Owie!

 

12:27 AM 8/10/2005

    P.S.  Still need to finish some important bookkeeping; opted to NOT take the Tylenol PM ... took instead 2 12 hour Aleve, 2 aspirins, 2 cans of beer.

 

7:35 PM 8/10/05
     Oh ... oh ... I've really done it this time! I didn't hurt much while recovering on the sofa ... but, when I got up to make supper ... WOW ... real PAIN!  I'm hungry ... don't know how I'm going to be able to make supper.  BUT ... I'm afraid to go lie down again ... 'cause I may not be able to get up again for a long time.
     Here I am, out of gin, only beer, which I usually don't drink.  I took 3 heavy-duty Excedrin; going to apply a stick-on pain patch & some liniment.
     I did stay up most of the night finishing some important bookwork.  I had to get my car fixed today ... and had a lot of rushing around getting ready to leave to do that.  But, since about 2:00 this afternoon, for about four hours, I just sat going over that bookwork.  Then, I laid in my car for half an hour ...  and came in the house and laid on the sofa for an hour and a half.

7:59 PM 8/10/05
     I put the pain patch on my left hip/back.  I took a small towel and soaked it with wintergreen rubbing alcohol.  Then, I fastened it on my back to my bra, covered it with plastic, and tied it on with an ace bandage.  I rubbed liniment on my neck, shoulders, and back rib area.

     Once I go lie down ... I hope I can get it up again.

10:32 PM 8/10/05
     Okay, I had something to eat; still afraid to lie down .... but ... it's time for bed. My pain has subsided after my "treatments".  Maybe I can get some rest now.

Not too bad!

 

12:02 PM 8/8/05
     Slow start; it really takes a long time in the morning to shake off those Tylenol PM.
     My left hip has increasingly become a point of aggravation.  At first, it was just SORE ... now, it is becoming a severe ache ... and makes me not want to stand up straight.
     I had several aspirins & a drink ... been walking around only a little.  Maybe, I will do my PT exercises soon, and put on some more liniment.  It's going to get hot again; I'm thinking of all the things to be done before it gets TOO hot!
 
10:53 PM 8/8/05

      A few problems came up today; I did practically nothing that I needed to do, not even wash the dishes, which will have to wait until tomorrow.
    I went to town, had car trouble, and had to wait for a wrecker, so, I mostly was just sitting around, except for the shopping that I did.
     My back feels TIRED ... a bit sore ... and threatening to begin hurting.  I did soak my back before I went to town.  Time for a pain pill of some sort.

  10:25 PM 8/9/2005
     I couldn't make an earlier entry.  The first three-fourths of the day was spent in trying to get UN-relaxed.  I just couldn't get into gear.    I did take a hot soak, put on a special pain-relief sticky patch, plus rubbed in a lot of liniment.  In the morning, I took three 12 hour Aleve. 
     I did not feel inclined to do too many of my P.T.  exercises.  Most of the day, I did not have much actual pain, just sessions ranging from discomfort to ache.
     Later on in the afternoon, I had some coffee so I could do some housecleaning. Then, I did some sofa time and some bookkeeping.
     I did get my upper back in the shoulder-blade area to give two or three good loosening cracks.  Now, there is a little soreness in my shoulders, ribs, & hip area, but no pain.  After my bookkeeping project, I will take some Tylenol P.M.

12:27 AM 8/10/2005

    P.S.  Still need to finish some important

bookkeeping; opted to NOT take the Tylenol PM ...

took instead 2 12 hour Aleve, 2 aspirins, 2 cans of

beer.

Hoping for a better day...

7:55 AM 8/7/2005
     What a difference a day (night) makes~!  My back was so wonderful the past few days that I couldn't believe it. 
     BUT ... Getting up this morning, I shore did believe it was MY back!      But, in analyzing ... so as to have something to tell the doctor at the Pain Clinic when he asks "how'm I du'n?" (which is the purpose of this journal) ... I should categorize the way my back feels.

•     PAIN ... Just pain on their scale of 1-10 ...  (reserving 10 for childbirth & ripping limbs off) does not cover the range of describing the owies.
•  PAIN   
• ACHE   
• SORE   
• DISCOMFORT

These would be some categories ... which would be further broken down for comparison.
     Just plain sharp pain is one thing ... a gripping ache can be harder to ignore ... and make it imperative that you immediately seek the solace of the bed or sofa!
     Sometimes, it makes no difference whether you are sitting, lying down, standing, or walking.  Sometimes, sitting will bring relief -- sometimes only lying down will do it.
     SO ... THIS MORNING ... ON MY FIRST FORAY OUT OF BED (I did sleep pretty well last night) (without the Tylenol P.M.) ... I cannot stand upright ... that should be one of the descriptive check-off's.  Tho intense & not a sharp pain, or even "gripping ache" ... I still cannot stand up straight.  It is more of an extreme soreness ... as tho I had been piling rocks all yesterday ... a sore & tired feeling.
     I just took some heavy-duty Excedrin and both internal & external liniment ... and am going back to bed for a bit.  Let's see how that works ... SOAKING IN A HOT BATH WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD THING, TOO.  

