I met with my primary care provider who confirmed what I knew this entire time, that the pain in the right side of my back is in fact sciatica. I am thrilled to share that in the past two weeks, with the help of Tylenol, the sciatic nerve pain in my back has subsided. It seems that as of now I will not have to pursue the recommended physical therapy, as long as my back continues to make progress.
I finished using my Salonpas patches and will likely continue to use the TENS unit, as the latter is not doing any harm, though I cannot be certain that it is moving along the recovery. The Salonpas patches were recommended by my OB-GYN at my 39 week appointment when I could barely walk down the block unassisted. In what feels like a distant memory, I had a death grip on my MIL’s arm as we walked from the doctor’s office to CVS to procure said lidocaine patches. The TENS unit was recommended by my primary care provider at my recent appointment. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses electric current to activate nerves in order to decrease pain. At worst, the electrical currents from the TENS unit are uncomfortable and I though it does not show levels of intensity, I never turn that up beyond what must be a four.
This was my first visit with a doctor post labor and delivery. On that note, it is so strange to me that women are not scheduled to meet with a physician six to eight weeks postpartum. Labor and delivery are paradigm life events that happen to arguably half of the population and they straight up wreak trauma on one’s body. How is it at all reasonable that in the span that a newborn has at least three WELL visits, the mother does not have a routine appointment with her physician?
Food for thought.
