u/4y6hu

I’ve always heard of the controversy around this statement, especially since it was very soon after Diana died. Does anyone have a link to or recording of it?

This is stemming from a now deleted post that I posted in another subreddit about a situation where I had a pet sitter watching my dogs over the weekend. She had eaten my food and I was frustrated. I didn’t tell her not to so I guess it’s on me, but everyone on the thread absolutely ripped me apart.

The thing is, the greater picture here is that other people have no idea what it’s like to not be able to easily hop into a store and replace items. I have had to use delivery services for my basic groceries and pet supplies now for months. I literally cannot walk into a store and I have to force myself to sit through excruciating pain just to drive to and from work. My life is so limited, and I feel like not having the foods I just bought sent me into a spiral. I felt so sad and cried all night. I just miss being able to function like a normal human being. Every little task feels like running an uphill marathon, and I don’t know if I will ever get better.

The worst part is that someone else who claims they’re bedridden with chronic pain commented on my previous post and still insisted I was being a terrible person. I feel like this is one of the only communities on Reddit where people have genuine empathy because we are unfortunately united by one of the most painful, life ruining conditions in existence.

I have been in physio for 2 months in an attempt to heal two herniated discs at L4 & L5/S1. They do generic things like Heat and STIM, dry needling, and massages. It seems to maybe help a bit the next day, but it is not a long term solution. I had physio on Friday but nearly collapsed in pain yesterday at work when I had to walk more than usual. It feels like I’m literally being tortured trying to walk even 2000 steps per day or stand for more than 20 seconds. I feel so helpless and can’t believe people say that physio would heal this.

When I search things about sciatica, such as wondering about worsening leg muscle weakness, it says that this requires immediate medical attention. My pain has been getting worse every month since my injury (10 months now), and I especially notice a significant increase in muscle weakness, stiffness, and intolerance of movement over the last few months.

The ER hasn’t taken me seriously at all, and I don’t have a family doctor. Should I go to a walk in clinic, bring my MRI, describe the situation and push for a spine specialist referral?

Also, would an ESI be worth doing or is it too risky? I can barely function at this point.

Starting to go insane with the fact that I can’t even drive more than to and from work without completely debilitating pain that has every second feeling hours. I noticed sitting for a few hours is difficult in a chair but not so bad. Obviously it doesn’t help that my right leg is the one affected and also the one I have to drive with, but other than that what is the difference?

I can’t handle this much longer. Every single day is hell. I’m going back to work next week and I don’t know how I’ll possibly do it. Even hobbling into a store, shopping for 5 minutes, waiting in a line and hobbling back out has me screaming in pain by the time I reach my car. This is the type of injury that feels like a life sentence of absolute torture. I just don’t know if I can keep playing Russian roulette with expensive physio that may or may not even do anything. Pills don’t reduce the pain. My whole right side is swollen and I’ve gained 20 pounds. I can’t walk my dogs more than 5 houses away and back, and I’m nearly crying from pain during that. This is not life and it’s not liveable. God how I wish I had just broken my arm or something.

Has anyone recovered after 9 months (with no physio up until that point)? I do fear that a lot of my problem is I assumed I’d recover naturally and delayed treatment only to make it worse. I’ve gotten progressively worse each month and movement has reduced at the same time.

I just need to rant because I was talking with my mom about my extreme sciatic pain, depression and daily limitations, and she just keeps saying that if I wasn’t overweight I wouldn’t be like this. She keeps saying I need to lose a bunch of weight to fix it. The thing is, I know to a point that being overweight doesn’t help, and losing weight would relieve some pressure on my spine. What I’m frustrated by is the fact that weight loss is sooo slow even when it’s “fast,” and every single day is absolute hell in the condition I’m in. It is so hard to stay motivated when you can’t do anything comfortably except lay down. I also don’t believe that losing weight would remove all of the pain as the two discs would still be herniated, and I don’t have much faith that they’ll resorb now either 9 months in to this misery. Has anyone lost significant weight (60-120 pounds) and found significant sciatica relief?

I have maintained the exact same weight for about ten years, other than periods where I lost weight. Even when I gained weight back I never went above my long-term weight. Since developing sciatica, I have gained almost 20 pounds. My back, butt, and ankle are all swollen on my right side. They have not gone down despite steroids. No medication works for pain or inflammation reduction. My blood test shows high CRP levels and white blood cell count indicating high inflammation. I suspect some or all of the weight gain is from fluid retention.

I tried alternate day fasting for 8 days (over a 16 day period) and only lost 1 pound, which I gained back after eating two days in a row (despite fasting after). I have used fasting before and lost weight easily (about 40 pounds in 3 months) but now it seems impossible. I can only walk about 1500 steps a day and I’m severe pain during most of them. What can I do?

I have two L4 & L5 bulging discs and issues with my S1 joint as well. I work at a university and am starting back in 2 weeks. I’m really nervous on how I’m going to get between buildings. Even the initial walk from my car to first building is difficult, but I can leave more time and stop every 10-20 steps if I need to. Is there anything I could purchase to help or accommodations I should ask for? I’m very reluctant to even tell my boss about my injury as I’m not a permanent employee and I’m scared to lose my position as I actually love my job. My injury occurred in October but my condition has only deteriorated since and is at the point where I can barely stand or walk at all now. I already sit a lot while teaching if possible.

