I've got a little problem....

[ErinENj]

Well, more like three problems, but the first two have nothing to do with my back. 1-I have the biggest zit in history. I know, eww! 2- I'm about to eat my last two pieces of starbuck iced lemon pound cake, and it's really expensive so no moola for more! Totally depressing!!! (BUT, if you ever need a great "it's-been-a-bad-day-so-i-am-going-eat-whatever-the-heck-I-want-and-it'll-probably-be-the-most-fattening-thing-you've-ever-seen" food, this one is a great one!! You can buy the pieces individually, or by the loaf. I'm an addict, so I buy them by the loaf. There's seven pieces to a loaf. Let's just say I bought this loaf on, um, Wednesday. And I've finished it. All of it. Hi, my name is Erin and I'm a lemon pound cake from starbucks addict. I feel better now! :p hehe!! Oh, and my ears are killing me!! Turns out that it's really hard to pop your ears when your sinuses are congested. That really is a problem when you live on top of a mountain, albeit a small mountain, but there's still a difference in air pressure up here. I've been having issues trying to hear for the past two days because my ears are so clogged. It's gotten a little better, but it's still really irritating! Okay, now that I've gotten those out of the way, on to the serious stuff...

Okay, onto the real reason I've started this thread. Since Wednesday night, I've been having pain in the right side of my lower back that radiates down my right leg. I can't stand up straight. Walking is getting to be a major issue. Sitting isn't fantastic, and driving isn't great either. Getting my right foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal is painful. Reclining isn't even that great. I've had this same type of pain twice before. The last time, it was completely and utterly muscular. A few days on high doses of muscle relaxers combined with rest and I was back to my normal. The first time is the one that still scares me today. It was last March when I started like this, ended up not being able to stand up because it was just too painful. It came to a head when I tried to get out of the chairs at our kitchen table and I couldn't because the pain was just too intense. I ended up with my mom pulling me from the front and my father lifting me from the back, both trying to get me on my feet, without success. I managed to get out of the chair eventually, but I couldn't refuse to go to the ER any longer. I ended up having to withdraw from all but one of my classes, and that's why I didn't graduate this past Fall. Spring semesters are notoriously horrible for me, so I'm always terrified of them. And I'm terrified that this is the beginning of the end.

It seems to be muscular, since heat helps and the muscle relaxers definately take the edge off. But I can't stay like this and do school. I'm beyond scared that this nightmare is going to become real and that I won't graduate in May. That yet again, as soon as something I've dreamed about and want with all of my heart is so close I can almost touch it, something has to happen to set me back. I don't know what is going on, and it's driving me nuts. It really seems to be muscular in nature, but there's still that voice in the back of my head that says, well, maybe it isn't. Maybe you've somehow managed to herniate more of the disks, if that's even possible. And maybe this won't go away. And maybe I'll be within inches of that piece of paper again and have it snatched away. I'm trying to remain positive but it's hard when every time you even twitch, the pain shoots through your lower back and down your leg.

I'm just completely terrified. I don't have much of a choice but to stay in bed this weekend. I was supposed to help move my brother and his girlfriend into their new apartment tommorow (not lifting anything, just driving a car since I have an SUV full of boxes). We're also planning on going out tommorow night to celebrate my 4.0 last semester (at least we're getting it in before it's my graduation celebration). I've got tons and tons of work to do also. I can do the work lying down, but you all know that trying to do anything in a reclined position while doped up on muscle relaxers and breakthrough meds is a risky proposition. I know when I'm like that I'm out cold within minutes and get nothing done.

