But…I don’t FEEL old!
Getting old bites the big one.
I’m not saying I’m old…42 is NOT OLD. (Repeat…repeat…
But I FEEL so old. Especially this week.
Some of you might know I had some pretty serious back issues a few years ago. Had to be rushed to the ER due to numbness down my right leg–after dealing with debilitating back pain for 2 years. Turned out I had 2 herniated discs which were pressing on my nerves and I had to have a radial microdiscectomy. Which was a HUGE RELIEF. Fixed the leg problem (mostly, though I have about a 2″ wide numb spot to this day…that’s kinda weird!) And the back pain is waaaaay better. (I can get by for a few days without any Motrin, which is saying a lot since I lived on it, 4 x every 4 hours, for a good year.)
But…every once in a while, my back decides to remind me that I am not the 25 year old I picture in my mind. (Not in the mirror…that old bag should be *happy* to be only 42 some days!)
This weekend, hubby and I went to Florida to do some work on our as yet unsold house, getting ready to put it back on the market. I had a looooong list for both of us. So the first day, I get to work out in the front, cutting back some huge, out-of-control Birds of Paradise bushes, which wasn’t difficult work, but did involve some bending.
Well, I bent…my back, however, did not. It instead popped and started screaming at me, which basically put me out of commission for the entire weekend!
It is so darned frustrating, because, as I said above, I still mentally see myself as the strong, active 20…okay, that’s a stretch…30-something I was a few years ago. To be very painfully reminded that I’m not just TICKS ME OFF! Especially when it’s caused by something so simple. I mean, I didn’t throw my back out when sliding down the ice and crashing into the trees two weeks ago, or while tubing down the mountain at the ski resort. No. I did it trimming some stinking bushes in my yard.
Yep. Getting old really stinks. 
Anybody else have back issues? Any suggestions on how to deal with them? (beyond copious amounts of drugs? 
)
PS: VOTE! 
Julie, Janelle and I, along with some of our Plotmonkey pals including Kimberly Raye, Rhonda Nelson, Julie Miller, Jill Shalvis, Joanne Rock and other Blaze authors are all nominated for awards in the eHarlequin Reader’s Choice Awards. (Actually, Boys of Summer, by me, Julie & Kimberly, is up against Janelle’s Christmas Blaze anthology! ACK! Good thing we’re such good friends or we’d have to have a rumble over that one. 
Anyway if you’d like to vote for your favorite Harlequin releases of 2006, CLICK HERE.
*****
Carly’s winner from yesterday is …
# 24
Jolene Fehr
Congratulations!
Email Carly at: carlyphillips@mac.com with your mailing info. and thanks everyone for participating!
Come back friday for more Jungle Madness
*******
Leslie is up for Best Book of the Year for Here Comes Trouble and her heroine from Asking for Trouble, Lottie, is up for more admirable heroine. I’m up for Steamiest Book. Janelle, Leslie & I are up for Anthology. I know Rhonda is up for sexiest cover hero. Oh, and Heather MacAllister’s Christmas book (remember, I recommended it back in January?) is up for funniest book.
There’s more…but that’s an overview.
I’m off to Cali!
Comment by Julie Leto — March 7, 2007 @ 12:09 am
No back pain (yet) but I learned I’m not as young as I like to think I am after the Nickelback concert Friday night. Still feeling the affects of jumping up and down and screaming my head off. It’s just not right.
Hey, congrats ladies on all the nominations!
I’ll have to go check it out.
Comment by Stacy ~ — March 7, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Stacy - I’m so jealous! I love Nickelback but hubby says they sound “angry” (I think it’s Chad’s sexy, raspy voice that makes it sound that way -sigh) so he won’t go with me to a concert and no other friends are fans. My 20 year old is getting to be more of a fan since they’re starting to sound “harder” but I still don’t think he’ll go.
Leslie - God, yes I know where you’re coming from! When we sold our house last fall we were doing some yard work - pulling out
overgrown shrubs in the front yard. We had pulled two out, I climbed in the back of the truck to get a strap, was on hands and knees and twisted around to move one (A STRAP!) so I could reach another and pulled my back. 
That was in October and I’m still trying to get over it. The chiropractor, massage therapist and trainer have all insisted I do yoga. They say if I ever lose mobility in my neck and back I’ll never get it back. I just can’t get into the yoga thing so I started working with a trainer who has be doing Pilates and it is making a HUGE difference. I’ve cut out the chiropractor all together and only do massage every 3-4 weeks now instead of every 1-2 weeks.
