I'm a fucking idiot. I'm only 41 and I think I may have really hurt myself through the stupidest manner -- inactivity. Or, rather, sitting too much. A year ago, my company was acquired and with that acquisition came a promotion for me and an almost overwhelming amount of responsibility. Most days, I've been working up to 12 hours in the office, grabbing dinner, finishing up work for a couple more hours at home and maybe watching TV for an hour before heading to bed. They've finally agreed to let me hire a couple of new folks to give me some more work-life balance.
I was incredibly stupid not to have gotten a sit-stand desk (at work and at home.) I had already started to experience some moderate hip pain (both sides) and lower back pain when sitting for extended periods (it would come and go -- not constant, not acute). I was planning on asking my doctor about it on my next visit. And, then, last week, just bending down to put my socks on, I got a horrible sharp pain in my lower back and instantly stiffened. After a couple of days, went to urgent care, they gave me a couple of shots and prescriptions for anti-inflammatory drugs and a 7-day oral steroids regimen.
After a couple of days on the steroids, the pain was subsiding and I was getting more mobility. But, once the regimen ended the pain flared back worse than before -- always triggered especially by sitting or when moving from sitting to standing and vice versa.
Now, I'm being referred for an MRI and to see an orthopedic pain specialist. My uneducated hunch is that it's not a herniated disc and that it's more related to my terrible choice to remain seated for most of the past year.
So... any advice on what I should ask the orthopedic pain specialist about? Especially if the MRI doesn't show a specific issue like a herniated disc? Don't worry, I WILL be getting professional medical care, but I know some of you have probably been through something like this and I'm happy to take any advice. For now, heat therapy and lying flat on a hard surface can offer temporary relief, but it's always temporary.
I'm hoping this can be 'fixed' through a combination of pain therapy, physical therapy, using a sit-stand desk and regular aerobic exercise (which I have neglected for the past year.) I'm going to hang my head in shame if I end up needing surgery or god forbid, hip replacements at age 41 all because of my poor choices over the past year.
Sorry for the long post. I know I'm being a Mary! None of my friends or colleagues my age or younger have experienced this so I'll take any advice (or scolding) you can offer. Right now, 90% of my day I'm in severe pain and I only really get relief when I finally fall asleep.