Over the weekend, Ariesna and I went to the CPL to check out their latest book sale. She got a bit ahead of me looking around as I was carrying out picks. I was about to move to the next room to catch up to her when it happened. Suddenly I felt a sharp, red-hot pain stabbing into my back. I managed to get over to Ariesna and set the books down, but it was something of a close call. We left the library shortly after that to go home and set me up with a heating pad. A bit of heat, some back pain meds and my back was feeling better. I took the day easy sitting down, reading a book.
I was still mighty tired the next day. Every time I had turned over in my sleep; I was half awakened by pain in my back. But awake eventually I was and into the shower I went. I’d just finished my shower and was drying off when another spasm ripped through my back. This one was much worse and nearly sent me to my knees. Ariesna came back and helped me. Then she called the doctor’s office and made an appointment to get me checked out. I spent the rest of the day lying down on a heating pad.
Monday, the doctor checked me out. He prescribed some pain killers and a muscle relaxant. He also set up an appointment for me to visit a physical therapist. That appointment was earlier today. The therapist was a really nice lady. She had me describe my problem. She then had me go through a series of stretches and movements to help her figure out exactly what is wrong. She told me she believes one of the discs in my spine (in the border area between the lumbar and thoracic) has a small tear.
She immediately moved to reassure me this is not something that will require surgery. I don’t think I was looking at her nervously, so I’m not entirely sure why she leaped to get that bit of information out. Though if I were to guess, I would say most of her patients are considerably older than I am and they do not like even the hint of possible surgery.
Anyway, she instructed me in doing a couple of light exercises designed to ease the tension in my back and which should improved the blood flow along the damaged area. She said these exercises should be enough for my back to heal itself correctly. Provided I keep in mind for my back to heal properly, I have to be extra cautious about it for a couple of months. She recommended I think about the damage like it was a broken bone. Even if I am feeling 100% in a few days or a week, I’m still to take it easy on my back.
Whee, such fun. Ah well, at least I haven’t promised to help anybody moving anytime soon. :p
My family has a history of back problems. I’ve seriously thrown my back out a couple of times.
I found that — once I recovered the second time — it’s noticably a Good Thing to strengthen my back and abs to prevent this kind of problem. I found http://www.back.com/articles-exercises.html is pretty informative, though I’ve since talked with a physical therapist about exercises.
Good luck to you. I’ll postpone your invite to help with our new cast iron pot-belly stove until summer. 🙂
My physical therapist gave me a sheet of various exercises designed to help the back, though I’m only allowed to do a couple of them for now. The easier of the exercises makes me feel a little silly because it is almost entirely effort free. But it really helps my back to relax and the therapist says it removes the strain from your back while improving the blood flow along the spine. Next time you’re over; I can show you the handout, if you would like to see it.