When I say I have a massage people always start in about how spoiled I am and how nice it must be. I am spoiled, and it is nice, but they don’t understand that if I don’t have that massage, I don’t move! I’ve done the Motrin (4, every 4 hours) for so long that I’m afraid to know what my liver looks like.
Good luck and hang in there - well, not literally, but you know what I mean.
Comment by Jodie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Oh, yeah - congrats!! What a tough decision for us fans!!!!
Comment by Jodie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:32 am
I’ve been having back issues since November. I received a steroid shot in my lower right back/hip/butt area for a sinus infection at the end of October. After two weeks of sitting precariously in my recliner for Nanowrimo, avoiding the still sore injection site, I really screwed my back up. Everytime I sit to write now, I’m in pain within minutes if I don’t sit just the right way. I have a difficult time bending over now, too.
And I’m only 35. A one-month young 35.
I went on weight watchers to rule out my weight as a contributing factor to my pain since I hoard the pounds around my mid-section. I’m having a few other issues that I’m dealing with, but once those are out of the way, I’ll go back to the Dr. for my back.
How do they diagnose a herniated disk?
I’m sorry your weekend was shot. I hope you begin feeling better soon and that your house sells so at least it will be one less worry.
I’ll be voting for you ladies later today!
Hugs,
Heather
Comment by Heather Harper — March 7, 2007 @ 9:09 am
Les,
I feel for you. I haven’t hit 40 yet, but I’m THIS close. Anyhow, things just don’t hold up the way they used to. Body’s not as perky, the mind isn’t as sharp. It’s so irritating. And upsetting. I’m starting to have a lot of pain in my wrists (which I used to never have). I tell myself it’s because I’m such a dedicated writer and what with writing a zillion words a day, there’s got to be some fallout. Unfortunately, ten pages isn’t a zillion, so I’m just kidding myself. I’m going to get it checked out, but I keep putting it off.
Back pain is such a tough thing to deal with. I’ve never had a herniated disc, but I had some problems carrying my daughter. She was so low that she compressed the nerves running down my legs. I was actually in a wheelchair the last two months of my pregnancy. I couldn’t stand because the pain was so severe. I can’t imaging living with that for the rest of my life. I hope you feel better!!!!!!
Comment by Kimberly Raye — March 7, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Just went to Harlequin to vote. Good luck to you all!
Leslie, I don’t have back pain but my husband just went through a disectomy lord knows if I am even close on the spelling. LOL! Anyway, he couldn’t move from the pain he had for almost 6 months. Finally after countless doctors visits and all kinds of MRI’s and X-rays they decided he needed the disk removed and fused. I must say he isn’t in any pain anymore. He is now in going to Physical Therapy though. Good luck with your back, hopefully things settle down for you soon.
Comment by Kelly F. — March 7, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Congrats on all the noms everyone!!! Makes it very hard to vote when y’all are up against each other in a category. I still have some back pain from a couple of car wrecks I’ve had in the past. I’m lucky that it isn’t all the time and ibuprofen usually does the trick. I’ve also tried a heating pad which works pretty good and if I’m at work when it hits there are those heated pads you can place on your back that help give me some relief. Good luck with the back pain.
Comment by Liza — March 7, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Leslie, I’ll be 45 this year, so please stop saying 42 is old! We’re not old. Just….oldish. And isn’t 40 the new 30?
Sorry to hear about your back troubles. Hubby has one that likes to go out over the most mundane of activities. I recall the last was bending over to turn on the hose. For me it’s feet and knees, and the TON of extra weight I’m carrying around doesn’t help that one bit.
Comment by Lori Borrill — March 7, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Comment by katie — March 7, 2007 @ 10:29 am
Well, I’m turning 21 on the 11th (ONLY 4 MORE DAYS
) and I’m starting to realize….lol THATS what I have to look forward to?
I’m scared for my up coming future in that case. BUT on the bright side, at least you got to have all that fun, Id take all that vacation fun over no vacation fun and all the work on the house.
I hope the pain doesn’t stick around too long though. Get better soon.
Comment by Emily — March 7, 2007 @ 10:43 am
I was healthy and fine until I hit 40! Now, it seems to be one thing after another. Back pain, neck pain, arm pain, etc. Drugs are my friend.
