My DMP Journey...

Monkeyballs

Wednesday 29/01/14:

Well, it's been a no spend day so that was good... On the down side I went for some scans of my back and then just went home... Nothing exciting at all and to top it off my broadband has been "temperamental" which was nice NOT!

So, I resorted to watching Breaking Bad which I'd not seen before but as everyone is raving about it and my brother has a box set... It'd be rude not to and it's actually really good! I watched the whole of season one today LOL now I have square eyes...

Tomorrow I have acupuncture first thing in the morning and then I need to pick up something to eat but after that it's Breaking Bad season two al the way baby! It's nice to be doing something linked to popular culture LOL

Night night all!

MB xxx

Monkeyballs

Thursday 30/01/14:

Acupuncture day! I'm feeling sort of ok this morning... I had a reasonable nights sleep and am looking forward to this mornings session (even though I'm not looking forward to a freezing cold, dark walk there).

Yesterday my uncle lent me his TENS machine and heat pad (think electric blanket but smaller, just enough to cover the small of my back) and while the TENS machine appears to be broken as it isn't doing anything at all, the heat pad was lovely... It didn't have any lasting effect on my back but while I was laid on it... Ahhhh... So warm and lovely... LOL but who knows, maybe a few more sessions with it will help it doesn't hurt to try!

With regards to finances? Other than a small spend on milk and possibly some fish fingers I don't think I'll be spending anything which is good news because I'll be making a PAD payment to Barclaycard tonight and if I don't spend anything today the I might be a little more generous than normal we'll have to see!

Ok, so I just got back from my acupuncture session but before it started I was introduced to a new person who is a compression specialist(?) she asked me a whole load of questions to which she already knew the answers to (I'm a classic case apparently LOL) and did some tests before beating the life out of me but you know what? It was fantastic! I was stretched, pulled and prodded into submission but it really did help and the fact that she is HOT helped quite a bit to

As for the acupuncture, it was good if a little painful but apparently some people take a couple of sessions to get full benefit? No idea but next week I have 3 sessions booked each starting with the hot specialist and then ending in an acupuncture session...

Bad news is that average recover time is 24-28 weeks and I'm at week 7, good news is that I should see enough of an improvement within the next 2 weeks to be able to get my life back on track so long as I take it slow and do regular exercises throughout the day

MB

in_need_of_direction

Consider yourself stalked. How are things?

Monkeyballs

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Consider yourself stalked. How are things?

Monday 03/02/14:

Is it really February!!!

LOL, morning INoD sorry I've been having broadband problems so I struggle to get on line at the moment...

Things have been much of a muchness really... I have a new physiotherapist and my old physio is now my acupuncturist!

So, I have a "major compression injury" which is why I now have a specialist physiotherapist - she is quite hot, and therefore it's a shame she has to see me stripped down to my shorts squeeling like a little girl as she inflicts all sorts of pain on me! LOL - basically, from years of slouching the inside of my spine is making its way out and I have some exercises to push it back in

It hurts... and on top of that, the exercises are murder on my upper back, shoulders and chest so generally speaking I feel like I've been kicked by a horse! I've been told that 2-3 weeks and I should be used to them and should be able to sit down again but I need to carry on doing them whenever I feel pain... which is basically constantly LOL but the good news is that 6-8 (8-12 at most) and the injury should be healed enough to allow me to have a normal life although I should be able to return to work in a week or two.

I spoke to my boss and he's fine with this... I just need to speak to my GP again at the end of the week - she must be sick of the sight of me by now LOL!

I won't lie, I'm not in the best of places mentally as I'm always either aching or in pain or doing exercises but the only way is up! I just need to keep reminding myself of that...

On a more positive note, I've been given some stronger anti depressants which seem to be doing the trick so when I do go to sleep I stay asleep until at least 10 hours later! Small mercies

As for my finances? Same old same old... Although, I'm a little annoyed with my house mates because I have a TV in my room and have bought a licence (I'd have bought one before if I'd known it wasn't included in my rent) and the others are all saying they only watch catch up or don't have TV's or blah blah blah... Some of them I know this is true while others not so much :mad:

Anyway, gotta go for now!

