Category: pain

Posted in Diet, pain

Ridiculous Pain

Posted on by Tony

I have just spent the last 4 days in the most ridiculous pain. And I am pretty sure it was because of the foods I have been eating since the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I have consumed copious amounts of high carb and sugary foods.

Eating that way I believe that I caused enough inflammation in my body to cause significant pressure on the sciatic nerve on both sides of my body. The pain was almost unbearable in both legs. I didn’t sleep for nearly three days or nights.

The pain has now subsided. It only took about 36 hours or so of near-fasting. And today I have barely had any carbs, and no sugar whatsoever. I don’t really know how much this has actually affected my inflammation, or maybe it is coincidental, but I feel 100% better.

I have come to expect pain because of aging, and especially the degenerative disc disease. The last few days have made it clear that I should work very hard to avoid eating foods that would do me harm no matter how boring it can be.

I just find myself with an overwhelming desire to eat something processed (bread, cake, pie etc.). And if I don’t have it in the house I’ll run out to store and get it. Shameful I know. It’s the truth though.

So, needless to say, I have not been that successful during this first month of the year. I haven’t given up though. I can’t.  Eating the wrong crap makes me feel like..well, crap. Wish me better success. And if you feel so inclined, pray for me.

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Posted in Diet, pain

Sunday Morning

Posted on by Tony

I woke up this morning with extreme neck pain. It is like a car was parked on top of me all night. As before, my pain has halted my activity in the gym. It has damned near halted all activity in my life.

I think I am somewhat depressed. I am starting to feel sorry for myself. I haven’t been able to ride my bicycle, not even my motorcycle. I can’t play my saxophone without pain. This is one hell of life I’m living!

Posted in pain

Doctors Visit

Posted on by Tony

I had a doctors appointment today to talk about my increasing pain. As I suspected, there is really nothing more they can do for my lower back.  He did say he’d schedule another MRI. He thinks that maybe the vertebra below my lumbar fusion may be wearing out sooner than expected. I don’t want another surgery though. In the meantime, I will be receiving a shot for the pain.

I can still go to the gym if I want, but I’m not allowed, or rather, shouldn’t perform any exercises that compress my spine in any way. So military press is out. Squats are out. Bent over rows for my back are out. That leaves me mostly isolation exercises, which aren’t necessarily able to help me burn fat.

My goal was to do exercises that used large muscle groups because it is great for stimulating hormone production and burning fat. Squats was a big part of what makes that happen.  Now I will have to find other ways to stimulate the body to produce growth hormones (testosterone).

So, anyway, it seems I will be in pain for a while. The pain is so bad sometimes I can’t sleep. And sometimes I go for days without sleep. Hopefully, the shot will help, but my back is completely whacked out.

On a good note, my motorcycle has been repaired, and I went for a ride today. On the downside, it made my shoulders and neck hurt. So I don’t think I will keep it if I can’t ride it. I love riding but I can’t stand the pain.

Oh yea, My diet is holding fast. I haven’t gained any weight resulting from not going to the gym.

Posted in Diet, Health, pain

Still More Pain

Posted on by Tony

The pain in my neck is increasing still. I made another appointment with the surgeon who performed my surgery. The medication I am taking does n0t stop my pain, but, makes me pretty dizzy; hydrocodone.

The surgery was supposed to  relieve neck pain but it seems to have made it worse. It was the same with my lower back. I don’t know why I keep listening to these doctors. I can promise you though, I have had my last spinal surgery.

If this pain ever goes away I will not complain about any other pain that may come, at least not to a doctor. I don’t think I can take another pain increase.

Posted in pain

Increasing Pain

Posted on by Tony

A few mornings ago, just before waking up, I found myself in sleep, praying for death because of the pain in my lower back. I have only prayed for death one other time, which I will not tell about.

In the last couple of weeks, I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my back. It hurts worst in the morning when I first wake up. It hurts throughout the night which is why I don’t get much sleep because I’m constantly waking up and changing positions. But then at some point, I get so tired that I do actually fall into a deeper sleep and don’t move for a long while. That’s what causes the most pain.

I have had a Tempur-pedic mattress which did not help much. I now have a Sleep number bed, and it is no more help. I’m not saying that these are not good products. I’m saying my condition has become more than a good bed can help.

I don’t know what else I can do. Pain meds don’t seem to help, so I don’t them very much. Needless to say, again, pain has slowed my efforts in the gym. However, at least this time I am eating better. I can also still walk without much difficulty.

 

Posted in pain, surgery

Surgery Update

Posted on by Tony

I am in recovery. My surgery went well but I have a really sore throat. It will be that way for a few days I suppose.