Hang in there, Les!
Comment by Janelle — March 7, 2007 @ 11:14 am
well i am 38 but my body gave out years ago… i was in the service and abused my body with intense physical workouts..
i loved it then but boy do i pay for it.. then we were in a really bad car accident in 1999, and i have had back and neck pain every day of my life since… the doctors here told me to learn to live with it… easy for them to say…
if i feel this way at 38… i dont want to know what i will feel like at 68..
Comment by Jolene Fehr — March 7, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Emily - my son is 20 and this weekend we took him, a friend of his that is 20 and our 11 year old son snowboarding. The 20 year olds could hardly walk by the 2nd day, they hurt from head to toe. The 11 year old didn’t feel a thing. While sharing the Aleve bottle the 3rd morning, the two older boys decided they were getting “older” after all.
Comment by Jodie — March 7, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Wow, sounds like I’m in good company!
Jodie, keep up with the massages–sounds like they’re working!
And Heather, they found my herniated discs with an MRI. I knew I’d done it because I heard them “pop” when they blew out…but I also was stupid enough to figure living with the pain was better than dealing with fixing it so I waited for 2 years, until it almost paralyzed me. Soooooo dumb! And honestly, the surgery was a huge help…it was just that I’d reached the point where I could no longer refuse it out of fear (fear of somebody cutting that close to my spinal cord, obviously!) but since it had ruined my leg, I no longer had any choice.
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Kim…that nerve thing you were feeling, that’s what was going on with my leg! Like constant charley horses from the tips of my toes all the way up into my lower back. I had similar pressure during one of my pregnancies, and knew it was from the baby hitting a nerve, so I knew there was no way I wanted to just “live” that way long term!
And yeah, the mind is going, too…lolol!
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Kelly–glad to hear it worked for your hubby! They did not fuse my discs because there were two that were herniated and that would have severely limited me. I think that’s why weekends like this past one still go on. Sigh.
Liza–I’ve found it helps to go back and forth between the heating pad and ice. Actually, as crazy as it sounds, I always keep a bag of frozen lima beans in the freezer–they’re a terrific fast ice patch! (My hubby used to laugh about it years ago before the surgery because he knew when he saw lima beans in the freezer that I was having a particularly bad time…and that sooner or later they’d end up down the back of my pants!)
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Everything went downhill at 40 and I do mean everything.
That said … I JUST came home from the nutritionist and the dr there who also checks me, and he said I need to try a new cholesterol drug again and if I can’t take it (some make my joints hurt, others hurt my stomach/reflux), I need to have an endoscopy to see why the other ones are affecting my stomach b/c I am denying myself a potentially life saving drug. Frankly, I agree. I’m starting lipitor tonight. If that doesn’t work, I have my cardiologist next month and I will get a gastro guy. Scary stuff though. Age sucks.
Comment by Carly — March 7, 2007 @ 11:41 am
Lori…I hear ya on the weight! I know that’s part of the issue. But I’m having such a hard time dealing with it!
Jolene–so sorry to hear about that. But CONGRATS on winning Carly’s contest yesterday!!
And Happy Almost Birthday Emily!!
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 11:41 am
I’m so sorry your back is out Leslie.:cry:
I’m 43 now and I can tell a big change in my body.
One thing that helps me stay flexible is that I stretch everytime I get a chance. I was into gymnastics when I was a teenager and my teacher really stressed the importance of staying flexible and stretching.
Another thing when it comes to yard work…I have very fertile pine trees and I must pick up thousands and thousands of pine cones each year, but I would pay for all the bending over with a bad, bad back ache. My husband bought me a pine cone picker upper from the garden and feed store and it is wonderful. I can pick up limbs and pinecones without bending over.:thumbsup2:
I was in a car wreck years ago and still suffer at times from the injury.
I have my own homemedics massager. it is wonderful. rub in a little Mineral Ice and wa-lah I’m good to go for a little bit.:doggie:
i’m still recuperating from the flu. I thought I would be all better by now but it is pushing day 7 now.:doggie:
Comment by Gigi — March 7, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Hi Leslie,
Yesterday I read your book, “Night Whispers” it is a wonderful story.
I enjoyed it very much and read it cover to cover in one sitting.