I just don't know. This completely stinks, to put it mildly (if I wasn't sure I'd get booted from the site and have this post deleted, there'd be some serious expletives and curses in this). I know it's probably just from my hacking from my bronchitis; I probably moved wrong when I went to cough once and I'm just paying for it. But you never know with our backs, those of us who have back issues, or even with all of our pain. One day, I'm perfectly fine. All the meds are working great; things are going well at school and at home; my pain is at tolerable levels, etc. But then the next day, you wake up to: meds barely working, school and home both stink, and pain is at completely unbearable levels. Which leaves me to wonder: What's the difference between the good day and the bad? If you do everything exactly the same, like I tend to do since I have some OCD issues, you're still in pain the second day. What's changed? My back and pain are historically unpredictable. Heck, I still don't know what did this the first time. There wasn;t anything that we could point to and say "Yes, this is what you did, so don't do it again." After the first surgery, I reherniated disks, but noone can say, 'Erin, you did this again'. In March, noone could tell me how I could have managed to get herniations, especially when I have very, very little disk matter left, let alone any to herniate. It drives me insane!!! So I can't say with all security that I did this, so I know that this is a hernation. Or that I didn't do whatever so I know it's not a herniation. There's never any explanation; never any way for my docs to say 'don't do this or things will get worse." Heck, I do everything they say to do and everything they say not to, yet I still find myself wth more herniations or torn disks or more pain. If they would at least give me a clue, then maybe I could avoid being like THIS.

I hate not being able to walk. I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of typing this, and I'm sure I woke my mom up with my gimping down the hallway. (I really think we should have gone through with my idea of cutting a doorway through my closet and cutting the bathtub in half, since we only use it for showers anyway, so that I could have access to our bathroom without having to leave my room and make noise. I don't think there's a time she wishes we had done that more than at night!!)

This was just a rant. Unfortunately, there's nothing anyone can do. I just have to make sure I keep a heating pad on it as much as I can, and then just take it easy. Just not do anything I don't absolutely have to do. I only have one errand I have to run tommorow, and it's on my way to getting lunch, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I'm just really dissapointed. I've managed to get sick, which rarely happens, and bust up my back, which usually doesn't get this bad, all in the first 2 weeks of school. I really hate to see what condition I'm gonna be in mid-way through the semester. I'll probably be home-bound. :mad: :confused: :(

[Bobbi]

Erin,

Do you possibly have allergies? I have a lot of pain in my ears (sudden stabbing pain at times). I do take allergy medication or all the nodes in my mouth and throat get all gross; my PCP explained that the nodes shrink with age, so there's the "good news, I suppose. My immune system overtaxes itself completely without the allergy medication. And, my doc told me how congestion / fluid also affects the tubes in people's ears. I went roughly a year barely able to hear a sound.

Is it also possible that you might have ischial bursitis or sciatic probs? In school or sitting anywhere for a stretch of time, maybe, try a soft cushion.

If it is ischial bursitis, it is something your doc(s) might be able to help relieve with some med. and also a bit of PT. Until you find out, I'd try keeping weight off the "bum" area as much as possible. The type of bursitis I'm mentioning is also known as "weaver's bottom"; people whom work in professions where there is a lot of sitting have felt it; it can be extremely painful.

If me? I'd find out.

If you've used such things as Deep Heat or Icy Hot in the past and haven't had any adverse reaction, I'd also try that. I wouldn't use either together or in tandem or apply before going to sleep. (The stuff is as the names suggest: an icy hot feeling.)

It's always better to find out from a doctor, which I'm not, yet... what you're describing just made me think of the possibilities you might want to discuss with your doc.

[BrokenBladder]

Erin I'm so sorry to hear this. Keep your chin up and hopefully you can get through this without missing to much school.

Bobbi quick question. I've been have bad earaches since December and have been on antibiotics twice now. Have you found anything that helps other than allergy medicine? It hurts so much.

[curiousforever]

That sounds like me with my sciatic problems. If it hurts around the middle of one side of your butt, then down the back of the leg, behind the knee on down, it's sciatic nerve.

It hurts me to stand up, walk too much, drive, lay down, pretty much everything.

Stinks I know.

