My Old/New Frustration {Some Steam Involved}

So, if some of you remember last April (2011) my back decided one night after driving home from church that it was tired and didn't feel like functioning like it should.  I had trouble getting out of the car and I ended up having to "drop" Blaine down into his crib cause I couldn't bend over.  After a few visits to my local chiropractor I able to move again, and for the most part back to "normal".  Since it wasn't in our budget to go as often as they wanted me to I normally held out as long as I could and then went in for an adjustment. 

I think my last adjustment was in August of 2011.  I've had some problems here and there since we've moved, but if I waited about a week it would seem to settle down.  About a month ago I started having problems again.  Don't know why.  Just did.

About a week prior I had been at the Clinic to see my doctor and she gave me a referral for the Physical Therapy office that is on post.  I wasn't having back pain at the time, but wanted to try and be prepared for when it came.  I made an appointment to see him and got in about a week after my pain started.  It has been about five weeks and I have been to see him 3 times.  He gave me one specific stretch to do 5-6 times a day, 10 repetitions each. 

I originally went in with pain in my lower back and to the right.  This is generally where it shows up.  The stretches seemed to have taken care of that problem, but after doing them consistently for about a week it seemed to create a new, more painful pain.  The last time I saw him, about a week and a half ago, on a Monday.  I told him that I thought my pain had changed and it was moving more south to the lower of my lower back and even down into my tailbone area.  I had started having trouble standing up after sitting down for more than 30 seconds at a time.  My back locks up and it takes me a minute to stand up straight before I can even take a step.  (No jumping up quickly for anything/anyone!)  He encouraged me to keep up with the stretches and that my back locking up is my body's way of warning me and that I needed to stretch more. 

Advice taken and I went home and continued with my stretches as often as I could.  By Wednesday, I had pains shooting down my left leg whenever I stood or walked.  I could almost immediately feel my back tighten up anytime I sat down.  I had trouble getting my pants on, getting in and out of the shower, rolling over, etc.  I couldn't sit through the sermon on Sunday.  We sat in the back knowing that I would have to probably stand up for part of it.  Prior, I could find some comfort in lying down, but by Thursday/Friday, the pain was constant and there was no relief in anything.  Two nights I cried myself to sleep, begging/praying for God to take the pain from me if it be His will.  Many nights I've gone from bed, to couch, to bed trying to get comfortable and praying to fall back asleep.

This past Sunday, I stopped doing the stretches.  I noticed a significant difference Monday morning.  The pain isn't gone.  I still have trouble going from sitting to a standing position.  I still have some pain shooting down my leg, that occasionally causes me to walk with a limp.  The pain is still constant and is starting to wear on me.  I'm exhausted!  (That could be in part to normal 1st trimester tiredness as well.)

I have also been trying my best to search out other options the last two weeks.  I finally received my medical records, x-rays from my chiropractor in Texas.  From asking around, there is no local German chiropractor.  I had heard that there was a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) stationed at the Clinic here in Bamberg.  A Doctor of Osteopathy has the ability to do spinal adjustments.  I had tracked him down and was praying that this was my answer.  I got an appointment with my doctor on Monday to hopefully get the referral to see this D.O.  I must have been exhausted and overwhelmed cause the second the nurse asked me how long ago my pain started..I started bawling.  Bawled my eyes out in front of two nurses and my doctor.  :)

And it didn't get better.  The D.O. won't touch me cause I'm pregnant.  Bawling continues.  My  doctor pretty much gave me three options.  1.  Take Tylenol and use some topical rub.  2.  If the pain got to be unbearable, I could go to the Klinikum (the German hospital) and they could hospitalize me.  3.  Hope that my OB can refer me to someone that can help me (which I had also previously considered as an option). 

So right now, I am still praying and holding onto the hope that my OB will know someone that is willing to work with me.  I'm willing to drive a few hours too!  And I don't care if they don't speak English!  I can find someone to go with me to translate if needed.  I had been putting off scheduling my first OB appointment since I'm still so early in my pregnancy, but after my appointment with my doctor I went ahead and called to schedule.  I have an appointment this coming Monday.

I think overall, it's so frustrating knowing that all I need is ONE adjustment!!!  I just need to find that one person who is willing/trained to touch a pregnant person.  While chiropractors seem as common as churches in the states, I can't seem to find one over here.  I really hope my OB knows someone! 

I also went ahead and scheduled another appointment with the Physical Therapy guy as well.  Maybe he can give me a different stretch for me to do.  I've googled a few myself and one seems to help some, so we'll see how that goes.

Other options we've considered.....I've looked into getting a massage just hoping it might move things gently back into place.  You have to be between month 3 and month 7 for a massage.  I'm still a few weeks shy of month 3.  This next idea is crazy, but it has crossed my mind, and Tim even suggested it this morning.  Buying a ticket and flying home to get an adjustment.  Craziness, right?!  Probably not really an option, but that seems to be where we are in our desperate-ness.

I am getting weary and worn out.  I am fed-up with the constant pain and not being able to perform my daily tasks!