I’m lucky I got a hernia: Perspectives on pain and pleasure.

My back had been bothering me more than usual for a few months. I had been going to the gym, stretching and running more frequently with the hope it would strengthen my back and core muscles.  Early in December while working at my desk I experienced a sudden, sharp, shooting pain down the right side of my leg.  A pain that went from a “bother” to “unbearable” with slight movements and was only getting more severe by the minute.

It was late at night. I immediately took the strongest anti-inflammatory I could find in my medicine cabinet and tried to get to sleep.

Over the course of the next several weeks I visited my local health clinic, was prescribed some stronger anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants as well as taking an x-ray which showed some abnormality.  That was followed by a ct-scan and finally a MRI.  The MRI confirmed I had a hernia!  That certainly explained the severe pain and restricted movement I was experiencing.

I spent most of Dec, Jan, Feb, March in severe pain.  We started physiotherapy and massotherapy almost immediately and did it once to two times a week.  I tried to perform the recommended exercises as often as the pain would permit.  Any time I tried to engage any muscles in my lower back on the right side of my body pain would explode down the leg and up the right side of my lower back.  Eventually my doctor prescribed some morphine because the pain was preventing me from getting a decent night sleep.  I’ve always moved in my sleep, and doing so caused immense pain, which would then wake me up.

Simple things like getting up to use the bathroom, sitting, getting dressed, and sleeping we’re extremely difficult and accompanied with severe, extreme pain.

I was lucky in several ways:  Early in my treatment maybe 1 or 2 months in, I found a family doctor.  I had been on a waiting list for some time.  Not only did I now have myself a family doctor, she was/is a great doctor.  My insurance covered a portion of my salary and for the most part were a pleasure to deal with.  They had my doctor and physiotherapist fill out several questionnaires throughout the months but nothing excessive.

I had a great physiotherapist who made sure we were progressing at the correct speed.  He correctly confirmed what I had read online.  With a hernia it’s important to stay positive and remember that progress can be slow.  The first few months were the hardest.  Everything hurt.  The pain wears you down.  You’re not sleeping well, you struggle to find a position that doesn’t aggravate or in the some way add to the current pain from all the muscles that are locked up.  I felt like I could feel the nerve radiating because it was so tense.  The prescriptions helped but I certainly didn’t want to use morphine more than I had to.  It also causes constipation so you have to significantly increase your fiber intake and add laxatives as required.  I tended to go as long as I could (1,2,3 days) before I finally broke down and had a day where I would take morphine.  This would give me a day or two where the pain was no longer constantly present and allowed to get a decent night sleep or naps.  Did wonders for my morale.

It took me almost five months to get to a point where I could sit for an hour without pain.  This was another big moment in my rehabilitation.  At least now I could go out and have a meal with friends without worrying about the pain.  At around this point I was also walking without any significant pain.  During the early stages I started with simple walks around the neighborhood.   Slowly I kept increased the length of my walks.  Last week I walked 15 Km, a walk that included the flight of stairs leading up to the mount Royal cottage and crossing Jacques-Cartier bridge.  That being said I’ve still got some road ahead of me before I’m able to get as close to 100% as possible.  I’m still working with my ergotherapist and physiotherapist in my rehabilitation.  I’m lifting small weights during my squats and lunges.  Those will be increasing soon.  I’m climbing stairs two at a time slowly, I’m walking almost 60+minutes each day.  I’m increasing the frequency of my daily exercise routine and the number of repetitions.

I can honestly say I’m thankful for my hernia.  It was difficult to remain positive during those initial first two to three months because the progress felt so slow.  All I could do was try to do my physiotherapy exercises and try to find a position that was comfortable in order to manage the pain.  Never mind standing, walking, sitting, eating, washing, the only focus was trying to reduce the pain.  I could of sworn I felt the moment my hernia “popped” back into place.  During my rehabilitation there were 2-3 times where the pain increased significantly and I couldn’t pinpoint why.  On each occasion as the pain seemed become severe my lower back would “crack” as a knuckle would.  This was immediately followed by a release in the tension and pain the lower back.  Slowly the physiotherapy began to take effect.  I had more freedom of motion, I was strengthening the muscles of my lower back and legs.

Spring showed up which was slowly followed by summer.  My rehab continued.  With the warmer weather and progress made I’ve been able to enjoy my walks more.  Keep in mind I had been doing my physiotherapy/walks during some cold winter months outside (Jan, Feb and March in Montreal are often cold, dark and windy).

The guys have been making fun of me because I’ve been in a great mood for the simple reason I can now get around without pain.  I can sit, I can stand, I can walk, I can now do some light interval jogging.  I have a new appreciation for people who live with chronic pain.  More importantly its given me a new appreciation for the quality of life I have.  I’m still far from a 100% but I’m now confident I’m going to get very close to it once I’m out of physiotherapy.  It’s given me a new appreciation for my health.  I’ve got a whole new level of respect for people who live with chronic pain. On that note if you’ve read this far and are dealing with chronic pain or a hernia, consider edibles.

You don’t get to live to be in your late thirties without having regrets.  My little hernia has given me a new appreciation for almost everything.  My daily routine, my work, my friends, my family.  Just how lucky most of us truly are.

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