Laters,

MB

LESLAMP

Just found your diary and it's making interesting reading and given me some food for thought.

Can relate to you back problem as had some disc problems 3 years ago which I spent a fortune getting fixed through a chiropractor.

Hope things continue to improve for you both financially and health wise will be following your progress. :beer:

Monkeyballs

Wednesday 05/02/14:

Still having broadband issues at home although I'm assured that it should be sorted by the end of today...

Hi Leslamp, thanks for your kind words

I just got back from physio and have been told that I'm doing my exercises wrong (after giving a brief demo of what I'm doing) as I'm putting too much pressure on my arms which has resulted in pain and stiffness across my upper back and shoulders and in my arms - apparently it was like watching me in the gym LOL I did wonder how more pain would help, just goes to show

On the plus side, I got my details mixed up and while she is a major compression specialist I have a "compression fracture" which is still unpleasant but nowhere near as bad and I'm still going to be healing over the next half a year or so, so yay! small mercies, silver linings and all that at least I'm not likely to develop a hump or shrink by up to six inches...

Generally speaking, I'm feeling mentally in a much better place and am handling the fact that I'm pretty much stuck better and while I would love to go back to work and feel like a regular contributing member of society again I don't feel that I'm being viewed as a skiver as a few people have now been in touch and reassured me and as I'm sleeping better I have the energy to get through the day and now have more of a routine day (I.e. awake through the day and asleep at night).

On the downside, I tried a cheeky bus ride to see what effect it has on my back... Stupid idea! I managed for about 5 minutes before becoming convinced my spine was going to bounce out of my back like a coiled spring and had to get off and (slowly) stumble home - hey ho

Financially, things are not so great as I'm buying a lot of ready meals and because they are boring I'm getting the more expensive ones (I would cook but standing around hurts) but it's all cash so at least it's not more debt (more silver linings).

Laters yo!

KM

in_need_of_direction

just stay as positive as you can. my son had compressed fractures of 2 vertebrae when he was 20. I'm convinced his complete recovery was mainly due to the fact that it didn't cross his mind that he wouldn't recover - well that and wearing a neofract jacket for a year

i'm back to work full time from Friday and am worried sick as to whether or not I'll be able to stick with it. added to that, my managing partner has requested a half hour discussion Fri morning without indicating why. it could be innocent but that's not really him!

LESLAMP

Glad your still positive and hopefully now you know where you are going wrong with your exercises you will start to reap the benefits.

With regard to your spending on expensive meals. Do you have a freezer? Or even if you don't you could always try cooking a simple meal that could be eaten with extras that wouldn't be too hard on your back.

IE. A simple tomato sauce, which one day can be added to some mince for a Bolognese and served another day with some new potatoes, simple salad and a couple of chicken thighs or fish.

If you need some ideas I'm sure we can all help. Even if any food prep is done in instalments so you don't put too much strain on your back at once.

In Need of Direction - I hope all goes well Friday back at work. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Chins up and we'll get there.

LL

in_need_of_direction

Who told you about my chins LL?

Monkeyballs

Hi!

It's Thursday (apparently) the 6th of February 2014 and I've just typed a long and informative update only for my broadband to bomb out and lose it all!!! Grrr... So here s a shortened version

Thanks for the keeping in touch, I really appreciate it

My back was good today but after carrying a tin of beans and turning around I'M DYING!!!! Or I was until I had several painkillers and laid on a heat pad for a few hours... Now I can stand up and it only hurts when I move... LOL it'll pass though

INoD, 2 fractures!!! Jeez, I can't imagine the pain he must have been in... Work will be ok, it's just scary to start with (I hope as I'm a little anxious about my return too).

Leslamp, thanks for the suggestions I'm going to make a stew tomorrow to get me through the weekend so that'll be healthier and cheaper too!

Now I gotta go before my spine falls out of my bum and my arms drop off at the shoulders!

Laters gaters

MB