Pinched Nerve!

Over the past month, I've been experiencing some pain on the right side of my lower back. After sitting for a while at work, if I'd get up it'd really hurt... but then go away. The pain would come and go very rarely. For the past week, the pain has gotten worse... comes more often and hurts a lot more.

Well, on Saturday afternoon, it got REALLY bad. I couldn't move. I was sitting down and couldn't get up. Thankfully mom was over, because Toby was out shopping... she had to help me up... I cried in agony the whole time. Then it took about 30-45 seconds PER STEP to walk downstiars. Again, I cried the whole time.

So we called my OB doctor. By the sounds of things, she thought it might be an infection of some sort... bladder, kidney, etc. So she had me go to the hospital for some tests. At 7pm, we showed up at Lakeland Hospital (where we'll deliver). I got the hospital bracelet, the gown, the room... the whole 9 yards. I just thought I had to take a pee test -- I was sorely mistaken! The nurse even asked me if I had any restrictions on visitors... and what my religious preference was!

They hooked me up to a bunch of machines, making sure both the baby and I were okay. They monitored the baby for 45 minutes, and thankfully nothing is wrong... heart beat is great, I'm not having contractions. And... no infection.

My doctor thinks it's a pinched nerve... the growing baby is pressing on my shifting pelvis, which is severely pinching a nerve. And, there's nothing they can do about it. So, hopefully it UNpinches itself! Until then, all I can do is use a heating pad and take Tylenol. If it gets unbearable, she can prescribe something stronger... but I'm not going to let it get to that!

Over the past two days, it's gotten a little better... or I'm just becoming immune to the pain. Either way, it's not making me cry in agony anymore. But I do hate the fact that I feel limited... I can't move too much or too fast, bend over to pick anything up... it hurts to sit down, stand up, climb stairs... you name it. And it REALLY hurts to lay down! Once I'm down, I'm fine... but getting there is another story!

This is what I get for having a perfect pregnancy so far. I was doing so well... haven't gained too much weight, not sick all the time, not uncomfortable... really nothing to complain about. Just hope this doesn't last the next two months! I've been doing stretches, using a heating pad, taking it easy... everything I can do really. I plan on going swimming this week... that will take the pressure off and hopefully unpinch the nerve. Fingers crossed!

SOMETHING FUNNY: While at the hospital, mom had mentioned something about "Thumper" -- the nurse said "Oh, that's cute... you're going to name it Thumper?" She was serious! I felt like saying "Yeah, I really love Walt Disney. For our next child, we'll go with Pinocchio for a boy or Snow White for a girl." Did she HONESTLY believe we were going to name our child Thumper!? Oh boy.