Focht Family Blog

Well… I have been having a lot of fun for the last couple of weeks. The week after Mother’s Day my back started going out. In the past when I have had back problems it has just been muscle spasms and after 3-4 days of rest and muscle relaxants I am fine. This time it wasn’t the same. I was resting and taking meds and my back wasn’t getting any better. I tried stretching it and doing back exercises. I tried everything that people told me to do. Finally, on Wednesday last week I had an MRI done on my back. Unfortunately my doctor here was on vacation and her partner didn’t have any openings until Tuesday morning to get my results.

On Monday I woke up and my left leg was spasming all day where my muscles were twitching on their own. Then in the afternoon I got what I can only describe as a charlie horse that stretched from my hip to my ankle. Nothing I did would relieve it and all I could do is scream in pain. I finally found a position that took the pain away but it took a long time before I could take my leg out of the position without it seizing up again.  After it stopped I  went to get up and my leg buckled underneath me. I couldn’t feel most of my leg and it wouldn’t hold any weight so I decided to go to the ER. Usually when I go to the ER with my back they give me stronger meds and let me go. This time they checked me in. They had the results of my MRI available because it is in the same Health system as the hospital and it showed a large herniated disc between L4 & L5. Apparently the herniation was cutting off the nerves to my leg and if it wasn’t corrected it could end up killing them.

So for the last 2 days I have been in the hospital. This is the first time I have ever spent the night at a hospital other than giving birth. They gave me muscle relaxants, heavy pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and steroids. Then last night I was given an epidural injection of steroids directly to the affected disc. They said it will take 48-72 hours to take full affect and it could get worse before it gets better. Last night it seemed better but since I have been home I have noticed that my left leg is very weak and it is hurting. So I will keep on the meds and hopefully be better soon. I will still have to have two more epidural injections, one in two weeks and one in four weeks. I promise to try to devote some time to catch up. I still need to take pictures of our beautiful flowerbed that Nathan built around our deck. They are guessing that it was probably either the planting or mowing our lawns that herniated the disc so at least I should show the beautiful plants that did me in! :)