They gave me good pain medication when I first woke up, Percocet. They have now switched to Neurontin which is non-addictive, and not as strong. So it takes a little longer to work, but it does.

Dr. Highsmith seems to think the surgery went very well and that I should have some relief from my neck pain. He also said that my grip was very much stronger than it was before, since the nerve is no longer being pinched.

Once I am healed I should be able to go back to lifting heavier weight at the gym.
Overall I think it went much better than my lower back surgery in 2010. And I think it will heal more quickly.

I have not eaten for nearly 33 hours. And though I am not hungry at the moment, I suspect in about an hour or so I will be extremely hungry, because they have stopped my IV, and I am up and about.

If I don’t eat here at the hospital before being discharged this morning, I will most certainly stop and waffle house and have some scrambled eggs and sausage. That is, if I can swallow it.

Posted in Diet, Health, pain

Surgery

Posted on by Tony

I am scheduled for surgery on June 13. It will be to repair a herniated disc in my neck. They will cut a hole in the front of my neck, move my throat to one side, and take the disc out, add an implant, and close.

Sounds easy enough but, as I found out with my back surgery, nothing is easy. My back surgery recovery was supposed to be about 8 weeks.  It turned out to be closer to 8 months, and I still experience pain from it to this day.

I’m not expecting it to be easy this time either. I’m not really looking forward to it.  However, it is necessary because the disc is pressing against a nerve, which is causing some weakness and numbness in the left side of my body.

On the right side of my neck is a bone spur, which is causing pain. This will also be repaired. I really hope this surgery relieves some of that.

I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, so, it may not be my last time in surgery. I guess that’s assuming I survive this one.

Anyway, I am still losing weight. The diet is still going well. I’m looking forward to more progress.

Posted in pain, physical therapy

Dealing With My Pain Issues

Posted on by Tony

I went to the gym today. I did things I probably should not have been doing. I did bench press and military press, and a few other things. I couldn’t resist. I don’t want all this work I’ve done since summer to go to waste. I have worked hard and I don’t want to quit. After doing a light workout with the weights I did my usual 45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical machine.

I am in physical therapy for my shoulder pain. The pain had steadily increased since the summer. Finally it got to the point I had to see a doctor about it. Of course they start with x-rays, physical therapy, and if that doesn’t work, maybe shot of something that will relieve the pain. Finally, if none of that works, perhaps an MRI, then surgery to repair whatever is causing the pain.

While in the navy I don’t remember ever having a shoulder pain. It was always my back. And I don’t remember ever hurting my shoulders. They just started to hurt one day, before I ever went to the gym, and continued to get worse.

My hope is that they can be strengthened through PT, and no surgery will be required. I was really on a roll getting in shape. I would like to see it through to completion.

Posted in pain, physical therapy

At a Full Stop

Posted on by Tony

I haven’t been to the gym to actually lift weights in a couple of weeks. My shoulders have gotten so bad that I can barely use my arms. I started physical therapy last week. They gave me some exercises to do. At first it seemed like it was helping, but now I’m not sure. They hurt worse than ever.

I have PT today. Hopefully it gets better. Although I have been 3 times a week to the gym for cardio, I have gained 6 pounds. That’s because I have never really gotten my eating fully under control. I will have to if I want to keep from gaining all the weight back.

Ah, life when you get older, so much fun! Aging! It’s not for cowards.

Posted in Health, pain

Pain Getting In the Way

Posted on by Tony

I have not been to the gym this week yet. I have been experiencing a lot of shoulder and neck pain. I haven’t been able to sleep very well. This morning I didn’t get up because I was so tired. I guess I was so tired that the pain no longer woke me up. That is exactly what was happening all last night. Every time I’d fall asleep the pain in my shoulder, and, or neck would wake me up. Around 8 am I was so tired I just stayed in bed. I slept till about 10:30.

I have since been cleaning my house. It has been a mess for the last few days. Not to mention that the cat loves to tear up paper and other things. She makes a real mess. Sometimes I hate her. Anyway, I don’t think I’m going to the gym today. Maybe tomorrow. I’m not sure I will be able to do anything other than cardio though, and maybe legs. My shoulders keep me from working with my arms. So that knocks out chest, back and shoulder workouts for right now.

I am supposed to begin physical therapy next week but I don’t think it’s going to help. I think I want to do something else. I think MRI’s  should be taken. I really feel like I may need surgery, or something. I just don’t think PT is going to work.  What I feel feels like bone grinding and getting snagged or hung on something. Not only is it painful, but it is uncomfortable.