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Posted by on Apr 16, 2014 in Blog, Personal | 7 comments

A Pain in the Back

 

bmd

 

When it comes to good health, I won the lottery.

At least until now.

Never once have I faced a serious health issue.  That’s really remarkable for someone who crossed the 50-yard-line two years ago and lived what some might consider an unorthodox lifestyle.  In fact, it’s kinda’ shocking I’ve never had a health scare before.

 

Well, maybe things are finally starting to catch up with me.  This past Saturday morning, I threw my back out.  I haven’t been able to walk in four days.  The pain has been excruciating.

I’ve tolerated lower back issues off and on for several years.  But when something flared up, the pain usually went away after just a day or so.  Not this time.

Four days ago, I was preparing for my usual daily run.  Just as I stood up, things didn’t seem right.  Something popped.  I bowled over and hit the ground, and ultimately ended up tucked into a fetal position.  I was a jar of Gerber away from sucking my thumb.  That’s pretty much been my 24-hour existence ever since.  Even typing — as I’m doing right now — is uncomfortable.

Right now, simply rising to my feet and standing up places intense pressure on the lower spine, triggering a sharp pain.  The shock races down to both knees.  One has the feeling that the backbone simply can’t support your own weight.  Even though I’ve tried to stretch and work through the pain as I’ve done before, the body completely freezes at times.  Nothing moves.

But there’s an upside.  My current state of semi-immobility has given me two things — first, a broader sense of awareness, and second, deeper feelings of compassion for others who are far less fortunate.  Indeed, many people are forced to endure pain every single day.  How challenging their daily lives must be to manage constant discomfort while going to work and upholding their responsibilities when pain is such a distraction.  I can’t even begin to imagine what some people have to go through.

Of course, life must go on.  I’m not willing to sit around and do nothing.  Movement actually helps me.  So, I’ve tried to keep active as possible.  Trouble is, as long as I’m burdened with this back condition, I look like a 95-year-old man.  The brain says one thing, but the joints won’t cooperate.  You can imagine the tremendous inconvenience that this causes.  Fortunately, I haven’t had to fly anywhere or leave the house more than a few times.  So if there’s such a thing as “good timing,” this was it.  The biggest downside, aside from the constant pain, has been not being able to run for the past several days, which drives me insane knowing I’m essentially bedridden.

I suppose I’ll have to see a doctor about this problem since it’s not going away.  The last thing I want is to have to take pain medication, but that’s probably the next step.  I’m hopeful it won’t be much more than that, but you never know.

There’s no point to this story, really.  I expect things will gradually improve.  Still, I wonder about empathy and how easy it is to see the light once you walked in someone else’s shoes.

One has to play the cards you’ve been dealt.  And as painful as this is at times, plenty of brave people have it much worse.

My heart goes out to them.

7 Comments

  1. Nolan,

    I experienced a similar health issue a few years ago – lower back went out, could not stand without pain. I was in great shape, running 7-15 miles a day, then, I find myself stuck in bed. If I tried to run, it was like you said, the spine felt like it could not support my weight.

    I cured myself with stretching exercises. Also went to massage therapy, which did not help all that much, but it was relaxing. I discovered that the “Sunrise Salute” yoga stretch/pose did wonders for the lower back. I am not flexible, and never tried yoga, but I still do that stretch whenever my back feels stiff. I eventually had a full recovery, but it took a few months. If I had known about the stretching it may have healed sooner.

    Hopefully your injury is just a tweak and you are back to running and feeling good soon!

  2. 🙁

    Now you have a real knowing of pain.

    Mental and physical.

    Been suffering with serious back pain since about 1999.

    Good news or bad news first?

    4 real… A bad back can be managed by some… ERM life changes.

    I could go on.. But.. I’d go on too much.

    My “pop” of the back is a hell of a Vegas trip story.

    Maybe I’ll share it… Yep.. My back went out while on one of my too many trips to Las Vegas. At the top of Bob Stupacks tower.

    Hours of hellishly painful moves which had me landed in a Vegas hospital..

    Crazy trip.

    Anyway… You cannnn beat this…

    From now on.. Watch belts or jeans .. Slacks. Too tight or loose. Running… Days… Might be over too.

  3. Would love to suggest seeing a Chiropractor for your back. Glgl 😀

  4. Ouch! Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I hope you can heal quickly.

  5. Nolan, you need to go to your doctor and he is going to order an MRI. You likely have herniated a lumbar disc and it is compressing your nerve roots and cord. Don’t delay. The sooner you start physical therapy/ traction the less likely you’ll have to have surgery. Good luck.

  6. I find it amusing when people say things like I would never take pain pills or it’s the last thing I want to do. Then something happens………..

  7. Nolan, I’ll second the recommendation to see a chiropractor. I’ve thrown out my back working in the yard, so bad that I too could only manage the fetal position. One visit to a chiro, one well placed pop, and I was good as new. Suggestion – try to get referrals from other LV residents. As with any profession, there are good, bad, charlatan, and miraculous chiropractors.

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