To go from completely able-bodied to devastatingly crippled and disabled is such a terrible form of hell. I feel like by being so careful and moving minimally I try to gaslight myself into thinking I’m still normal, but then I get pushed beyond my limits doing some incredibly basic thing like standing in a line or walking 30 feet and I want to literally kms. I can’t endure this much longer. My life has been stolen from me and I see absolutely no end in sight. I’m still young and now the rest of my life will be torture. All I want is to reverse this damage and from everything I’ve read that’s not even really possible. This is a lifelong, chronic condition that needs to be managed and will probably always flare up or cause pain and I can’t handle it at all. I can’t believe this. I wish I had somersaulted down my entire staircase and landed on my front instead of the two steps I slipped on and fell landing on my back causing this fucking shit. Pretty much any other injury would be better than this. I keep reading that weight loss would be helpful but I’ve gained 20 pounds in swelling alone and i can’t seem to lose any weight bc I can’t fucking move and my only entertainment now is what I eat or watch on tv. Just feeling so insane hopeless, unmotivated and unlucky.

Why do doctors and hospitals not take us seriously? I read the exact same stories on here all the time. Everyone on this forum is generally suffering in excruciating pain, with no end in sight, and feels hopeless and helpless. This should be treated like one of the worst injuries you can possibly get which needs prompt, efficient treatment, because it is and it does. It makes young people feel 90 years old. It’s disabling and depressing and I can’t take it anymore. There is something seriously wrong with the medical systems in place.

I can’t handle this pain/limitation anymore and I’m scared I won’t even be able to do the light walking, standing or sitting my job requires me to do when I’m supposed to start back again in 2 weeks.
I haven’t tried physio because I don’t have insurance but I also just don’t want to keep playing russian roulette with treatments or medication and putting myself through suffering.
I just want to get surgery and get back to normal. How can I do this? It has been 8-9 months since my injury. I have L4 & L5/S1 bulging discs.

I have a two herniated discs (L4&L5) and have had significantly reduced movement since October when the injury occurred. However, over time, my ability to move without severe pain has increased so I went from managing 10,000+ steps a day to 8000, 6000, and now down to about 2000-3000 (and most of that is painful but necessary for functioning).

The problem is, since February I’ve noticed I have gained about 15-20 pounds despite eating the same as I always have, and sometimes healthier/less. This is especially frustrating because I know that the more weight there is on my spine, the worse off I am. I have also maintained or maxed out at the exact same weight for about 10 years, so I know this must be from the injury and reduced activity as well as inflammation and swelling. My right hip, back, butt and right ankle as well as my left calf are always swollen. I had blood clots ruled out a few weeks ago regarding the calf but I’m still worried and the ER doesn’t take me seriously.

Anyway, what can I do to stop gaining weight when I can’t walk or stand much and also to decrease swelling and inflammation?

I just can’t get past these incredibly dark feelings when every single day is absolute hell and my 90 year old grandfather can stand and walk better than me. I have to caretaker for him and he doesn’t understand that I’m so incredibly limited in what I can do. If I forget something in a store, there’s no way I can hobble back in for it and stand in line. It’s humiliating to look so disabled and incompetent. I feel like there’s basically no point in existing like this, or like I should amputate my stupid fucking useless leg and wear a prosthetic instead. It’s just insane that people can be in this much pain and are expected to just deal with it. I want surgery and I want it now. I hate my new life and I can’t even accept it as one really. Sorry for the language and clear frustration.

I am feeling so incredibly frustrated because I tried doing exercises and stretches for sciatica from the “Tight and Tone” channel on YouTube and literally couldn’t do them. I feel like I’ve developed such weakness or possibly muscle atrophy from the reduced movement over the last 8 months since my injury. I have two bulging discs at L4-L5/S1. I have degeneration, dehydration, arthritis, stenosis and more as well. I am also just out of shape and overweight with most of my weight carried on my stomach anyway. Attempting to lift my hips, stomach, legs, or anything at all is pretty much impossible. I feel so defeated and I really think I just want and need the “easy way out” of a microdiscectomy but I really don’t even know how to book that when doctors aren’t taking me seriously and the health care system is so broken and overwhelmed here in Canada.

Does anyone have any experience to say whether those extra five days would make a significant difference or not? I have done alternate day fasting pretty successfully before and lost nearly 40 pounds in 3 months with 36-60 hour fasts.

I’m now trying to lose about 45-50 pounds by early September as I’m going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding and don’t want to be on camera at my current size. I know alternate day fasting would be most sustainable but I also want fast progress.

I just need to vent about how incredibly difficult it is to be forced into being so incredibly sedentary with this pain. Prior to my injury 7 months ago, I used to go to work, walk around stores, and just lead a generally active lifestyle. I am now forced into a state of sedentary that is so extreme. I can barely hobble around one store to get essentials before pain kicks in. I’m limited to about 3000 steps per day. I find I can’t even sleep at night because I’m unable to wear my body out enough anymore. I also find driving to be a huge trigger so can’t use that as entertainment either. It’s just exhausting and feels like being a watcher of the world rather than an active participant. It’s so incredibly frustrating to feel so limited especially when I’m still relatively young and feel like my best years have now been stolen from me. I just can’t believe a hell like this even exists.