Messages By: foxylass

  I injured myself at work a couple of weeks ago. I prolapsed my C4/5 disc. Normally it gets better with rest and analgesia inside of 14 days for most people.Mine unfortunately has not. I am swallowing Panadeine Forte & Tramal ( at times) for the pain.  I cannot tolerate NSAIDs. Regardless of how full my stomach is when I take it I get gastritis and diarrhoea after more than one dose and no pain relief. I feel like a zombie. I can't take any analgesia when I have to see the doctor or physiotherapist so it is always a painful session either way I am also taking Lyrica 75mg twice a day. I've been getting neuropathic pain down my arms and into my hands. The Lyrica is helping that pain but at the price of not being able to drive my car because it makes me drowsy , dizzy and affects my balance. I've been told I will have to take it for  some time and the side effect will lessen. I've been taking it for two weeks now and still sway and stagger.

  The doctor and physio are going to start some rehab work on Friday to get me fit for work ASAP. In my job there are no light duties so I have to be100% fit to return to work.  I have given my  7mth puppy to my cousins to babysit until I can bend forward to feed and play with her. However, I am having problems doing the housework , cooking meals and grocery shopping. I am single and live alone. My parents live in another state and can do little more than speak to me on the phone. The rest of my family , one brother , one sister and countless cousins, Aunts and Uncles live here in my state. They all keep me at arm's length and offer platitudes. I have asked for actual physical assistance but none of them can manage one hour of their time. If the boot were on the other foot I would drop what I was doing and dig in and help them. They know this because I've done it countless times in the past.

  I feel that if I died  tomorrow the only people who would notice would be my employer and the bank. My family don't ever phone me so how would they even know something wasn't right? I feel truly alone. I cannot get support beyond well wishes from my family and I have only one friend. His mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer last week. He relies on me to keep him strong and give him explanations / education about his mother's path fom here on.

  Am I just being self-absorbed ? I am normally a very strong woman but I can't cope with this. I'm not simply depressed or an emotional wreck I cannot physically manage to do basic chores due to the pain. I just feel so alone. My physio gave me some exercises to do at home and making the assumption most people do, he told me to get someone to hold my shoulder down while I did the exercises. I have no one unless I can train my Jack Russell pup to sit on my shoulder. Everybody tells me to make sure I'm not too modest to ask for help. Well I'm asking and nobody is willng or able? There is no community service I can use as I'm not considered aged or disabled. I am starting to lose weight from an inadequate diet. I don't know what I can do?