I hope that helps your back feel better. You know I am so old I creak
when I walk. I think anything under 55 is youngand I am way over that
hill. The aches an pains can come at any age they don’t mean your old.
I still think like I’m 30, it’s the body that says different. Sorry about your
back. I guess I am glad you got to sled first cause that was a major
memory maker. Antway this book was true romance at it’s best and I
enjoyed it very much.
Comment by jeannie — March 7, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Hi Leslie, I am only 31 and I have two herinated discs. I have been trying the epideral shots and they help for a few weeks. I am so afraid to have surgery, you hear so many horror stories. I also do the heating pad (sitting on it right now) and ice (I use a bag of frozen peas). I actually get more relief from the peas. I take a Ibuprohen 800 every morning and on a BAAADDDDD day I have to take a stronger drug.
Comment by Patty L. — March 7, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Leslie- Thanks for the info with the frozen lima beans. I always have frozen peas in the freezer for my knee when it acts up, but never tried on my back.
Carly- My aunt has lots of cholesterol problems and takes Niacin instead of the choleserol meds. She says you have to deal with being hot until you get the right dosage figured, but it works for her. My dad is going to talk to the doctor about cutting his Lipitor in half and starting the Niacin along with it until he can come off Lipitor.
Comment by Liza — March 7, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Oh you poor baby. I completely commiserate with your agony. I have been having back issues for 9 years, no one ever took me seriously. Last year I insisted on an MRI, wher they diagnosed Degenerative Disc Disease and a herniated Disc. They were shocked because of my age (32 then). I have been trying to lose weight in order to alievate that as a cause. (Not going so well)
I live on pain pills, ice packs, and steroid shots, my next one is not for another 14 days (Damn Insurance Companies)!
Just earlier today, I had a parent tell me I was not friendly enough! After he left, all I could think was if you hurt like I do buddy you’d probably be taking people out. I really HATE having to work.
I really hope that you feel better soon. Also, for anyone who keeps having back pain INSIST on the COMPLETE Testing Routing, x-ray, CT Scan, MRI. Do not let them short you…..
Comment by Debbie — March 7, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
To Leslie & the rest of you with back problems, you have my sympathy. It is not fun. My dad was hurt in a logging accident & suffered with back problems most of the rest of his life.
I am now 66 & just starting to admit I am getting older. Fortunately I am enjoying good health except for some minor aches & pains from time to time. I try to eat healthy (I said try, sometimes I fail miserably), get some excercise to keep all the parts moving & healthy & keep a good attitude! Enjoy life to the fullest!
To everyone that is thinking they are old at 40 stop that attitude!
CONGRATULATIONS! on all the Readers Awards nominations. I’ve already done my voting but it was really tough as some of my favorite authors were competing against each other. Anyone that reads any Harlequin book please go & vote soon before the voting ends.
Have a great day everyone & may all your health problems be small & easily resolved. :love2:
Comment by Donna M — March 7, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Gigi–do they make a “birds of paradise” picker upper? If so, I am THERE.
Jeanie, I am so glad you liked Night Whispers–thank you SO much for picking it up!!!
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
Patty–honestly, I don’t regret the surgery at all. But I do know where you’re coming from–it is SO scary to let someone cut into your spine. If I hadn’t actually been forced because of the threat of paralysis in my right leg, I might have put it off even longer.
Liza…I tried frozen peas. They smoosh up faster than the lima beans…lolol!
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Yes I agree 42 is NOT OLD but there are times when it feels ancient. Like when I want to be able to show the boys how many time I can jump using the pogo stick. Darn it I used to be able to do well over a 100 jumps. Now I’m lucky to do a couple and then I’m reaching for the Advil. What happened my mind tells me I can do this how come my body can’t.
Comment by Jeannie — March 7, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Congrats on your nominations. I’m glad to see the authors I read are being recognized. Jill Shalvis is a close friend of mine and was my favorite author years before I met her. I am very excited to see she is one of the nominees. Unfortunately eHarlequin won’t let me on to vote. Is she up for best book? If so, which one?
Comment by Gena — March 7, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
Gosh what a depressing topic today…being 40 sucks…especially since men seem to do it so much better
Although I consider myself 40 and fabulous
Congrats on all the nominations
Carly, I started Zocor which is the generic for Lipitor, and I think its my miracle drug it has my cholesterol under 200 for the first time in years, with very little side effects, so good luck.
