Migraine Pain vs. Back Pain

Well, for the first time in my life, I'm experiencing some big time pain other than my migraines.  I have injured my back - not sure how or why - and in the past couple months of dealing with that pain, I've had only 2 migraines that were definitely triggered by hormones.  It's almost like the pain in my back has taken over the other pain.

My Dad happens to be an orthopedist, so has been able to help me understand what is likely happening to my back.  It seems to be a bulging disk that is causing pressure on my sciatic nerve.  So, what this is should be called sciatica, which is a very common condition.  It is supposed to flare up but get better fairly quickly with anti-inflammatories, oral steroids, rest, etc.  But, mine doesn't appear to be getting better through all of that and it's over 2 months of pain now.  So, I'm getting ready to head in for an MRI and further testing. 

I do think it was a strange occurence that my headaches have been almost non-existent since the back pain started.  It could be that some of the medication I've been taking to help with the back pain are actually helping my head (mostly anti-inflammatories and oral steroids).  I also think it may be a mental thing too... I'm so focused on the back pain that my brain can't deal with pain in two places.  I know that wouldn't be true if a full blown migraine set it... but maybe that mental side of things is helping with the tension headaches that can be triggers that set off a worse migraine?

It's been interesting and I'm super thankful that I've had this reprieve from the migraines while dealing with this back pain.  I'm curious to see what the MRI will reveal... hopefully something that will give us a better idea how to treat my back.  As tough as my migraines have been to deal with, they are definitely a different kind of pain.  This back pain is like a knife being shoved into my lower right back that goes down through my butt into my leg.  It's been horrible and I feel like an old woman who can't walk upright or get around to do things anymore.  I gave in recently and am taking pain pills (the hydrocodone I take when a migraine gets unbearable) so I can at least function and try to get work done.  They have helped a ton over the past few days and I've been able to sleep better... so at least I have those.

Hope you all are doing well and not dealing with too many migraines as the summer heat sets in.

On a much happier note, I recently took one of the cutest pictures... this is my niece Savannah (4) and dog Roxie (11 months) during a sleepover a few weekends ago.  I look at this every day and it makes me smile:

No more migraines,
Kelli  :)

Comments

[Robert]

I, too, "throw out my back" from time to time. I've also experienced this diminution of migraine pain during these episodes. Sometimes I wonder if there just needs to be a certain level of pain for my body to be "happy" and it doesn't care where I have it.

That is a great picture...thanks for sharing.