Tuesday, February 19, 2008

A whole new kind of ouch.

I have never before had any kind of trouble from my back. I hope I never do again. Sitting down or laying down is a gingerly-executed, several minute procedure. Objects on the floor and up to about knee level might as well be on the moon for all my chances of grabbing them.

Thankfully there was a menu from a sandwich delivery joint hanging at eye level on the fridge. Face now fed, I'm going to try to put a hot pad back under my kidneys and whimper for a bit.

31 comments:

The Duck said...

Ouch, did that years ago, 3 fractures all hair line. If it lasts get it checked

Douglas Hester said...

Ice for an acute injury. Heat will only increase the inflammation.

Doug (Chiropractor)

Anonymous said...

At this stage in the game (at least 6 hours after the injury) the heat will increase blood flow to the region which if alternated with no heat will help the body healt the damaged tissues.

Heck Tam has been injured more than many people and she is still mobile. I tend to think that she knows what she is doing.

Anonymous said...

My physical therapist wife agrees with the ice recommendation. Ice until the skin goes numb (about 15 minutes) then wait an hour or so.

If you want to take meds make it an anti-inflammatory such as aspirin.

I hurt my back (bulging disk) and it took a year to recover. Putting on shoes and socks were the most difficult task for me. The most painful was getting up in the morning. I still have one toe that is weak from the nerve damage.

My remote, unprofessional, on virtually no data, diagnose is that your injury is muscle related and hence should clear up much sooner and no permanent effects.

Good luck.

JD said...

Had back problems after putting in a new tile floor. . . also could not bend over well after that. . . .two words. . . HOT TUB. . . .

Rustmeister said...

Yes, it's one of the most pain in the ass pains you can have.

NSAIDS are the way to go.

Hope you get better soon.

Anonymous said...

What she really needs is someone to come over and help haul boxes out of the truck.

I was truly thinking about volunteering. Then I chickened out. Sorry. I just found the phrase "I'm going to be late getting home because I'm going over to help some people I've never met before unload a truck full of books and guns." a little hard to say. My wife'd think I'd gone nuts. It's not every day I go out of my way to meet new people.

Then I found out I'm going to olive garden this evening after work anyway.

Sucks that it's so cold today. I think our normal high this time of year's at least above freezing, if not closer to 40. (Roberta'll know, she's in cahoots with the weather guessers!)

Welcome to town, we Yankees are mostly good people. Actually had a guy from GA tell me the other day that he was surprised people up here were so nice to him. Glad your drive up was fairly uneventful.

Anonymous said...

tam, just lock up the truck, fire up a doob, pick up a book that never made sense before (it will now), keep a snack and a beer close by...you might not feel better, but you'll think you do, and that's all that matters...jtc

Rob K said...

That really sucks. At least you could get food w/o too much trouble. I'd recommend arnica for any swelling, but it's probably too late for that.

Sorry, I can't help you unload... I feel so inhospitable now!

And Jeff, we are not Yankees.

Carteach said...

I sure wish I was closer.

I have TWO specialties.
Breaking things, and moving things.
Wish I could put them at your disposal.

James said...

Try ice or at least alternate heat with ice. A bag of frozen vegetables works well. Multiple decades of various amounts of back pain has taught me this.

Anonymous said...

OK.

So you messed up your back ":bad enough:" and the truck is still sitting there semi-loaded.

You either need some emergency friends with good backs, or you need to hire some.

We can't have robertaX get stuck with this.

Anonymous said...

Believe me, I sympathize. Messed my back up years ago when I was a paramedic..fortunely, it is only an occasional problem. Last time it went out on me, I was bending down to pick up a sock off the floor. A friggen' sock!!

And yes, ice first, and a NSAID won't hurt either.

Mark said...

Listen to smart people, particularly with regard to getting assistance.

Feel better soon. My freakish, mutant spine and I sympathise.

Carl H said...

It's time for a 'Hoozier Daddy' to magically appear and unload the truck, maybe give a quick backrub then disappear back into the "I dream of Jeannie" bottle.

Meanwhile, ice, naproxen and a dopple bock or 3 is my best advice.

Heal.

Anonymous said...

After suitable research, consider trying topical DMSO. Mix a little with an equal amount of water and slap it on. Tack shops generally have this product in handy roller top containers. That's right, horse liniment. You have my sympathies and best wishes.

Anonymous said...

Aleve and a Chiropractor works for me. MDs will just give you pain pills and make you lay around all week. Mine was fine 1 hour after Chiropractor.

Anonymous said...

ThermaCare Heat Wrap!!! It is salvation for a ailing back in the winter. (And a couple Vicodin)

Rick

doubletrouble said...

800mg ibuprofin.

Don't drink- makes it tough on the liver...

OR,

Skip the IB & drink alot.

Anonymous said...

I just hit your tip jar: hire someone to move that stuff inside.

Anonymous said...

Nevermind about the back, is the NeXTstation okay? :-)

Turk Turon said...

What? Does somebody here have a NeXT?!

Tam said...

The NeXT's CPU was the last trip before the iMac DV disaster.

(Yes, Turk, it's a color NeXT Station. :) )

Zendo Deb said...

I recommend a large bottle of Makers Mark. As a muscle relaxer.

phlegmfatale said...

poor lamb!
I hope you mend quickly.

Matt G said...

You have an NeXT?

That was some hawt szhizzt in 1994/95.

I think I'd hire the rest of the unload done. (Simplist part of the move-- but it doesn't cost $30) Then the truck can go back, and the _Burning Money_ light can go off.

Have I mentioned that I'm dammit sorry that you're hurting?

Turk Turon said...

That's cool about the NeXT.
My brother-in-law was marketing director for them for awhile. I went to the local debut; met The Steve.
Brother-in-law later caved; now works for Mr. Softee.
But that was an amazing machine for its time.

Comrade Misfit said...

The last time I had a bad backache that lasted more than a few days, I got a good massage to work the kinks out.

Really strong painkillers (like the kind Rush likes) help if taken early on, as they kill the twinging and allow the healing to proceed.

or so I've been told. :)

perlhaqr said...

Mad sympathy, darlin'. Back pain is horrible. I did something stupid a few years back with the axle out of a late 60's full size dodge car, and pretty much couldn't do anything but sit on the couch for a week. And it's never really gotten quite better.

perlhaqr said...

Doubletrouble: Ibuprofin and booze is fine. Well, maybe not if you're drinking a high-aplha-acid IPA, but that's for stomach lining reasons.

It's Tylenol (acetaminophen, paracetamol) and booze that you have to be concerned about for liver reasons.

Mike Sierra said...

As a big guy that everybody calls to help them move I can commiserate.

In addition to the good advice above...
Suggestions for a speedy recovery...

Sleep/rest on you back with your legs elevated by supporting them at the knees with a couple of pillows.

Drink as much water as you can stand and then drink some more. No sugar/caffeine drinks.

Stretch and try to work yourself back into the position you were in when you injured yourself then work yourself back out of it. This takes a few days.

These techniques were taught/administered to me by a chiropractor (sp?) friend who was a retired SF officer.

Hope this helps...