The Journey

smoky watches NCIS 24/7.

not sure what channel...

I hope you slept some (((JPB))) x

I did sleep. I fell asleep on the couch after dinner and woke up as Mr B was headed to bed. I contemplated staying on the couch but that would leave me downstairs by myself. Otoh, it would mean I didn't have to climb the stairs to get to bed. Given the hell I'd been through in the middle of the night the night before I decided I'd better not be alone. I made it upstairs and managed to get back to sleep without too much trouble. Slept through until about 6:00 with minimal difficulty during the night. It still takes me about three minutes to roll over from one side to the other but that's a big improvement from the night before.

So far this morning I've managed to sit up, get my back brace on, put some clothes on, get to the bathroom by myself and get back to the couch downstairs without triggering a spasm. Deep, deep burning pain in my lower back but it seems to be ready to start to heal. I'll continue with ice treatments throughout the day and call my my foray to the bathroom and down the stairs my exercise du jour. Plans for tomorrow and Monday are canceled other than seeing the chiro at noon.

No new news on the girls. K spent the night and will have to be driven to Skokie to see about her phone (which wasn't stolen but won't turn on, even when plugged into her charger) and get dropped off at the train station. Now there's a weird thing... K was at the concert with friends and was dropped off at a friend's apartment after the concert. She didn't notice that her wallet and keys were missing until the next day when she went to go home. Her phone was in her purse but chose that moment to completely die. She took it to the AT&T store here yesterday and they couldn't get it to turn on either. They referred her to the tech center in Skokie right after telling her that her warranty expired last week. Of course it did.

I spoke too soon... My back started spasming 30 seconds after hitting reply. Ice applied. Still an improvement over yesterday.

And now I hear a cat puking. I know not where.

Just checked in here. So other than that, JPB, how was your day?

Beaming positive thoughts for you. Bad backs are the pits.

Looks like you need a long rest this weekend, JPB. The workouts you have done in a matter of a few weeks is more than I do in an entire year.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, which was an improvement over the previous three days. New spasms are less frequent and less severe than previously. I managed to sleep fairly well last night. Still a deep burning pain from the previous spasms and I'm very, very stiff. 27 hours and counting until I get to see Dr Wizard. The man has kept me upright and moving for years. Unfortunately he isn't in on Fridays (didn't know that) and I didn't call on Thursday when it happened because of all the other crap that was going on around here. Live and learn.

JW - there is no option but to rest this weekend. I just hope that I'll be able to move some next week. A 30 min walk is out of the question. Right now I'd take 30 seconds without triggering a new spasm.

I was able to make a simple dinner last night. It felt good to stand up for a few minutes.

Today completes week 5. I did my 8MM Monday-Thursday and walked Monday-Wednesday. I didn't go to either of my classes on Wednesday and I'm not going to church today. My weight is surprisingly unchanged from last week. My appt with the neurologist is 4 weeks away. My trip out of town is in three weeks. I have no predictions for what's going to happen between now and then. I'm taking each day as it comes. Another rest day today. Friends may drop by for the Bears/Packers game. We'll be ordering pizza if they do.

The unchanged weight may have something to do with muscle development. Is that possible, JPB?

Oh, sure. I was surprised that I didn't gain weight after going completely off-plan for the last four days - and that's after taking Mr B out to dinner on Tuesday for his birthday. I'm thrilled with maintaining this week.

I am just catching up (we were out of town) and have read the bad news. With every post of yours JPB the "when it rains it pours" phrase came to mind - I am so sorry that you're flat out and in such pain with your back, not to mention the worry about your girls. I hope you feel better by tomorrow after you've gone to the chiropractor.

Perhaps you overdid your workout and have to slow down to maybe only walking, or just using the pedals. It's one thing your mind wants but another your body is telling you - listen!

Thanks, CJ. I hope you enjoyed your trip.

I'm feeling a lot better today. I'm not going to try to do any exercises until after I see the chiro tomorrow and then I'll slowly start to exercise again once the pain and spasms subside. I think I'll start with just the peddler. I can do that here and stop instantly if I feel any spasms. I'll add the walking and 8MM back in later once I know that I'm out of the woods with my back.

The last time my back blew up was a year ago when I was wearing the air boot for my broken leg. The boot elevated me about 2" on one side and made me walk off balance. My back went crazy after the second day with the boot. It was the worst pain I've ever had (worse than this time), including two natural childbirths. Between my back and my leg I was down and out for six months. I couldn't wear the boot because of my back and I couldn't not wear it because my leg wasn't healing without it. That was the lower right side of my back. This is the lower left side. I'm going to baby it as needed so that I'm not sidelined for months again. I have a bunch of back/core strengthening exercises that I'll start doing once I get the go ahead to do so.

Glad to hear about improvement, J. Some is better than none. Please take good and gentle care of yourself.

So how did it go at the chiropractors?

Bulging disc. No exercise other than back stretches twice/day. Ice, no heat. Return on Wednesday to reassess.

****!

that's a heaping load!

Well dangit.

Was recovery time discussed?

indeed



No. It might heal or it may become chronic. The fact that it's improving from what it was at the beginning is a good sign. Pushing myself too soon would be a bad thing. "Simultaneous twisting, bending, and reaching motions are oftentimes implicated in bulging and/or herniated discs. They can be associated with aging as well." Which means, that my 80-year-old body doesn't like it when I twist, bend and reach down for my shoes. Now I know.

This is suckacious, J.

You were following your exercise regimen with such determination.

Suckacious, I tell ya.

Hoping very hard that this condition is not chronic and that you're better very soon.

Gah.

That's just so disappointing I'm sure.

On the other hand you've shown that you have determination and discipline in spades, so it might be a matter of just getting through this and then carrying on.

Sure hope it heals...