[Bobbi]

Lisa, not really. My allergy medicine helps keep everything "in-check" fairly well. I have tried going a few months - each year - without taking any, yet I spend the days sneezing and with my eyes burning. Instead of suffering, though, the medication just whips most of the probs. within about 3 to 7 days.

Alfalfa (growing and being harvested) is the absolute worst for me; there are a couple of other things, but I've not figured out what the smell is when it's in the air (outdoors).

Have you tried warm compresses? Sometimes holding those over my ears or behind my ears (near the lobes) also helps some.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Erin I'm so sorry to hear this. Keep your chin up and hopefully you can get through this without missing to much school.

Bobbi quick question. I've been have bad earaches since December and have been on antibiotics twice now. Have you found anything that helps other than allergy medicine? It hurts so much.


It is not unusual for earaches to be cause by fluid in the tube between your ear and throat (Estacian tubes)... often a product like Sudafed will help it drain

[Bobbi]

Thanks Steve ;).

I didn't think of Sudafed; I'm afraid it might cause a prob. with my heart medication. (The only OTC I use is Mucinex DM; my PCP suggested it when I had a cold for 3 months last year.)

[Pharmacist.steve]

Thanks Steve ;).

I didn't think of Sudafed; I'm afraid it might cause a prob. with my heart medication. (The only OTC I use is Mucinex DM; my PCP suggested it when I had a cold for 3 months last year.)

If you monitor your heart rate and BP .. a short run of sudafed maybe a "evil necessity".. of course DM can potentiate some of the opiates and other CNS depressant drugs

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

I have used Mucinex before for colds. But last summer when I ruptured my eardrum (as Steve said...eustachian tubes were blocked and I didn't even know it), my ENT prescribed Nasocort. If I remember correctly, I was to use it once a day every day during allergy season only. Anyway, it kept those tubes open. I am not sure if you could use this or not. But it worked for me.

[Tbackpain1]

I have had terrible ear/nose/throat issues since I was a kid. My eustacian tubes are completely scarred now, so I have to be very aware of any "wierd" ear stuff, since I've ruputured my ear-drums a couple times already (no hearing loss yet). I take daily Claratin for the allergies (been on it for years) and I also use Nasa-Cort, or as I lovingly call it "Cort-a-Snot".

When I absolutely have to try and adjust the pressure in my ears, such as driving over moutains, high bridges, etc. I just open my mouth and work the throat muscles to get things to equalize. My ENT showed me how to do it when I was a kid, and its still the only thing that works for me.

I've found that mucinex is helpful when I'm all gunked up further down the respiratory tract. Like Bobbi, cuz of heart issues, I cannot use products that contain psuedoephedra, like Sudafed, or any of the "D" decongestant products. Its a fine balancing act with these medications, but if you can treat it symptomatically, you should be ok. Don't forget, this time of year, the dry air really messes with your nasal passages, so get your humidifier working over-time.

Erin, I hear you about the spring semester. That's always when I've had to withdraw from courses in the past, and its so damaging to my self esteem when I get so close to my goal and have to fall back because my body won't cooperate. I'm in a similar boat with you...I have another 18 cr to finish, and I just can't seem to get to the point where I'm healthy enough to do it. I have different reqs for my degree than you do, but the work load for both of us is very consuming, and having "down time" to recuperate is just unheard of during your last year of coursework. Take it one step at a time...I know you hate having to deal with your office for students w/disabilities, but if accomodations are what its gonna take for you to be able to finish, then girl, you're gonna have to suck up your pride and deal with the "looks" and ignorant professors and give them a piece of your mind. The state is required to make accomodations for you, so the profs can all go sod-off if they don't like it.

Keep your chin up girl. I'm sure this will pass. Whenever I get upper respiratory issues, my whole spine decides to get in on the act...the coughing and need to be upright for breathing just makes my ribs start shouting at me, and the wrap around muscle pain can be murder. Just keep using the old, Rest, Ice/Heat deal and I'm sure you'll be doing better soon.

