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October 24, 2005
mortality
so after 1 week and change, my back is still hurting. And not in a "ooh I still have a twinge" way, its more like a "Whoops, I can't bend over to pick up that coin I just dropped" way. It HURTS. I actually called and made a doctor's appointment on Friday just to make sure that I didn't have one of the more serious disc-related back injuries. The doctor didn't really think so, because I still have strength in my legs and I don't have any shooting nerve pain. He just said to get rest in positions that are comfortable for me. His words were along the lines of "If it causes you pain, don't do it". Yeah, since I'm not masochistic, that should be fine for me.
the thing that really sucks about this is how helpless I feel. The doctor did say that I shouldn't be lifting anything more than 5 pounds. Hm, since Naomi is currently hovering around 16 pounds or so, I can't exactly NOT do that. Even with that, I'm grunting with pain when I try to put her down to change her diaper. I wasn't kidding when I said I can't bend over to pick up things. I literally have to get on my knees first, and then reach down to get stuff.
This is the first seriously debilitating injury that I've suffered in my life. Not that its a pride point with me, but I've never suffered any broken bones. the worst I've suffered are some big abrasions as a child from running and falling, and a lot of sprains from my sporting activities. Even with sports, I have to worry if I can go back to doing that, depending on how my back recovers. Its a vicious circle in that some of the recommended advice is to exercise so as to strengthen your back. Well, I'd do that, except my back isn't letting me right now. Anytime before now, when I've had a bout of soreness or stiffness, a good night's sleep (ok maybe two) and it will go away. This is running 8 days and counting, with what seems like incremental changes either towards improvement or sometimes towards worsening. I spent the whole weekend doing virtually nothing, popping Aleve, lying around, and my back doesn't feel any different today from Friday. I've even given in to wearing my dad's back brace (I still say man corset).
Is this what getting old feels like? I'm also frustrated because my work schedule had finally cleared a tad to the point where I was trying to do some house cleaning. Actually, that's part of what started this whole damned mess -- moving all the stuff around in the garage to clear space for the installation of the new garage door. Lift with your legs, not with your back -- yeah yeah yadda yadda. I never listened before because I've moved some pretty heavy stuff the "wrong" way and haven't gotten hurt before. There goes the feeling of youthful invincibility, not that I've really had it for sometime, but yeah, now I'm SURE its gone.
I just hope that this isn't a long-term injury, that my body will recover at some point. I want to be able to play with my daughter when she grows up to the point where she'll want to run around in the park. I want to be able to at least be active, not confined to shuffling around in fear of my back going out on me.
Posted by spoof747 at October 24, 2005 09:15 PM