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 7, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
Jodie- stacy and I already had this conversation, I think, about Nicklebak. Hogtie the kid and take him to the show. Daughter and I have been going since she was a baby and we have more fun at concerts. I see more and more mother/daughter and mother/sons at them.I think our generation has less of a problem hanging out with our kids like this. Besides, it gives her ammunition to pick on me and my antics afterwards. I can still scream louder than most of them there.
At 47, you can bet I get pains. Mainly knee and hip but the occassional back twinge (it’s been going on for a couple months now). Can’t do the Aleve anymore- too much and I developed an allergy to NSAID’s and aspirin, so it’s Tylenol for me- preferably the prescription one!!!:thumbsup2:
Per my old Physical Therapist- always alternate hot and cold. Hot draws water and can cause more problems if that is all you use. the cold helps reduce it but still helps the pain and swelling. I learned this after blowing out a knee.
Now, once all of you start throwing in the damn hot flashes along with the loss of memory, you can start saying you ARE getting old. Until then, your just in training!!!
Comment by ev — March 7, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
I forgot to congratulate everyone on their nominations. Can we vote more than once??? I hate the thought of voting for one over another. Bad judges. They should just give everyone an award and not make us choose for god’s sake.
Stretching. Stretching is good. Ever see a cat of dog limp around like we tend to? No cause they sleep all day and stretch everytime they get up from one position or another. In ways that are just not humanely possible.
Comment by ev — March 7, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
I hate it when I misspell the word you’re and use your. poops.
Comment by ev — March 7, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Hi Leslie,
Congrats on the nominations. Well deserved!
I can relate to your numbness in the leg thing. A couple of years ago, I noticed that I had no exterior feeling down the outside of my left thigh, just above my knee. I ignored it for over a year until we bought a house and had to pack up and move in less than 30 days. All that extra time on my feet and bending and packing, well, that pretty much did me in. I started to get a sharp burning pain in the same numb area of my leg. Now, you wonder, how can it be numb and painful at the same time? Apparently, it can. After many sleepless nights I finally saw my doctor. I was diagnosed with meralgia paresthetica. Basically a nerve that travels through the groin area and down the outside of the leg is likely pinched somewhere inside. Fortunately it’s basic function is to provide sensation to touch on the skin. So it’s not doing any “real??” damage. Now that it’s pinched, the sensation to that area is compromised. A light touch makes me scream (like the fabric of my pants rubbing against my leg on a cold day) but I don’t usually feel a harder touch or I feel it on the inside only and to an extreme. (Imagine having 2 inches of rubber over your leg and trying to feel anything through it) Most of the time I don’t feel anything at all in that area (I’ve been warned not to lean against hot or cold items as I can’t feel anything so I could burn or freeze the area without knowing it) but when I do feel something it’s on the inside only and it’s excrutiating pain. The doctor put me on Amitriptylene to basically knock me out at night. It helps me sleep but the pain tends to rear its ugly head in early evening. I’d take the medication earlier but then I’d have no life - I’d be asleep all the time! The doctor told me that surgery isn’t recommended as there is always a chance that the nerve will come back on its own (currently it’s functioning at 5%) and cutting it would take any chance of that away and often doesn’t stop the pain but instead ads to it. No thanks! The good thing is that I’m not in constant pain
but it is frustrating when people unknowingly “pat you on the leg” or bump into you in line, etc. We constantly have to tell my son “keep away from Mommy’s bad leg” Even worse…sometimes it itches (very weird) but I can’t scratch it without screaming in pain and if I try to, I don’t “feel” any relief. Not sure how all of this happened, may have been pregnancy related, might have injured my hip area and didn’t know it. No idea. Apparently police officers and/or people who wear tight waisted pants/belts can get this but I am neither of those. Obesity is another factor but the doctor said he doesn’t think that’s my problem either (although I could definitely stand to loose a few pounds.) Oh well, it gives me an excuse to have hubby shovel the driveway while I stay inside reading romance novels.
Comment by Dayle — March 7, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Ev you have me chuckling again today.
I loved the “in training” comment and I always do the
“P-oops” (your/you’re) thingie.
Leslie, I really did like “Night Whispers” I can see why it is one of your
favorites.
I am now reading Julie’s “Private lessons” 
I wish I could retire and just read all day. Shucks!:cry:
I came back to work just for the healthcare.