<hugs>

Theresa

[Bobbi]

If I'm understanding correctly, Steve, you're saying that the Mucinex DM can increase the effects of other medications I'm taking? Seriously, I'm not feigning lame; I just want to make sure I understand so I can ask my doc about it - i.e., why she suggested the Mucinex. The type of cold I had, when she told me to buy it, was an airborne virus and I just couldn't "shake it." (I know how I got it; from small (toddler-age) cousin who wanted to push my wheelchair and ride on my lap. Weird as it may sound, it was well worth it (she cried so hard when I had to leave - a Thanksgiving dinner) She's just as cute as a button.



Theresa, if I remember correctly, doesn't your BP (and other rates) also run on the low side without the heart med? And, when you're deciding whether to take a medication - allergy or cold - how do you know the potential effects? Is it by reading, your medical knowledge? As y'know, I'm curious :D. BTW: I tried Claritin (when it was still Rx'd) but it didn't seem to help. Zyrtec is the kicker, for me; it knocks the allergies back a bunch :). Do you have to take the Claritin every day?


Kathi, I'll ask my doc about the Nasocort; I've not heard of it until today :cool:.

[Pharmacist.steve]

Steve, you're saying that the Mucinex DM can increase the effects of other medications I'm taking?

The DM can potentiate opiates and anything that can suppress the CNS.. Mucinex is the same thing that is in Plain Robitussin... except Robitussin has 100mg/5ml and a tablet of Mucinex is 600mg..

The nasalcort is a cortisone nasal spray ... using it as a nasal spray gets a very topical/local effect and almost none get absorbed systemically
It is not a quick fix and it best used to prevent problems in conjunction with antihistamines & decongestants

[Tbackpain1]

Hey Bobbi,

My heart issue (paroxsysmal supraventricular tachycardia) causes me to have an abnormally high heart rate, but the medication to treat it caused me to have dangerously low BP, so I just have to be careful about what I take into my body that could act as a stimulant. My BP in general runs about 100/60, so adding in anything that lowers it really isn't all that fun.

About the pseudoephedra products (Sudafed, etc.), when I was younger I would get really jittery from it, and once I knew I had the abnormally high heart rate, my cardio made sure I was aware that I need to stay away from anything that speeds up my heart rate, especially OTC cold medicines with "PE". Once my ticker get's sped up, often times it doesn't want to slow down, which lands me in the hospital for 24hrs, so I will do anything and everything to avoid that.

Working in the telemetry and cardiac care units gave me alot of further understanding of what's going on with my ticker and what different medications can do to your heart, even when its healthy. Pharmacology classes certainly added to it, but mostly its been curiosity for me. And with all the meds I've been prescribed over the past 5 years or so, I've been picking the Pharmacist In Charge's brain on a very regular basis. When I'm sick with chest colds, I make sure to check before I start taking anything, because I'm always concerned that there could be a potential interaction with my prescriptions.

There's used to be alot of stuff here on DM as a potentiating agent for opiate medications...I really wish I could remember where I found some of the articles. There were a couple of people who were on DM treatment regimines with their opiates for some conditions, but I am drawing a blank on what the conditions were...I think one or two of them were CRPS/RSD.

I don't know what to tell ya about the Claratin. I only use the regular claratin, not the 24hr or the "D" version. I didn't have good results with Zyrtec, but that just goes to reinforce that what works for one won't always work for another. I use the "cort-a-snot" spray daily for my nose, and also as a topical agent for my patch locations, since I get a reaction to the patch adhesive. It works great for both, but like Steve said, its gotta be used on a regular basis to have some effect.

Take it easy.

Theresa

[Bobbi]

Steve and Theresa, I so much appreciate all the info. you've each posted :).

I've a slight prob., though, I'm at a loss when I see the information about "potentiating" and possibly suppressing the CNS.

