Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

I was writing on my website yesterday about Flavonoids and I quote "Many flavonoids, as in parsley, have a diuretic action; some as in licorice, are antispasmodic and anti inflammatory; others are antiseptic." Anyway, my period started 2 days ago and I was feeling good about that because usually I have immense pain from my Scoliosis when my period comes and because it was day 2 and I had, had no pain I was feeling really happy about that and I wondered if that had anything to do with the licorice I had been eating the week leading up to my period? The happy times didn't last long as last night the pain was soooooo awful and I didn't know what to do with myself, shifting around in my seat, then standing up and walking around with my hands grasping my lower back, then the tears came, but I wasn't crying (if you know what I mean), the pain was so intense that water just started coming from my eyes, I am in too much pain to actually cry - that would jar my back too m...

Hi Guys Sorry for being so quiet these past 10 days, we have been to Bristol and Cardiff and the internet connection charges were so expensive we decided to just not have access for a few days - very unlike us! I had a terrible journey to the UK - planes never gel with me very much anyway, the positions in the seats are so uncomfortable, however, this time around the pilot threw the plane on the ground and I felt the most amazing shot of pain go up my spine from the hard bang on the ground - if we had been anywhere else but a public place I would have cried like a baby! After that I was in pain for the rest of the time we were there, such a shame as I had "behaved" myself prior to going away so that I could try and enjoy myself and not be too concerned over my back - this was not to be, I ended up using my wheelchair for pretty much the whole trip and when walking I was clinging onto my walking stick for dear life! I forced myself to walk round Cardiff shopping centre as I so...

We have had a busy Summer and I now have possession of my own wheelchair, although it took some time to get used to the idea that I was using a wheelchair but now I am more settled with the idea and it helps me a great deal. Going out and sitting in various pubs or clubs started to become a problem last year, so much so that it was not worth going out, the chairs are not comfortable for me so I tend to suffer, having my own chair with me means I can relax while I am out and enjoy myself. The last month or so has been more or less up and down, however, I always force myself to get out of bed and get on with the day, this sometimes can be a bit much though. The pain has been there everyday now for a very long time, bending down is such an effort and a strain, I generally bend down holding onto something with one of my legs in the air behind me. This year's pain has been worse as I have not even managed to do much exercise because the pain has placed a burden on that area, although I ...

I got up today and actually went out of the house with Chris in the car to see a customer and wore my back brace which kept me upright, I was OK in the car and OK sitting down on a hard chair, walking felt a bit odd but I managed fine. That night I even went out to a bar with my brace on and after a few wines, all the pain was gone..................strange that eh :), although the next day I was violently sick, so take it from me, DO NOT TAKE ALCOHOL WHEN USING DRUGS. They put that warning on the box for a reason and I now know why! Stupid as that may read but I hadn't taken any pills since Friday so I assumed I would be OK to have a few............wrong!

I was feeling absolutely fine, had just finished eating my breakfast, I was sat in my bean bag with my legs slightly apart as my surgeon told me this aides the spinal cord. I tried to get up from the bean bag with plate in hand when I had this awful shooting pain which caused me to fall to the floor and immediately start crying as I was unable to get up, this is the second time in a few months the same muscle has given way, perhaps it was the bean bag who knows. I spent the whole week in bed following that escapade, unable to move even my feet, by day 3 I was able to get to the toilet a lot easier, I had this time been able to get to the toilet with the aide of a stick and I was able to wash myself in the bath tub using my fold out chair to sit on, although it was very painful as I could not hold my body straight I was bent to the side and bent over forward so of course the rest of my body started to ache due to me being in that awkward position. The pain I felt was just a pulled muscl...

Still sleeping well with Valium this is never a problem regardless of the pain. I always feel better in the morning as my bed really helps relax my back during the night and I awoke refreshed and pain free, until I start to move, the pain comes back and I although I am feeling better today I am still..........disjointed.

Had another good night´s sleep thanks to good old Valium, feeling a bit better today and was able to wash myself in the shower but still unable to wash my feet myself or get round to my buttocks (this has never been and easy place to clean as the turning causes some stress)on the lower back. I still have feelings of discomfort when breathing especially in the lower back. I am not sure whether to try and get up today because it may add more pain on the muscle, I have tried to stand but this is a great effort for me and I stand bent towards the right clutching my right hip. Being laid like this gives me time to think and reflect over the years of pain that I have dealt with and the discussions I have had with Dr Andreen since last year and feel now I should face my pain head on and perhaps address it in the way that my surgeon feels best. I do wonder if I have the disc removed that is causing the problems that this pain may go away.

After a night´s sleep on Valium I awake in the morning and breathing is slightly difficult, when I brethe in I can feel pain in the lower back which feels central, I take more Nolotil, the pain is the same intensity. My husband helped me shower and wash my hair and then helped me back inot bed, the only way I can get into bed is to lay down on my side and roll or have my husband drag me by the arms, the pain is so much that I feel I could faint at any time therefore I just stay still. My skin is still swollen in this area, especially in the middle at the base of my spine, this area I cannot touch as it sends shooting pains up the middle. When I move my head I can feel that at the base of my spine. I have not had any feelings of numbness nor any tingling, just immense pain especially if I do not take pain meds.