Back In Business

I took a little blog hiatus the past few weeks due to a unwanted reunion with back pain.  Its something that has been a part of my life since my early 20's due to some strong genetic influence and maybe some external influences as well.  I'm sure bungee jumping, 4 wheeling, and other high impact activities of my youth made their contribution to a couple of disc failures in my lower lumbar area (L4-L5 to be exact. This is low back just before your behind)  So sitting hurts the most.  Its been an issue off and on over the years but with a little extra rest, anti-inflammatory meds and on occasion some good pain medicine, it settles down and I forget about it.

I wish I could blame this last incident on a brawl with the nasty water aerobics lady at the pool over whether or not mothers could have small boys (0-5yrs) in the dressing room.  But alas it wasn't.  I wash trying to wash Brenna's hair after swimming lessons and she moved away from me and I leaned over to pull her back.  I felt it at that moment and knew that I was going to be sorry for awhile.  The next day I was sort of functional.  I call it the caveman walk.  Unfortunately it didn't stop there.

By day 3 it was bad.  So bad, I called and made an appointment with a M.D.   For those of who know me, it has to be bad for me to go to see a doc.  The last two times I made an appointment with a doc, I ended up with breathing treatments, and surgery to remove a grumpy appendix.  I'm not sure how I got Brenna and I dressed, into the car, and to the doctors office.  Really, its a little blurry.  All I know is that when I got there, I just stood in the waiting room and cried while little Brenna gently rubbed my arm.  It was really quiet in the waiting room as everyone glanced over at the lady who refused to sit, and cried.  Now, its not pretty when I cry.  My eyes get bloodshot red, my skin goes blotchy, and I couldn't move to get a tissue.  Got a good visual?  So they call my name, I cling to the wall with each step.  Again, no chatter in the busy office, just staring as I go by.  The assistant says to go directly to x-ray.  The tech says, climb up on the table and lay down.  I must have shot daggers at her with my eyes, because she quickly grabbed a step stool and offered to assist me.  I'm laying down.  Fine, okay now turn over onto your side...now the other side,  oh we have to do that one again.... Sobbing now.  She has learned and says "can I help you down?"  Somehow I get down, get dressed, and cling to the imaginary bar on the wall to the patient room.  Doc comes in...looks around to find me, I'm standing behind the door against the table for support on two sides.  Legs shaking, crying, and just a pure blubber mess.  Brenna was coloring Tinkerbell.  He asks a few questions and recognizes that if he even tries to touch me I would deck him.  He is smart and keeps it short, tells me what I already know about how messed up my back is, and then starts writing scripts for pain control.  He asks me how I got there.  I told him I drove...he shakes his head and says that he can only give a shot of Toradol right then because I will have to drive home.  I say, yes, yes, Toradol now would be good.  Now!

The next few days pretty much meshed together, I was on a great cocktail of muscle relaxers, narcotic pain medicine, and anti-inflammatory meds.  I was so out of it I missed my first physical therapy appointment.  I slept right through it.  So now, with a little PT, rest, and limited movement, I'm functioning again.

If you made it to the end of my tale (pun intended) I commend your endurance.  Hopefully, I'll be back in the saddle before no time.  Okay, maybe not the saddle, but you get the picture.  The irony of it all, is that water aerobics is one of the best methods of exercise for this. Nice.