I haven't written in a while but I decided to talk about something that affects me every day- SIJ dysfunction (Sacro-Iliac Joint).
The degree of pain varies from day to day... Some days are good; other days, eh. Not so much. Last night was a bad one. My back had been killing me, literally causing tears (that I always attempt to hide because really, who wants to hear my broken record?) I called Jeff into the bathroom after I got out of the shower to check to see if I was out of alignment (forward flexion test- he basically creates a diamond shape over the iliac and sacrum using his thumb and forefingers, I bend over and if I'm out of alignment one finger moves and the other doesn't). Yep. It was out.
It's always the damn left hip that slips. I'm hypermobile on that side and hypomobile on the right. I had a series of steroid injections on the right side that helped somewhat but when my left hip slips out of place it's terrible. So anyway, I gobbled 2 Aleve, and had Jeff put my hip back into place. I'm sure that's his favorite on the 'honey-do' list. Ha ha. Went to bed and now I feel much better. Not pain-free mind you, but better.
I decided to write about this because while SIJ dysfunction isn't common, pregnancy changes many women's bodies and well, I have many friends with children and/or are currently pregnant. I think the medical community is somewhat dismissive of pain during pregnancy. They assume that every woman experiences it to one degree or another and that's it. I can't tell you how many times I was told that I just needed to suck it up. I mean, when I walked I could literally FEEL my bones rubbing and crunching. Every step I took was like somebody kicking me in the crotch with a steel-toed boot. Finally after threatening to quit my job (and thereby losing my health insurance which would result in my OB/GYN not being able to be paid) they sent me to a physical therapist and put me on home rest.
I can't tell you how amazing it was to have a PT tell me I wasn't crazy and that the pain I was experiencing was abnormal. She helped me be able to handle the remainder of my pregnancy without shooting myself but unfortunately the permanent damage was already done.
If those fuckers would have just listened to me when I brought up Pubis Symphasis Dysfunction... Now, because of the bone rubbing all sorts of wonky directions, I have early onset spinal arthritis and degenerative disk disease. AWESOME.
It's not all bad. I manage the pain most days. Controlling my diet is major factor. Gluten seems to create inflammation in my body so when I avoid it, it majorly diminishes the pain. Of course, I slip now and then- I'm human. After all, who can pass up a piece of cake? Exercise is incredibly beneficial too. When I walk about 2 miles a day I notice much less pain as well. Unfortunately it's about 5 degrees hotter than hell right now so I haven't been doing so well. All about to change. I'm going back to the place I miss, somewhere that completely changed my life for the better 7 years ago... the gym! I'm looking into getting an SI belt that would hold everything into place. Definitely going to need that on the elliptical trainer. I've started practicing a bit of yoga to stabilize my hypermobile hip and I never let myself sit in one place for too long.
I don't know what the future holds for me. I'd love to go back to work in the pharmacy but pregnancy permanently disabled me. I don't know that it would be possible to stand (or sit) for upwards of 8 hours. I'm scared. I miss working like you wouldn't believe but I'm so terrified of the pain becoming worse. I know eventually I'm going to have to bite the bullet- if for no other reason than being a housewife/stay-at-home mom is NOT exactly my definition of a good time. SAHM have the hardest job in the world, and I'm kinda lazy. ;)
So that's it, my friends. If you suffer with chronic pain, please tell me your story.
