u/Bloomette

I’m entering week 3 of completely debilitating pain in my left buttock and hamstring. I can barely stand up straight, I’m using a walker to go between the bed or couch and the bathroom, rising from any surface is a challenge and I can only go about 10 feet before the pain is so bad I have to lean over something to relieve it. Or, should I say, lessen it. It’s never ever gone, it’s just a 2-3/10 or a 7-10/10 depending on what I’m doing. The only tolerable position is lying down toward my right side. I lay all day, and just using the bathroom and bathing takes all my energy. I’m exhausted by the time night comes and then I only sleep about 3 hours at a time. Any time I have to wake up to go to the bathroom it takes me 20 minutes to psych myself up for it, another 20 to accomplish it, with incredible pain, and the next hour trying to get comfortable again.

I’ve seen my doctor (that trip was agonizing) and gotten prescriptions, finished steroids already, and have an MRI scheduled. I have a short supply of opioids but they just barely take the edge off. I can’t do any exercises. I’m trying to make myself at least stand up once an hour, but even that is incredibly painful.

My mental and emotional reserves are getting low. If it wasn’t for my amazing husband I don’t know where I’d be. He’s holding me together, and literally providing for all of my care needs.

I’m guess I’m just hoping to hear from others who have been here to tell me it’ll get better and give me some hope. I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this.

I originally herniated L5-S1 in January 2024, did all the things and got it healed without surgery. I was symptom free for nearly a year. Then in April I started feeling minor tugging sensations and here we are with the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I can’t stand up straight, can’t sit down, I can only lay on my right side. Mobility is extremely painful.

I went to my doctor Thursday and was literally sobbing in his office because just getting there was excruciating. He ordered repeat MRI and prescribed some medicines.

Do you all have any suggestions of what I can do over the next six days to try to get this calmed down enough to where I can tolerate the MRI? I’m doing heat alternating with ice, and I have available Tizanidine, Tramadol, Toradol, and Oxycodone. I can’t mix some of those, but I’ll take a combination about an hour before the test. I already did a steroid pack with minimal relief.

I’ve basically been laying down for two weeks not getting any better. Should I start trying to do some exercises or something, even though it hurts? Nothing crazy, but maybe some clamshells or something? I just really need to get this MRI done.