May end up in hospital (slipped disk again, getting worse, #52)

**Kirsten** · 02-28-2010, 06:44 AM

My health, the neverending story...

Today's the first day I'm feeling better after my stomach flu, but what's bothering me now is a bad sciatic nerve pain in my left leg, radiating from my lower back... Been dealing with back pains for a while again, and the sciatic pain started last Monday, but this morning, it became REALLY bad.

All this reminds a lot of the last weeks before my back surgery in 2004, when I had that herniated disk. I spoke to a befriended nurse on the phone this morning, and she said that what I decribed sounds very much like a another slipped disk. She also reminded me that, in case of numbness in my leg, I'd have to go to ER immediately. It's been the same in 2004, btw.

So don't be surprised when I'm suddenly missing, even thought I will try to keep you imformed, if possible. But sometimes this goes very fast, so I don't know if there's any time left.

The bad thing is, I don't have anyone to look after Luna and Lily this time. My mother just had knee surgery, and is still in bad pain. I just don't know how to organize this, especially when there's no time!

So please keep your fingers crossed that the hospital can be avoided! I'm really tired of all this crap, but it never seems to end for me...

I must have been a very bad person in my previous life!

Kirsten

**wombat2u2004** · 02-28-2010, 06:55 AM

Ahhhh Kirsten, you are having a bit of a bad run huh ????
You take care now mate, and look after yourself.

Can you arrange a neighbour or someone to look after the cats ????
Wom

**Kirsten** · 02-28-2010, 06:57 AM

Can you arrange a neighbour or someone to look after the cats ????

I would prefer not to. But that's complicated to explain in an open forum... I'll pm you.

**Medusa** · 02-28-2010, 07:37 AM

Have you tried acupuncture for sciatica, Kirsten? My son has sciatica and he had acupuncture done and it relieved the pain. I don't think he's had any sciatica since.

**Kirsten** · 02-28-2010, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Medusa

Have you tried acupuncture for sciatica, Kirsten? My son has sciatica and he had acupuncture done and it relieved the pain. I don't think he's had any sciatica since.

No, I haven't. Accupuncture isn't paid by the health insurances here.

Kirsten

**Medusa** · 02-28-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by Kirsten

No, I haven't. Accupuncture isn't paid by the health insurances here.

Kirsten

I'm not sure what the cost would be there, Kisten, but here it varies. I paid $80 a session when I had it done for arthritis and it decreases if you buy a package. My son needed only one session to get relief. I'm sorry that you're in such pain. I know that sciatica is excruciating.

**momcat** · 03-02-2010, 08:27 PM

Oh Kirsten, I can't begin to tell you how sad I felt reading your post. I only wish I knew what to say or do to make all of this go away forever for you. Please know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. If there's anything I can do to help you through this, pm me anytime

**Kirsten** · 03-03-2010, 11:01 AM

Thank you everyone for your support!

Thanks a lot for the candle, Pat, it's very appreciated!

And Karen, that is so sweet of you that you would even care for Luna and Lily despite of your allergies!

I saw the orthopedist this morning, but haven't been sent to MRT yet. They first tried some shots (between the facette joints), and if that's not helping, they will discuss further options. So I still have to wait.

As far as being hospitalized goes... there's another threat hanging over my head now. As you may know, I'm unemployed right now, and since I'm dealing with various health problems for a long time (constant nausea, gastrointestinal problems, and - since last fall - depression), they're going to send me to a medical service that's supposed to find out to which degree I'm still able to work. I have already been told that in the process, I will most likely be sent to a psychosomatic clinic for further threatment and threapy, and usually you have to stay for 6, or even 8 weeks. The thought of that makes me bawl my eyes out, I cannot be seperated from my girls for such a long time!!! In 2008, when I was at the clinic for 6 weeks after my burnout, it's been one of the hardest things I've ever been through, being parted from my girls for such a long time! And now they want me to do that again!! I don't want to go, and I don't even think they could help me in such a clinic!! I'm pretty sure my nausea and exhaustion is NOT psychosomatic, I would think it's related to my thyroid condition! But if I refuse to go, they will cut down my unemployment money, so I'm trapped!

But I know I cannot leave my girls!!!

I already told the woman at the unemployment office that I have no one to look after my cats, and she said I'd have to give them to the shelter in such a case!!!

Go figure!!

**carole** · 03-03-2010, 01:19 PM

Oh kirsten sweetheart, my heart goes out to you,I so wish I could help you, sadly from here i can only offer you my love and support.

Honestly that person who suggested you give your cats to a shelter needs a good talking to,how on earth is that going to help you ,especially when you are feeling so unwell,and low.

Dear Kirsten I know how it feels to feel like hell and not know what is causing it,there is nothing more upsetting than that.

I can see you are caught up in an awful dilemma, I can only hope with all my heart there is a way for everything to work out for you and your precious furbabies ,you will be in my daily thoughts and fingers and all paws crossed for a positive outcome HUGS.

**Catty1** · 03-03-2010, 05:53 PM

Kirsten - can you meet up with that group of cat ladies soon? I know you want someone you trust to look after your heartbabies...and that may take time...but then again you may find out some great ideas from them. Brainstorm some ideas.

You aren't at the clinic YET...so you can do some homework on this for your girls. Maybe even a pet rescue would have some ideas, could even find a good foster family.

Maybe a tech from your vet's who might volunteer to come in?

I wish we PTrs were there!

HUGS!!

**Kirsten** · 03-04-2010, 09:05 AM

Candace, looks like I'm going to meet them tomorrow, so we will see if that's an option. Tomorrow I'll also have the appointment with the medical service of the unemployment office, and I'm really nervous about that. Hope that meeting won't drag me down too much, so I'll still be able to go to the catpeople meeting.

Carole, thanks for your kind words!

Originally Posted by carole

Honestly that person who suggested you give your cats to a shelter needs a good talking to,how on earth is that going to help you ,especially when you are feeling so unwell,and low.

Unfortunately, pets don't count for the authorities. I was even told not to mention the cats at all, because that could get me into trouble, and they'll cut down my money immediately.

Kirsten