In layperson's terms: Whatcha talking about? or what is the worst possible outcome?

I admire you both and respect so much your breadth of knowledge. But... I want to be sure I am understanding, and I don't. I'd like to think I do, but I really do want to be certain. (If we were all talking computers, I'd "get it" fast :D).

Is it that, i.e., some OTCs - such as the Mucinex DM - can reduce rates and cause ... maybe a flatline?

As you know, I already have my one inhaler (Stadol) and... not sure I'd want to get another or struggle to have to get it filled for the med. to achieve desired effects.

I'm just so tired, and... trying my hardest to make sure I'm not screwing up my organs or anything ;).

Thank you for explaining about pseudoephedra products, Theresa. It seems that that's why my cardio told me to avoid, i.e., caffeine (which I don't consume anyway).

[DiMarie]

Erin, when I get the sciatica flare like it sounds you may have there are two things that help fast and effectively.

I called the doctor and fit in for a shot of toradol. It is an anti inflamatory. My sciatica nerve will flare and inflame, but the muscles will actually try to protect it and I can not put pressure on the foot or leg. It is a killer. I have toradol pill, but the shot in the hip is what it takes and some valium as a muscle relaxant to really calm mine. My two children would falre too, I had ER do this, Demerol didn’t touch a flare one time, and the toradol, was great. It is not narcotic, a kick butt aspirin type product.
Valium is the worlds truest muscle relaxant. Short term maybe doc will help.

Dianne
PS: Oh for the zit a cotton ball and witch Hazel, My youngest takes a cotton ball with warm water and kosher salt to soak a bit, then adds a drop of honey on top. My theory is that the Kosher salt dries and honey adds moisture???
Witch hazel is good to if you have any., Also, a hot wash cloth to bring it to a head,

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

Steve is right and I forgot to add that I was also prescribed Allegra. I did get the Allegra prescription filled but never took any as the Nasacort seemed to work just fine. I think at the time I just didn't want to dump yet another pill down my stomach. And my allergies just weren't all that bad. Okay, so I probably should have taken the Allegra in conjunction with the Nasacort. :)

Theresa,

I can't take Sudafed or anything similar either. I get very jittery. I remember taking Contac back in the day, when I was younger, and I would just be wired all day long. When Claritin came out, I was switched to that and it was like a miracle med. :) Over the years I have outgrown hay fever but still have a little bit of spring allergies.

Oh and when my daughter was about 2 or 3 she had a non stop runny nose. I couldn't figure out what was going on so I took her to a pediatric allergist. Come to find out she was allergic to wheat, milk and citrus fruit and just about every plant outside! And, she was too young to get the allergy shots as her immune system wasn't built up enough yet; something like that according to the doctor. Darn, and all that time I had been giving her milk, orange juice, oranges and Cream of Wheat cereal sometimes. I was making her sicker and didn't know it. So, the doctor advised that I give her 1 tsp of Benadryl every day. By the time she was in 5th grade or so she had outgrown all of those allergies.

DiMarie,

I agree! Toradol was the only thing that would stop my cervicogenic headaches in their tracks. I never did have the pill form but the injections, done in the ER, kicked those headaches right out. And Valium is a blessing! It is too bad we can't take it long term. But for immediate relief of muscle spasms there is nothing better.

[Tbackpain1]

Bobbi,

Ok, break it down here...You take Stadol. That's an opiate. DXM (dextromethorphan) is a NDMA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) inhibitor. NDMA inhibitors have been found to cause a decrease in the excitability of neurons in the spinal cord (central sensitization). So, if you have a tissue injury, the thought is that if you dose with an NDMA like DXM, then you can limit the likelihood of having central sensitization occur.

When DXM is used in conjuncion with an opiate, the chemisty actions within the body cause the opiate to bind to your opiate receptors more effectively, from what I understand. So, by binding better, the action of the medication is stronger, which includes things like suppression of your respiratory centers, which can cause a decrease in your rate of respiration.

