Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group 2 steps forward and then.... the back pain grrr

Hi all,
Yes yet again I have been crazy busy. 2 weeks of school holidays. 1st week started with Nippers(junior life savers) on the Sunday then from the Sunday through to the Friday I stayed at the surf club to train the next generation of young life savers. Had to sleep in a bed that was less than comfortable (understatement of the year). Came home on the Friday night then back to the club Sunday for nippers followed by another 3 nights at the surf club for the kids "Hell camp" (intensive training) where I had to do water safety. 1st 2 days were raining and wind was blowing a gale, needless to say it was freezing as was the water. Still after all that my back was only giving me a little grief.

Came home to find I have a job interview with, don't laugh, Mc Donalds. I really need the money and I figure how hard can it be right?? One step forward.

This Sunday is the first Sunday of an 8week Bronze squad I will be training. After training this course I will be off my trainers probation and be a fully qualified trainer within surf life saving. 2nd step forward.

So things were looking good, then.......
Last night my lower back decided it would put an end to things. By late afternoon each step I took nearly saw me on the floor. At first there was not so much pain, rather just weakness where my legs would collapse under me. Then as the night went on the pain started. Now this morning I can barely move. grrrr Don't know how I am going to go training tomorrow. Would be ok if it was just theory in the classroom but I have to also train them on the beach.

I think as usual I have done this to myself by taking on way more than I should have and over doing it.
Not sure if I should still go for the job or not. I was only doing it to get some more money to pay for the course I am doing to be qualified to train outside the surf club and start my own first aid training business.
Don't know what to do and starting to feel down. Just when I thought I could actually do something with my life this rotten disease reminds me just how difficult things are.

Hope you are all doing ok.
Thanks for letting me vent yet again.
Much love and gentle hugs to all.
Trish

Hi Trish

Sorry you are in such pain. I know it is hard to slow down when there is a life to live BUT it sounds like you are taking on a lot then trying to do more besides. I admire your tenacity...no one can say you don't try. Find your limits and stick with what you can reasonably do in a day or week and stick with it no matter how good you feel at the time. That way you will be less disappointed in yourself. In the mean time get lots of rest when you can. Trish, please take care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.

I definitely know how easy it is to push beyond your limits and not realise until afterwards. Think Jeff is probably right there (not that I would find it easy to follow that advice!) - a bit less of the boom and bust pattern, and keeping within some limits, even if you really do want to keep on pushing yourself - which I can totally understand. It is incredibly difficult to know where to draw the line.

Is it going to be easier to make those "hold back" decisions once you get over this current push to get full trainers status? I hope it is, and that you can then pick and choose a bit more what you actually do.

Not sure about MacD's. It could be quite difficult (on your feet all shift, probably leaning and lifting to some extent, or repetitive movements) but if you get the job, then you have nothing to lose by giving it a go, and if you don't take it you will never know if you could have done it.

THe back pains stink and gotta be just exhaustingly frustrating... but WOW the steps foward with the life savers just is amazing.

Keep at it... somehow we ASKickers find a way to gut it out and succeed. Sure seeems like you have some successes on the way.

Hi Trish,
So good to hear from you again. I was hoping that it meant all was well with you and the kids. Missed hearing from you though. So sorry that A.S. is K.A. now. Could be the cold weather. This disease is so awful. You never know what you can expect. Do what you can but Trish don't push to hard or the fatigue will bowl you over.

Can't tell you about the job. Only your body will tell you what you can do job wise. I am sending warm gentle hugs and let us know how it goes.

All you can do is take things one day at a time. Sometime we have to know when enough is enough. I hope you will feel better. Please don't push yourself too far, you might get yourself in a really bad situation.

Have you tried the injections in your back or SI? I had both of my SI/s injected and it is just amazing the difference in the pain.

why would we laugh? A job is a job I admire you for doing all you do with this disease,,,,,I'm not even sure I HAVE it yet, and I couldn't keep my job, it was just too much!
\
Hugs, I dont have any advice, just wanted to say I hope you feel better soon!

Thank you all for the replies.
Training went ok today. Temps have really picked up, mid 30's today. I love the warmer weather as I always feel better then. Back is still a real problem but I did do a heck of a lot of warmup stretches this morning and that seemed to really help a lot.
Not sleeping is a problem though, I just can't get in comfortable position to ease the pain.
Have to wait to book an appointment time for the job interview as I am off on a 3 1/2hour drive early Friday morning for the kids nipper carnival and will be back on the following Monday. Unfortunately for me this time of year is crazy hectic with the nipper season starting and carnivals every Saturday this month and then the Bronze training for the next 7 Sundays.

Have not tried injections as yet but will be asking my rheumy about them at the next app.

Hello dear sweat Pea, how are you doing now? I hope you are feeling better than your were.

Thanks again
Trish

Thank's Trish,

I'm hanging in there. Neck is almost fused now. Got a new set of M.R.I.s done yesterday. Follow-up with surgeon before I have the Neurostimulator put in. Fibro season is upon me now and flaring everyday, sigh...

I can't believe all that you do. You are amazing. I hope you get some sleep soon. That is a killer for all of us. I finally have a bed that is comfy but sleep with my heating pad wrapped around me. Stay warm! I hope you find something to ease your pain and keep you going.