Day 8 Day 8

Everyday I'm waking up with varying amounts of lower backpain and sciatica. Some days I wake up with little pain, just stiffness, but later in the day the pain always gradually increases. I try to hold off on taking my tylenol, and or turmeric until a few hours into my day when the pain increases. Very hot showers focused on my lower back in the morning also seems to help temporarily.

I got a new matress topper and I feel like it is helping a little bit with the morning soreness. But I inevitably start hurting as the day goes on. I'm still icing then heating several times a day. I'm not sure if it's helping or not, but it's just me trying to avoid the pain and taking more pills. Rubbing Arnica cream on my lower back as well. Again, not sure of its doing anything or not?. I'm still noticing a correlation between stressful daily events and slightly increasing pain. Also still trying to think psychological and not structural when I get spasms. Sneezing still scares the hell out of me.

 

I have hot showers in the evening and it often removes pain. The other day I journaled about things that I do to reinforce the physical diagnosis and it was on the list alongside avoiding certain activities, worrying about the future etc. The thing is I need to have a shower every day and see it part of my self care routine but it does kind of undermine the program if I'm doing it to manage pain. You mentioned stress and pain. That sounds like something you would benefit from exploring rather than how to reduce your pain levels. Like, why are they stressful? What feelings accompany the events? Are there any historical patterns? I'm not really qualified to advise on this but I noticed you posted a while ago and when I was beginning the SEP it felt good to get a response from other people on the forum. Good luck.