If you do a "google" search on DXM and opiates, you will get a TON of articles, but alot of them have stuff about the actual chemistry, which I'm not as good at explaining as Mrs.D or Steve. So, hopefully they will jump in here and clear it up a little more.

I've spoken with my PM doc and my pharmacist about when I have to take DXM for chest colds, and as long as I don't keep up with the dosing for too long, they're ok with it. I only use Mucinex for a couple days to get over the worst of the symptoms. Its really something that has to be worked out with you and your doctors to be sure that its acceptable for you to take the two together. I'm going to see if I can find some articles that explain it better in plain english...though I don't know how successful I will be.

On another note, people who are ceasing opiate therapy are also given DXM in conjunction with other medications to ease the transition, but explaining the hows and whys are beyond me.

Theresa

[Lea]

Erin,

It could possibly be bursitis. I get that alot and it IS painful. If the muscle relaxers help, you might also trying doing a gentle heel stretch. Face the wall, flex the toes of the affected leg onto the wall, keeping your heel on the floor and your other leg slightly behind you and gently lean forward. You should feel a pull in the calves and hip. My PT taught me how to do this and it helps. Also, getting a cortisone shot into the hip helps as well.

Unfortunately, our backs are not predictable. I have had flares like that before and it is scary. Try not to think of the worst case scenario. It may just be muscular.

Good luck sweetie.

[ErinENj]

It is officially muscular, so I can start breathing again! :rolleyes: :o The pain has been coming and going, but let me tell you, when it comes, oh boy, I know it's there! But when I'm smart and do what I'm supposed to with rest and heat, I feel almost normal. I'm thinking about asking my mom if there might be some extra money in the next week or two so that I might be able to get just a half hour massage to get everything completely relaxed so I can kinda start with a clean slate. I'm a little nervous about school tommorow, simply because none of what I do at school is stuff I should be doing, but I'm bringing my muscle relaxers and am going to try out those Therma Care Heat Wraps (Anyone have any idea if these things work or did I waste my $7.00????). Hopefully, it'll work so I won't have to bring my heat pak (it's one of those things they're always peddling in the mall; they're basically a bag of these small aromatic beads that you can either throw in the microwave for heat or in the freezer for cold. I have one that's just a square with baffles in it and I have my mom's that actually have velcro straps that you can use to attach it to you so you can do stuff while you have it on.). I brought it with me when this happened last semester, but I had access to a microwave that was in a room only one other person used (she's the janitor..really great person! Just one of those nice people that are so rare in this world anymore) and used it before most people even got to school. Hopefully, this thing will work long enough for me to get through the majority of my schedule tommorow, including the hike up 2 flights of stairs so I can hand in my graduation application, which is due Wednesday. There's an elevator in that building, but it's a really, really, really scary one! It stops randomly and you never know if it'll start again. I've never used it, but I've only heard bad things about it!

Lea, I actually was doing those stretches lying down before. It was just random, I just put my heel down while I was stretching and I felt it straight up my leg and into my back and it didn't hurt when I let go, so I did it a bunch of times. I'll definately be using that one from now on! And if our backs were predictable, this life would be no fun whatsoever! ;) :p Where would we get the excitement in our lives? :D It'd be so boring to know what our backs were gonna pull tommorow! :rolleyes: hehe! At least my sense of humor is still intact! :D

