For those new to my blog, I injured my lower back shoveling snow on December 9th. Then within the next two weeks, I slipped and fell on ice TWICE. Since then, I’ve gone to countless physical therapy appointments,  had a series of traditional and alternative medical treatments, rationed out my Lortab conservatively to not become addicted, and I just don’t think I’m doing better. Actually, I’m certain that I’m doing worse.

Earlier this week, I had an MRI on my lumbar spine. It’s the first time I’ve had an MRI, and I’m glad that I was scheduled with a facility with an Open MRI machine. I dressed in scrubs, took off all my metal, and was strapped to a hard, cold table.  They gave me noise-canceling headphones, and I was able to choose from a pretty extensive list of music. Since I already have some negative memories associated, I chose The Fray. After 30 minutes of strange noises (Ka-CHUNG ka-CHUNG ka-CHUNG; Re-HEE Re-HEE Re-HEE; Thump Thump Hiss Thump Thump Hiss) I got dressed, and was told my doctor would have the results in the next  day or two.

It took a few calls to my clinic before I actually got to talk to a nurse. She read portions of the radiology report to me. I don’t have herniated L4-L5-S1 as originally diagnosed, but it’s possible the spinal injury has resolved itself. But there was “strange activity” in my lumbosacral region, which was consistent with spinal cysts….or could be caused by subcutaneous fat irritation. In her words, “So, it could just be that you’re in pain because you carry a lot of weight in your lower back/hip area, but we just want to make sure that you don’t have a spinal tumor.” SAY WHAT? SPINAL TUMOR? She scheduled me for a follow-up MRI with contrast, and told me to take it easy.

I will not lie. I’ve got a big butt. A huge one actually. One that even Sir Mix-a-Lot would shun. It would be just my luck that I’m in so much pain because of my bootyliciousness. I hurt my back shoveling my snow, for Pete’s sake! I’ve always carried a lot of “junk in my trunk” and never had back pain from it. In my expert Google opinion, I think I may have had cysts on my spine for a while, but they were traumatically irritated by the injury. I never felt like my 3x-weekly physical therapy was doing me much good, and I was REALLY creeped out my my physical therapist. Through these 10 weeks of back pain, I’ve been encouraged to keep my physical activity “light,” and not do anything to aggravate the injury. I was into a pretty intense workout schedule before, and was starting to lose weight. Now I’ve gained another 20 pounds since the injury, and weigh the most I ever have.

Allow me to vent for a moment:

I am sick of being sick. I’m sick of doctors appointments. I’m sick of going to the pharmacy. I’m sick of being in pain. I’m sick of my creepy physical therapist. I’m sick of having medical bills I can’t pay for. I’m sick of waiting around ER’s and Urgent Care Centers. I’m sick of the shortness of breath. I’m sick of antibiotics. I’m sick of yeast infections and thrush. I’m sick of my skin peeling off. I’m sick of the threatening letters from labs, specialists, radiologists, and other healthcare providers. I’m sick of not being able to exercise because the pain makes me cry. I’m sick of crying. I’m sick of being tired. I’m sick of it all. The End.