Well, folks, the annual summer trip to visit E in Burlington was not to be, due to this back injury. By last night, the pain was so acute that I couldn't really walk and I couldn't even get into bed - R had to lift my legs up off the floor so that I could lie down. I think Maggie's suspicion that it is just a muscle spasm - and that the only cures are rest and muscle relaxants - was right on. I had initially thought I would seek out a chiropractor. But I realized today that I wouldn't want anyone even touching the area, much less manipulating and "cracking" it. (I say this as someone who went to a chiropractor for a long time.)
Time and rest are already healing it. It is better than last night; I can walk now. But my body is on some crazy angle - I am all bent to the right, with my left hip sticking out. Ah, well. It'll pass, I suppose. This morning I watched the British Queer as Folk - which I'd never seen before - for a few hours. Then my mother - with whom I was supposed to have a quick lunch before I traveled - came by with a little lunch and some muscle relaxants. I slept for a few hours, and now feel somewhat human again.
But oh, damn, the trip!! While I know that it wouldn't have been possible, it is such a drag. I miss E very much. In fact, though this is usually an annual trip, last summer was the one time I missed it. So now I haven't seen her in a year and a half, and who knows when I'll get a next chance. Damn.
7 comments:
I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better. This just sounds like an awful experience!
Oh god, dear, I hope you do feel better soon! It's such a drag that you can't go on your trip, too. Hopefully you can see each other again before too long!
I'm thinking relaxing back thoughts...
/comfort
I'm so sorry that you're back is still hurting. It's good you got muscle relaxants though. Robaxacet??? An American friend has been having back problems for a while, and I recently introduced her to that particular miracle drug. Apparently they don't have it down there, so we can count ourselves lucky (despite the utterly corny and annoying ads). It has always worked for me. I'm surprised that you said your mother and relaxant in the same sentence--from what I've read of your relationship so far--and I'm really glad that she can come through for you in a crunch. (No pun intended.)
It does sound like a combo of the physical toll of moving and the emotional stress though. I had the same thing happen to me when my hubby died (I'm a dyke widow, talk about an oxymoron) several years back and I had to move all of his/our worldly posessions into storage. Physically, it wasn't *that* exerting (you and I are young and strong, after all!), but I had massive back spasms for a few days afterwards and went to the emergency room ('cause a non-urgent clinic would have been hopeless). The doc said that the emotional stress of moving coupled with the physical stress of actually moving the boxes could do it. Given how many times you have moved in the past few years, and the fact that this move entails Scary City (which, if I'm guessing the province right would scare the crap out of me too, thank you very much, Mr PM from hell!), it's not surprising that your back would seize up.
Not surprising but totally sucko nonetheless. I really, really hope the meds are working. My gf has a saying: "Better living through chemicals." I wholeheartedly agree.
I'm really happy for you that not-so-ex-GF is there for you. Without having all the details, it sounds like it's good for you right now--and damn if it isn't romantic from a third-person perpective too! Having someone you can rely on to be there for you when you aren't up to par is important, and no matter what happens in the long run between you, being together now sure sounds good. I'm happy for you that you have her in this moment.
The Brit QaF is fab! Have you seen the US version? Same storyline up until a certain point, but I love how brazen the Brit equivalent of the Brian character is. And the sexy Brit accents help too!
If only there were a Brit L-word (she says drooling)!
Pantagruelle, what a great long comment! I think you're right about the stress of all this moving...especially considering the fact that what I did on Thursday to "throw the back out" was so miniscule...I just pulled on a box that wasn't even very heavy. That says that there was a crisis just waiting to happen.
I wish I had gotten Robaxacet - instead I'm taking some kind of Life brand muscle and back pain reliever. Maybe it's just the generic version of the Robaxecet?
It *is* nice to have R here. We're even finding humour in it; I still cannot get up from the bed - or sometimes even shift in the bed - without help, and there is something very funny about getting stuck, for some reason. (Though I'm sure it will get old *quite* soon.) This is a refreshing change - R is one of those people who is generally NOT at all good with illness. It was a real point of contention between us, actually - I used to get really upset with her for being impatient and even slightly assholish with me when I was not well. So it is nice that this is not that way!
I did enjoy Queer as Folk, yeah. Though I hated that teenager character. Ugh. I haven't seen the US one, actually...I suspect I will try and get my hands on it when I get to Scary City. And yes, a British L Word would be divine!
It is too bad I couldn't make my trip, because I had been planning to email you and see if you wanted to have breakfast this morning or coffee on Tuesday aft, when I was supposed to be passing through (what I think is) your city on my way to Burlington. It would have been nice to meet you in person!
Oh, on the subject of my mother - I've found it in me to be much kinder to her lately. I wonder if that is because I'm leaving. Anyway, it feels good not to be such a mega-bitch!
BTW, think you've guessed wrong on the province I'm moving to...but close! Email for details if you want!
Take care of yourself.
I once "threw my back out" blow drying my hair. Seriously. I flipped my hair and it felt like my entire spine collapsed: i fell to the floor, writhing in pain, and was laid up for 3 days.
That's the beauty of stress-related lower back muscle spasms.
I'm glad the muscle relaxants are doing their magic work, though! Rest, rest, rest and let other people tend to you! :)
Oh my god, Maggie! Blow-drying your hair?? How insane. You know, the worst part of all this is realizing how much mobility I take for granted...realizing that this might just be what everyday life is like, when we're old.
I know-- when I was having these on a semi-regular basis (2-3X per year), I was acutely aware that I was moving like a 90-year-old (and a none too spry 90-yr-old at that). Basic tasks like standing up after I'd been sitting for awhile required major effort.
I'm sending you healing energy Hilaire!
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