Comment by jeannie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Debbie–good luck with the steroid shots. That was one of the options they offered me but by then, it was just too late. Hope they help!
And Donna, GO YOU! I know age really is a mental attitude and there are days when I still feel like that 30 year old. Then I look at my children and wonder WHERE those years went. :cry:
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Gena–I think Jill is up for Best Steamy Romance and I know her fabulous Room Service cover is up for Best Male on a Cover. Can’t remember anything else.
And voting is a pain, I know! But you really can’t vote more than once (though thanks for asking…lolol!) because you have to be registered at eHarlequin, and once you register, the “cookies” on the site remember you for time immemorial! My sister wanted to vote, using my computer, but she couldn’t, for that very reason. (So she voted from work.
)
Thanks again, everyone, for your support on *both* these things today!
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:58 pm
Dayle, I have that same 2″ wide swath of numbness down my leg. It is SO bizarre, especially because it also has destroyed my ankle reflex. Really weird. And means I will never be a ballerina or an ice dancer. Shucks.
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 8:59 pm
Ev–I like the idea of being a cat or a dog. Sleeping in a puddle of sunlight. Stretching to wake up and eat. Then napping again.
What a life…
Comment by Leslie — March 7, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Congrats to the nominees
I just voted
Sorry to hear about your back Leslie and everyone else that has back troubles. I don’t have any knock on wood. My dad has a bad back and so does my dear friend Tina who has been through hell and back with her back.
Comment by Cherylann — March 7, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
First, hope you feel better!
I’m 31, but I started having back trouble at 25. I went from running marathons and 35 miles a week to almost being tears after walking through the grocery store. My trouble is congenital so no fixes for me.
But I got better through acupuncture. (I am also the biggest needle phob in the world. Need numbing cream for a blood test.) But I have a wonderful acupuncturist from China.
He did what 2 rounds of PT, a ton of drugs, and everything else couldn’t.
Now, I’m pretty functional. I just make certain I don’t pick up anything heavy from the floor and sit on something called a sacrowedgey. http://www.sacrowedgy.com It looks goofy, but to me it beats be in agonizing pain, especially when you have a job where you sit all day!
Comment by Meg — March 7, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
jeannie- as of today, i came out of “retirement” and am going back to work part time- at Borders!!! My old distict manager is now the manager of the new store. I can’t wait until everyone here has to do things for themselves!!! And I get my discount back.
Comment by ev — March 7, 2007 @ 10:16 pm
Congrats Ev
there’s nothing better than an employee discount!! I used to work for Barnes & Noble but it was the college division so it was mostly text books with a small amount of trade, but it was fun…good luck
Comment by Tina Martinesi — March 7, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Leslie, Hope your back feels better soon. I, too, have had back problems, but, there is a PB book called “Oh, My Aching Back” which has exercises that seem to help me.
Karen, since my daughter had very high cholesterol (340) & also has Fibromyalgia (with severe pain in the muscles & tendons), she’s had several types of cholesterol-reducing meds. Frankly, Lipitor was the worst for her, but, she’s now on 2 Welchols with meals, 1 Pravachol in eve., separated by 1 Zetia later. I’m certain you won’t need such an array as she, but, if Lipitor doesn’t work, there are others that might work better. Her Internist (at that time) said they all worked the same, but, it just wasn’t true. In spite of the Fibro, with a new doctor who specializes in Lipids, she’s been much improved on her new regime, & her liver tests (tap on wood) are OK. Good luck on getting it all worked out.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — March 8, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Meg, thanks for the link! I’ll check that out!
Comment by Leslie — March 8, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Yay Ev! We love booksellers!!!
Comment by Leslie — March 8, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Leslie,
I hate to even talk about back problems. My husband had the same problems that you were going through. He still has the numbness in his leg. The doctor said that it was permanent nerve damage.
Then I started having back problems a few years ago. Several different things, 1) I have a straight spine, 2) two bulging disc, 3) problems with my SI joint, 4) muscle problems.
The doctor says that there isn’t any cure for my problems. Just finding away to ease the pain for as long as possible.
It’s a real pain in the butt. Just like you said, you can be doing something that should hurt your back but doesn’t. Then you could do a little of something and it will put you down for weeks at a time.
I hope that you get to feeling better and that we learn to live with this horrible problem.
Comment by Tina Byrd — March 9, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Comment by Veronica — May 6, 2007 @ 7:33 am