11:56 AM 8/7/2005
     Been just lounging around so far today ... feeling sorta okay.  It is still a bit difficult to stand up straight, but, it is more of a stiffness than any sort of pain.
    I didn't take my tub soak yet; I am headed outside to finish the staining of the wood decor for the lower patio.  That will be simply a sit-down job ... should be a good choice of activity.        Hoping that keeping my back relaxed may be the answer ... pain medications don't do too much good.  

6:13 PM 8/7/05
        About an hour ago, I dragged myself off the sofa.  My flowers on the lower patio were wilting in the hot sun, or, I wouldn't have gotten up.
     My left hip hurt so much: PAIN that I could hardly walk, much less stand up straight.  I hobbled around like the Hunchback of Notre Dame ... then, sat down and forced myself to finish up putting the stain on the lattice trim.  I didn't clean up, nor paint the trim strip ... just headed back in.
     It had only been two hours since my Excedrin Plus ... so ... I'm just sipping on a really stiff gin & milk... RETREAT BACK TO THE SOFA!
 
8:03 PM 8/7/05
      IT WORKED ... I even did some of my P.T. exercises ... am getting around fairly well, with not too much discomfort.  The only problem is that the day is nearly over ... what can I hope to accomplish at sunset?
     I don't want to keep using gin to achieve relaxation; don't want to get a prescription drug for muscle relaxation.  Maybe I will invest in some Papaya, tho, I've heard, it has gotten to be expensive.
     
9:02 PM 8/7/05
     There, I have been up and about with discomfort instead of pain ... getting a few small tasks done.  I had a few aspirins; I will take some   Tylenol P.M. later.  Of course, no more drinks now...  

 6:31 AM 8/8/2005
     I've been awake for a little while; I'm headed back to bed ... slept well. My back is at the "discomfort" level; it is hard to stand up straight.  

Optimistic

6:37 PM 8/4/05  

I HAD A FLASHBACK ... to the era of 1976 and beyond ... when my back problems began & actually were at their worst.

     Being anti-alcoholism ... I facetiously refer to my "liniment" ... and "for medicinal purposes only"... but, it is not really funny.  I remember grabbing my bottle of gin, when my back got really bad, and chugging it straight ... definately not delicious!
 
TODAY, out of desperation, wanting to do something besides watch T.V., I had a few stiff doses of my "internal liniment".  WONDERFUL RESULTS!  No drugs, no P.T., no chiropractry ... but, now, all the tension & resultant pain, aches, agony, and immobility have subsided.  I am doing some fix-it tasks, not watching T.V., and have a feeling of accomplishment vs a feeling of hopelessness

  2:06 AM 8/5/2005

     Not too early of a bed-time ... but, hoping to get to sleep now. I had a hot, soaky bath.  I put upon my back lots of Wintergreen liniment, which I poured upon a T-shirt... plus ... rubbed in some "Icy-Hot" liniments.

     I even took two Tylanol P.M.  My back feels better than it has for a week or more.
     Let's see if I can sleep thru this "night".  I had some chicken noodle soup, and am sipping on a glass of milk. 
     This afternoon, out of desperation, Ihad a couple of stiff gin drinks to relax my back.  The result was marvelous relief!
     I did a few of my P.T. exercises ... wondering if I ought to go to the chiropractor, which the doctors never advocate?
 
11:22 AM 8/5/2005

      I did get a restful sleep last night, woke up twice, but, did go right back to sleep. I feel rested.  
     Starting out slowly ... put on a lot of liniment, going to have some internal liniment (usually reserved for the evening, but, the Tylanol PM makes that a no-no)  and, maybe do a few more of my P.T. excercises.
     I cannot stand up straight yet today.  Across my hip area was the first problem,now, my lower rib section is stiff & sore.  There was a severe "klink" there earlier that made me grunt loudly.
     I do feel a bit more ambitious ... having gotten such a restful night.   It remains to be seen if I can follow thru on that!

12:54 AM 8/6/2005

     Such relief ... blessed, marvelous, heavenly ... It's hard to believe that I had more than a week of misery, and now to have a day of relative ease with a minimum ofpain, and a much relaxed back!
     Remembering: in 1976, when I had my first back injuries, I can just picture myself grabbing the gin bottle out of desperation ... and the blessed wave of relaxation & relief that washed over me.  It was always such a distinct release!
     So, this past day ... waking up after a nice nite's sleep due to the Tylanol P.M., I decided to try the muscle relaxing technique ... cautiously ... only during the first part of the day.
     It did work!  I accomplished quite a bit; I actually felt impelled to do some of my projects!   AND ... did not suffer for my activities! 
     I fell asleep watching T.V., then got up about midnight and took my two Tylanol P.M.  Now, I have a vague ache around my hip area, but that's all.  I am looking forward to another good nite's sleep now.