This is only the second time this has happened when it wasn't mechanical, but the next time I go see my doc, I'm gonna have a chat with him to see if there's something that he can do to help me get through it all quicker, like the shot in the hip that some of you mentioned. I was actually, and convenietly, just put on Flexeril, which really works for my muscle tension. I just upped the dosage a little bit to try and get this settled down. I'm not above what I'm allowed to take per day (I'm allowed 4 a day, I'm taking 2 doses of 2 pills), so I won't run out early, but it seems to help. I have I think only 3 pills of Valium left, and I've got to hold onto them for my next dental appointment (I have issues with dentists. Not mine, just the entire profession. I'll never understand what makes a person think, "oh, I'd love to go to work every day and stick my hands in people's mouths, cause them pain, and have to breathe in their bad breath all day!! Yippee! Sounds like fun!" That pick thing...there are no words to explain the amount of terror that sucker brings up in me! The last cleaning I had, I told the hygenist to go easy, my teeth have major issues, so there's almost definately a couple cavities, so go easy with the pick. The third tooth she pushed down in with the pick..yeah, it had a cavity!!!! OWWWW!! I nearly bit her hand off. And I was doped up on valium and I had nitrous. Yeah, I have some issues with dental practitioners). But the flexeril seems to be working pretty well. The pain isn't as constant as it was, and I can tell when I'm doing something I shouldn't be when I stand up and the pain is really intense.

Oh, and the bronchitis is getting a lot better, thankfully. And thanks for posting that we can't use Mucinex! My mom almost had me taking it (I was keeping her up coughing. I just have this real issue with going to bed when I hear weezing in my chest.) a few nights ago! The coughing has died down some, not gone, but it's not nearly as bad as it was. And I even managed to pop my ears without having to hold my nose. I can do it on demand, just by moving my jaw in the right way. It's a natural mutation when you live on a mountain. :p

Okay, time for bed. I'm sorry I couldn't post to you all individually, but I have to try to get to bed early tonight! It's a rough week when you start it out by not getting enough sleep, especially with the muscle relaxers! Gotta try to make it through class without falling asleep, especially with my classes, since I sit in the front row in my first one and there's only like 10 people in my second class, so there's no way I wouldn't be noticed napping. (And, once, I fell asleep in the same classroom my first class is, and my head slammed into the huge english book on the desk. It made a lot of noise, but the professor didn't even miss a beat, even though the entire class turned around and looked at me, so I have a bad track record with sleeping in that classroom!!)

Thanks again everyone!! And I'm really glad that this thread helped so many other people! It's so nice when that happens! :D

[Bobbi]

Erin, first: I want to say thank you so much for intro'ing this thread. I've been learning a great deal as an effect :). (I also want to apologize if my interjection of questions may have been distracting.)

If you are going to use the ThermaCare wraps, I'd be sure to have some first aid or med. tape to make sure the pads adhere. The self-adhesive sticky stuff on the pads hasn't worked well for me - in that the wraps fall off; I've used them for my C-spine and L-spine and they do as claim only as long as they remain in place. The info. about them says the longevity but it is so shortened when the tabs just don't "stick." It kinda reminds me of Lidoderm patches which also don't "stay put." Maybe not the brightest idea I've had, but it worked: I used clear packaging tape to make the patches stay in place (with Lidoderm... and one may conjure the same thought as I: can't the makers work out a better "scheme" for having the patches stay in place?) I have to soak off the tape and place the goods in a trash can with a lid and I also close the door; I take no risks when it comes to my pooch.

I don't know if you have any pets, but if so, when discarding the wraps or any medicated pads, please make sure to fold the medicated portion against itself before tossing. (I place mine in a sealable bag and treat it like a bio-hazard). You may already be doing so :).

I'd just love for you to be able to make it to your slated date for your graduation... and, too, you know: You do have to do what feels right for your body. If some things are just "too much" at this time, there are people who understand. A number of people have had to delay a few dates when our minds have been set on just making it to those events.

I know that you've also mentioned your concern about job prospects as a journalist. In addition to doing freelance (which is a work-for-hire), and if you get a great opportunity presented, just never negotiate on "all rights." Too, technical writing might also fit with your aims.


Kathi and Theresa: Thank you oodles and oodles :). I'm going to have to read your posts a couple more times. And, thank you for the googling tips. You gals (and guys) are fantastic :).