Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Confessions of a Dyskopatia sufferer

The doctor told me I had dykopatia - discopathy, today. No, it’s not an irrational aversion to disco dancing - or even the Bee Gees - but it does explain why it feels like a hippopotamus has been kicking me in the back recently.

So sitting and writing long posts is just too tiring at the moment. Back when the pills start working.

34 comments:

Unknown said...

Did not finish - "had the same and went under the knife 3 years ago for it (in Poland). Perfect outcome, outstanding surgeon and post op care - was very impressed"

beatroot said...

went under the knife ???

Eek!!!

Unknown said...

Yeah, it was either that or possibly suffer some long term consequences based on the nerve root being pinched by that 'discopathy' - basically, in plain English a herniated disc.

Just some lessons learned - do you have any symptoms other than pain? There are some things to be aware of that can portend deeper involvement(feel free to drop me an email: wboynton8@gmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Bein' a geez, I can relate...

When I did it, it was the worst pain I've ever experienced. It's like lightening shooting up and down the leg with an electric cattle prod being stabbed into the disc when you attempt to move even a fraction of an inch. I couldn't get out of bed for almost a month. The hydrocodone, though, was very nice.

Then, in physical therapy, the asshole that worked with me fucked up another disc as well.

I was not good for close to a year.

I don't trust physical therapists.

Then it was pretty good for about 10 years and then last year I messed it up again but it didn't last as long.

Once your body gets a chance to repair itself, do all sorts of back exercises every freaking day to ward off it happening again. The exercises for herniated discs are all over the internet but the thing to be careful about is to find out if the herniation is inward or outward so you don't do the wrong exercises at the beginning. After a while, you can do all the exercises to maintain the muscle tone all around.

Licensed massage is good, too, if your insurance or Polish health care covers it. I get it for $10 for an hour session once a month and it works wonders all around.

Anonymous said...

Don't do the knife or even the laser bit until you've exhausted all other options. Give it time to heal and muscle up again.

varus said...

Take care and rest and get well soon.

Anonymous said...

I agree with geez but with the caveat that you need to really monitor the symptoms - pain down the leg, numbness, 'floppy foot' etc. The nerves that emanate from the spine are connected to a huge variety of organs as well as limbs. In my case the MRI showed that the nerve in question which did go down the left leg down to the foot was also a root that involved kidney's. In my case (and all are somewhat different) failure to take care of it could have created permanent damage to the kidney/bladder structures - nothing to be trifled with. Yes, anti-inflammatory drugs can help but constant monitoring and action may be needed. Be sure you have high-level med care for this type of thing.

beatroot said...

Floppy foot? Kidneys? Um...aaaaaaagrgrgrghhh...gurgle...

Anonymous said...

Yes - be careful - 'discopathy' depending on the severity, location etc is nothing to be sneezed at so to speak.

beatroot said...

This is turning into a bad back forum...nothing wrong with that.

So, I been looking at me pills. Two are types of anti-inflammatory with a bit of anti-pain stuff...the doctor described the third box - these pills are the size of my foot...as being "narcotics.."..similar to morphine for when the pain gets really bad. Have resisted them so far...

Kopy Pig said...

It must be comforting to know that the pain might yet get 'really bad' ;)

beatroot said...

ha ha

Anonymous said...

Nothing to sneeze at for sure.

Sneezes, as I recall, were excruciating.

beatroot said...

Exactly!!!

Unknown said...

Sneezes were the worst, I agree wholeheartedly. Anti-inflammatory is the way to go to start, you can see if it reduces the pressure.

Don't let the pain killer however mask the problem - if the pain persists take it up a notch on the medical ladder don't just take more pain medication. Anti Inflams should work in 48 hours max any longer and the problem is chronic not acute (well, she could be a cute but that remains to be seen - send photos of her)

beatroot said...

No, he's not cute...but yeah, taking it up the chain is my plan. There has been a five - ten percent improvment today...meaning I can just about put a pair of socks on by myself...but if it is not significantly better by Friday he told me to come back anyway.

But thanks for all the advice...you scared the crap out of me at times, but it's good to be warned to take this seriously. The doctor yesterday kept on saying "you must be patient" probably sensing that patience is something I just don;t have a lot of about anything...that's why I make such a lousy patient...got no patience, you see.

Anonymous said...

"Floppy foot? Kidneys? Um...aaaaaaagrgrgrghhh...gurgle..."

That was bloody hysterical :D

Unknown said...

island - sounds funny but unfortunately true. The nerve involved travels from the spine, branches to kidney area and down the leg. After the crushing pain abated then the tingling in the foot started and worked its way to become semi-numbness then a dearth of ability to fully control the foot - very bizarre and concerning to say the least. At that point (and with MRI, CAT scans) we made a decision not to let it go further - micro-neurosurgery was the next step - a big step at that. I had it done here in Poland by a doc who is considered to be one of if not the best - was up in 24 hours, walking, painless (even from the procedure) A 100% success

beatroot said...

The nerve involved travels from the spine, branches to kidney area and ....

Now I stopped reading at that point, have closed my eyes, stuck my fingers in my ears and am now going "Looloolooo....gurgle..."

Unknown said...

I know - I felt the same during each day of the process - every day threw a new surprise. Good luck tomorrow at the Doc - hope it works out well, fast

Anonymous said...

Not mention that the disc can rupture, too, if you don't take it seriously and go out disco poloing.

Unknown said...

Yes boss contact my mum she knows which drugs work the best! J

beatroot said...

Oh Matka...

roman said...

My advice: Slow down.. No sudden moves and definitely no rough sex.
Take two asperins and call me...

Kopy Pig said...

Ah, no pulling your cracker for Christmas, then?

beatroot said...

they don't have crackers in Poland. It's a protestant thing...

Kopy Pig said...

Ah, then I must have the only two crackers in Poland!

beatroot said...

??

Kopy Pig said...

Ah, I meant that I live in Poland, and I have two Christmas crackers sitting in my cupboard waiting for dinner on the 25th! :)

And it is strange that you think that it is a Protestant thing, as all the RCs I knew back in the UK have for generations had been pulling their crackers, reading the silly jokes and putting on the paper hats. I would not be surprised to find Hindus, Jews, Buddhists and people from all other religions will be pulling crackers too, for whatever reason.

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