So, after a month of severe pain and a car trip that started out toward the ER but, thankfully, ended at the chiropractor instead, I think we know what is going on with my back and why I have been feeling so crappy.
It seems that 2 of the vertebrae in my spine are out of alignment and are separated when they are supposed to be right next to each other. This is causing rubbing and pinching of the nerves around my spine. Sound painful? It is. My chiropractor also thinks this part of the spine has nerves connecting to my stomach, which could be why that has been achy as well.
Although I am still in tremendous pain, I am quite relieved to know what is going on and to hear the chiropractor say that he thinks he can help. He wants me to take it easy for a few days, which is easier said than done with two little ones, but I am trying. Thanks goodness for laptops or I would go crazy just lying in bed. I am also trying to avoid taking too many pain meds because I am still breastfeeding Mr. Roly Poly and don't want him exposed to too much. So, although it doesn't do too much, I am trying to stick with Motrin for the pain and lots of ice packs.
Hopefully I will be feeling better in about 5-7 days. I cannot wait to get back to normal. I miss playing on the floor with my babies. Roly Poly is so close to crawling but I told him he has to wait until Mama feels better. He had better behave! Also, Miss A decided to try to bite a chunk out of his little arm while I was on the couch writhing in pain. I think she can sense that something is not right and so she starts to act up in response. (He is just fine, by the way).
Thanks for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated!
P.S. For those of you who are interested, my injured area is at the vertebrae L1 and T12, in between the lumbar(blue) and thoracic (yellow). You can see this is the diagram above.