Pages

Monday, February 11, 2008

So Old

I often half-seriously make fun of myself for being an old lady but this morning I outdid myself.

I was getting ready for work, was half dressed and going through a drawer looking for my black lace socks. As I reached for them suddenly a searing hot shock of pain overtook my lower back. I fell to the ground hurling expletives into the air and for a moment was shocked. What the hell?

When my wits came back to me a minute later I found that I basically could not move without a large amount of pain in my lower back. I could crawl. I could lay flat on my back, but any movement or position other than those two was agony. I dragged myself over to the table and grabbed my phone to call Adam and ask him what I should do? He said he would come home to check what the situation was and in the meantime I called my mom (a nurse) for her medical opinion and my dad (a life long back pain sufferer) to commiserate with. They both told me that this lovely affliction is known as a Back Spasm, a rather innocuous name if you ask me. So from them I have learned that the prescription for this is bed rest and muscle relaxers and so that is how I am rolling for the next day or so.

Jenny
told me that, after this latest development, she is getting me a Medic Alert for my birthday. I have to say I think this is a wise decision since, mere days before my 28th birthday, I already personally understand the meaning of "Help! I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!".

13 comments:

Greens and Pinks said...

Ohhhh girl. The very same thing happened to me a few years ago as I was putting my own socks on while getting dressed. It SUCKS. It is a back spasm and while YES you should rest today, make sure you get up and move around a little bit so you don't get overly stiff.

What cured me was a massage at BackWorks (Sam did mine) which is on Batterymarch St. between Faneuil and the financial district.

Feel better soon!

Jenny said...

I feel your pain - literally! At only 26, I had my back go out to the point where I couldn't move at all. Muscle relaxers saved me.

Doing crunches really helps because it's builds your core muscles and takes strain off your back.

Rest up, relax, watch tons of cheesy TV and FEEL BETTER!!

:)

Anonymous said...

I don't have back pain, but as a coumadin patient (with various joint problems, particularly hips), I totally understand feeling old before your time.

And I do actually have a medic alert bracelet--my blue beaded one is actually quite pretty!

Gah--I'm so old.

MegFordice said...

Oooo, what kind of muscle relaxers did you get? Anything good?

Melissa said...

I hope you feel better soon!

Lys said...

Been there, done that and it's definitely no picnic! Jenny's prescription is spot on - add in some Jerry Springer and Montell and just enjoy your day off!

Don't let yourself stiffen up tho. Whoever invented muscle relaxers should get a Nobel Peace Prize, IMO.

John J. Wall said...

Yeah, it's more like "Someone jammed a red-hot poker into my spine".

Flamingos & Flip Flops said...

My husband's back went out today too!

Rest up... just don't ooh and ahh with every step, like he's doing!

Anonymous said...

OUCH! Your story reminded me of that Sex & the City episode where Miranda hurt her back in the bathroom and Aiden had to come get her... it had to have hurt but I wouldn't mind John Corbett to come pick me up naked :) Just saying...

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry that you're in so much pain, but that cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh--I really needed it. :)

I also share a similar pain... well, not really similar but, whatever. I went to the gym last Thursday and my trainer flat out tried to kill me. He exhausted my legs for an hour then made me do 100 calf raises. I was fine until Saturday, when I woke up without being able to straighten my legs. What I would have done for some muscle relaxers then...

And I'm older than you (I'm 29)... so I hear ya, girl.

Cheers,
Erin
Athens, GA

eileen said...

Yowch!
I had a pinched nerve in my back for the first time ever, right after i turned the big 3-0.
Hope you feel better soon! If not, at least get yourself some fun meds.

RED said...

Hope you feel better Sarah! I did that one time picking up a bag of concret mix I had no business picking up. Soak up the cheesy TV/movies (and being stuck in side when it's super cold. When I threw out my back it was summer and my apt had NO AC. I just laid on the couch, tried not to sweat (unsuccessful) and prayed to feel better. Here's to a quick recovery!

Anonymous said...

Yikes, I hope you feel better! I've had the same thing happen to me, too, so if you're old, I'm even older!

(P.S. a heating pad helps!)