8:37 AM 8/6/2005

     Lookie at me ... feeling not as much pain as usual ... been up half an hour ... going back to bed.  My neck & shoulders are stiff, and a slight ache in my middle back.  I'll rub on some liniment, take a coupla aspirin, & sleep a bit more.

 

9:21 PM 8/6/05

     Now, what a wonderful day!  Just about no aches and pains ... did a little of this & that around the place.  It felt so good not to feel so bad.  I cannot believe that I am acutally standing upright, so straight, AND NOTHING HURTS!
    I think that I will not take the Tylanol P.M. (with the sleeping aid)  ... don't want to get dependent upon any of my "medicines". I don't want to have a drink with that, either,  I plan upon having a milk & gin as a nightcap.

Bad Day in the Neighborhood

6:17 PM 8/2/2005
      Just to dispell the notion that the problem area is switched to my mid or upper back and on the RIGHT SIDE ... now, my LEFT, LOWER back is cramping & twinge _ ing ... & I did nothing at all today!

4:46 AM 8/3/2005

     Been awake for several hours, felt like doing some excercises ... & it felt good.  Does that mean that my upper back is loosening up?

     I hate to resort to sleeping pills, but, maybe, I'll have to break down & get some "Tylanol PM".    My sister keeps urging me to.  I hate it when I sleep so late in the morning, take hours to get the stiffness & soreness worked out ... then ... it's too hot to want to do anything anyways.

11:39 AM 8/3/2005

     I'd better call for some Physical Therapy appointments ... I'm supposed to have two per week.  What with it being so hot & my back being so painful ... that's been put off.
    I did go back to sleep... feel refreshed.  After my back's being so sore, but, yet wanting excercises, yesterday & thru the nite ... RIGHT NOW, IT'S FEELING MUCH IMPROVED!  GO FIGURE??????

12:32 AM 8/4/2005

   Well, I didn't call for an appointment ... cannot function in this heat.  This past afternoon, my back first got really bad, then quite good.  Maybe it helps to lie around & do absolutely ... NOTHING? 

      So, right now, it seems as though my back has really loosened up, finally, and, tho it hurts ... the gripping ache that makes me feel so tired is mostly gone.
    We went grocery shopping; I did break down & buy some "TYLANOL P.M." ... tho, did not take any yet.  I had also bought some liniment.s

7:18 AM 8/4/2005

     Been "awake" an hour ... going back to bed.  Just used liniment, not Tylanol PM.  Sitting/lying perfectly still, there is no pain.  Walking upright is prevented by pain (5) in left hip & the threat of a "kink" there.  At the base of my neck is a muscle knot that hurts when I move it.  Now ... sitting, I am developing similar aches between my shoulder blades & lower ribs.  BACK TO BED!

12:16 PM 8/4/2005

     What did I think? ... At first, this morning, I had hope that my back was actually feeling better today.  WRONG!!!!!!!!  I have such a gripping pain in my mid-back now ... getting worse ... a PAIN, not an ACHE. ALSO, it is spreading upwards thru the shoulder blade area.
     Maybe I should just become a perpetual drunk & then it won't be such a bother?  My back would be relaxed & not hurt?

          I could live in the bathtub ....

AGONY!

 

10:59 AM 8/1/05

     Back is not so bad today ... but, it seems to be getting worse.  All I did so far was to wash dishes, do some bookwork & computer work .... 
     What hurts is the area of my hips on up thru my lower ribs.  Shoulder blade area & above are kinda stiff-and-sore.

    I only did a few excercises so far.

 

2:13 PM 8/1/05

      I took some more of Maggie's heavy duty Excedrin ... helped a bit.  I'm standing upright now.

NEXT DAY ...

11:19 AM 8/2/05

    It is difficult to try to stand upright; the most pain is in my lower ribs, especially on the RIGHT side.  I even experienced on of those shifting "kinks" there.
     How heavenly to have caught up on my sleep ... even if my night's sleep extended thru half the morning!
     How excruciating it is to have pain/discomfort in a whole new area of attention!  Whatever part hurts the worst is the one I focus on & "enjoy".... What doesn't hurt as badly, therefore, is somewhat ignored.  I suppose that is a good thing?

     I missed my physical therapy sessions last week; when my back is this bad  ... I'm not to enthused about doing a lot of my excercises.

      I took some more of Maggie's heavy duty Excedrin ...  hoping they help.    I'm out of liniment until the Eagle flies.

     There is so much that I should be doing before it gets too hot ....