Degenerative Back Disease.......

is hard to live with. I say live with but I really want to say "suffer with" because this is truly the kind of pain that causes me to get depressed. It's the physical limitations more than anything.
I haven't had a really nasty flair up in years. I will get flair ups but I can normally get them under control within a week or so. They hurt, but it's not debilitating long term.
This is a nasty flair up. It started around Christmas time. I was organizing the pantry, cleaning out the refrigerator... all of those pre holiday chores that we have to do to get ready. I noticed my back was aching but that's pretty normal for me when I'm doing those types of chores. I made sure my posture was good when I was sitting. I took Advil to help with inflammation. I made sure that I was sleeping on my side at night and only on my side. Things like that. I knew something wasn't quite right because my pain never went away. It was always there. I was still able to do my normal routines for the most part but I was always aware that I was in the midst of a flair up.
My Dad gave me his old TENS unit. It really helped with the pain until it started feeling like I was being electrocuted. I thought the little probes needed to be replaced so I put the unit away and never took it back out. I'm not one to put myself through electrocution.....
The past week my back has progressively gotten worse. I kept telling myself it was time to see the Doctor but honestly, my options with that are steroids, higher dosage of anti inflammatory, pain meds (and you know how much I hate taking those things!), Chiropractic care (and that makes me worse), steroids (they help me a lot but the side effects are not good), and physical therapy. Physical therapy always helps me. The ultrasound, massage, etc......brings relief, but it's a long process. Again, I was hoping to handle this on my own. I've been pretty good at it for the past several years.
Well yesterday after being in the bathroom, I realized I was in trouble. My back went out so to speak......the nasty flair up. I knew I was in trouble. It progressed through the day and into the night. I barely slept. This morning I could not shower. I could barely wipe after going potty......that's how bad it gets. I could barely get my socks on. This is not good. So I'm calling the Doctor today. I took some Advil and plan to ice my back but I can tell this is a nasty flair up. I pray that I can get through this quicker than my last one which lasted for three months. It was not a fun time. :0(