• entries
    84
  • comments
    348
  • views
    17,045

oh my achin' back


arogers

742 views

I have always been real stubborn about visits to the doctor. I go because I have to go and I go for my physical every year. I HAD to go on Monday, after having had a miserable week-end filled with shoulder and back pain. The real mistake was taking two Advil about five o'clock, the another three Advil about ten when I was trying to get to sleep - then taking a Voltarin for my back about two in the morning. By morning I was sick to my stomache and the pain hadn't gotten any better. Bill had a physical in the afternoon so I made an appointment with my doctor to follow his appointment.

 

I remember when I began having shoulder problems about three years ago. At that point there was no way I thought I could take care of it because both arms were needed to take care of Bill. I couldn't imagine possible being out of commission for a month or so - I was too valuable.

 

So, when Bill and I went to the Christmas show at the Greensboro Collesium I got a magnet bracelet and my shoulder DID improve greatly. Last week though it got to the point where I had pain radiating from my shoulder across the muscle in the back and settling in a cervical disk. (NO - it isn't my heart for any of you who are suspicious!!) When my doctor walked in the room and I dissolved in tears he announced I WOULD be going to see an orthopedic specialist. Funny how pain makes me a very compliant patient!

 

I had my appointment and there is good news and bad news. I won't be having surgery. No, the injury has existed too long to do anything that will help. And, oh, isn't it amazing that my pain is in the back of the shoulder and not in the front where I have bone on bone rubbing? My back xrays look like a corkscrew. At the base where I had the bulging disks years ago I now have bone on bone rubbing too. My lower back is like a swayback horse, then the mid-section is obviously scoliosis and at the cervical area my spine is now showing signs of "humping" - probably a result of protecting that injured shoulder.

 

And so, this week I'll go to the physical therapist to get some back exercises and continue to take my 800 mg of motrin three times a day. If I need it, I'll take a darvocet at bedtime. The days of taking Bill's wheelchair in the trunk of the car and pulling it out then putting it back are over though. I have to draw a boundary around what I can and can't do. And if there isn't a wheelchair available to transport Bill if we need to we just won't go to that place anymore.

 

I hate to harp on the toileting issue but I still haven't found a good solution to our missing the mark issue. I am ordering today a guard for the toilet. Now, that will work if he sits down. My training has been going on for months now. If I am in or near the bathroom Bill will sit on the toilet, or stand directly in front of it with the seat up and the problem is greatly diminished. However, he has now resorted to sneaking........When he sneaks he doesn't lift the seat, doesn't sit and doesn't watch where he is going. At those times I end up washing the floor - hoping I can keep the bathroom from smelling of urine. This isn't once in a while - we are talking everyday and at night if I don't wake up. Even when I do wake up it is extremely difficult because Bill is sleeping and normally is sleep walking into the bathroom and stopping when he approaches the toilet. He stands about a foot away and just goes. Now he is getting frustrated with me when I say anything to him. He denies what he has done and just flatly refuses to make any changes. I guess I should be grateful since he has only wet his pants three times this week and hasn't missed getting to the bathroom for a bowel movement once. He won't tell me before he is having a problem and won't tell me afterward. He just comes out to the living room without his pants, at which time he knows I will usher him back into the bathroom to get "fixed up".

 

I don't know, maybe I just needed to whine a little. I wish I had a solution, but if the guard doesn't work I don't know that there is one. I have tried repeatedly scheduling him and he refuses to go when I ask him. He has taken to waiting until I get out of eye shot then going to the bathroom. I wish I could say I have consistently kept my cool. I haven't - I have told him I'm frustrated and asked him what I can do. That's like talking to a three year old about potty training. Maybe I should start using his sushi as a bribe!!

5 Comments


Recommended Comments

Ann,

 

So so sorry to hear about your outcome at the doctors with your back and shoulder. Our resident angel here on earth :Angel: is worn out from all she does. :hug: Hope the therapy and the motrin help you.

 

bribery might be the key to Bill's bathroom issues - perhaps even a reward system.

Link to comment
Guest lwisman

Posted

Ann,

 

I am so sorry to hear about your shoulder problems. Take care of yourself.

 

Lin

Link to comment

Ann,

I am with you girl! Last week I made financial arrangements to have my back put back together beginning tomorrow. It is difficult when you have to lift a full-grown man when he is little able to assist, throw wheel chairs into cars, push the said wheelchair everywhere not to mention all the maintance chores we must do without our husbands' assistance. The pain seems to sap the little remaining energy making every task more difficult. Thow in a daily helping of pee and poop and you end up with lots of tears. My husband is now in Depends all the time. He will have a bm and I will tell him to go to the bathroom and he gets angry and stubborn with me. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed but do try to find something to rejoice in each day. I have found great solice in the silly antics of the cat because I am learning to look for something good in the day.

Ruth

Link to comment

Ann:

 

I feel so badly about your shoulder & back pain, but I guess those are the perks you get of caregiving. I really hope and pray bribery works for you. does Bill know how much pain you are going through just to be able to give him good quality of life for him. there is only one and not herd of nurses who are waiting on him to be able to clean up after him. you have tough job on hand, & I pray God gives you enough strength to get through this job

 

Asha

 

Link to comment

Ann,

I'm sorry you're not feeling well and the pain you are having must be putting a bit of a damper on savoring in the bliss of your newness of your new home.

 

Hope you resolve Bill's bathroom issue. Another bribe might be the way to go ~ wasn't sushi deemed the source of his other bathroom issue? ~ which I'm sure you'd prefer not to return to as the alternative.

 

Love you,

Maria :hug:

Link to comment
Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.