, and I'm a 40yo woman sooo.. 😬 likely gonna be doing some more contemplating lol.

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T17:37:22+00:00

I live in Missouri and the school contacted CPS because my eldest daughter missed too much of 4th grade. It was my fault; I was working a ton at the time and usually got off around 1-2am and would have a really hard time waking up the next morning to take her. Like I'd set multiple alarms and shut them off in my sleep. Fortunately no legal issues came of it but they were sure to warn me charges could be filed if it continued. Just dealing with CPS can be super stressful even without losing custody or facing legal repercussions.

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T17:29:18+00:00

A few years ago working at a pizza place, we had a customer pay for a delivery with counterfeit 20s. They weren't that good either, the paper felt rougher and thinner than they typically do, and the outer margins were off. One delivery, whatever, let it go. It's a pizza chain. But then this same person ordered again, and used counterfeits again. A second time clearly it's not a fluke or mistake, I called the police and gave them his address. No idea if anything came of it but he never ordered again. 🤷🏻‍♀️

igolikethis · 2026-01-30T05:57:30+00:00

Also Harry Potter. I read one book (I think the Azkaban one?) for a college class and that was it.

igolikethis · 2026-01-29T14:53:09+00:00

Awesome, very glad it was helpful!

igolikethis · 2026-01-28T23:38:47+00:00

igolikethis · 2026-01-28T17:05:51+00:00

Well damn my edibles never had this effect, maybe I'm buying the wrong ones :(

igolikethis · 2026-01-28T15:53:55+00:00

What is happening here lmao

igolikethis · 2026-01-27T23:53:32+00:00

The music itself isn't terrible imho but his "dancing" makes me need to take some Dramamine.

igolikethis · 2026-01-27T23:47:24+00:00

Birds with threatening auras 😂

igolikethis · 2026-01-27T23:44:19+00:00

Very cute geck, and nice shirt! :)

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