GO FIGURE?

7:03 AM 12/17/2006

    I had my scheduled "lumbar facets" last week; they hurt terribly & did not seem to take effect as quickly as usual.  I think I've figured out why.  Mom, visiting me  here, was diagnosed with an infection.  I may have acquired that.  So, my numbing shots prior to the injections would not have been very effective.  I must now go to check about that.

   Yes, the injections did make an improvement; I had been so miserable for the several weeks before.  It seems as tho they wear off noticeably.

    I think that after the holidays, I will go in for the facets in a different part of my back ... the lower rib section.  That may keep everything from hurting too badly before the next scheduled "lumbar facets".

     REMARKABLY ... the pain at the base of my neck ... which was a newer problem ... and had been getting terrible ... WENT AWAY!  WHY?  WHO KNOWS?

  L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

AGONY ... AGAIN!

10:37 PM 11/10/2006

    I've just put off ... procrastinated ... & I promise myself that I WILL keep this up.

    Right now, I am again in agony ...  I did not do much physically today ... maybe this is because I had to do a lot of moving things around YESTERDAY?

     WHO EVER KNOWS?  It could be tension from not being able to get things done, like getting ready for winter by covering, moving, etc.  things outside.  I have some "must do projects" for myself & others.  It's just not possible.  I wake up at night ... cannot sleep for thinking of what I have not gotten done. Then, when I do force myself to keep on past the point of comfort (like now), I pay for it for the next several days.
    I have been going to Physical Therapy twice a week lately.  The doctor at the Pain Clinic who gives me my periodic steroid injections into my back keeps asking me if I have been going to PT, so I had him give me the required prescription so that I can.
    Often, in PT, I am in misery; I tell them so.  This doesn't cut any ice ... even when I stagger out, in obvious pain.
    I told my Chiropractor about this, telling him that I feel BETTER after my appointment with him!
L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond     

Wearing Off???

3:39 AM 8/29/2006

     Just using the demise of my laptop as an excuse for making no entries ... plus being bogged down with various other computer projects for myself & others.
     My Social Security does not amount to much; most of the over the counter aids for pains in my back, etc.  ... are not in my budget anymore ... neither are they covered by my  medical card.  My food stamps don't even cover them, not even vitamins.
     MSM, & compounds of, was something that I was sure was very effective.  Even my  favorite liniments have been replaced by bargain ones at the Dollar Store.  When my back is really bad, a few drinks (of gin) will relax me enough to get rid of most of the bad pain... but, I haven't been even getting that.
     I WAS EXTRAVEGANT; I BOUGHT A BOTTLE OF GIN.  My back was so sore that I was considering calling the chiropractor for an emergency session ... some gin ... now, my back is relaxed enough that I hope to be able to get back to sleep.

11:50 PM 8/29/2006

     It seems as tho I can feel when my injections are wearing off ... I definately am having miseries with my mid-back now ...

    I haven't done much physical work lately; for the past few days, I have been so miserable.
    I take sofa breaks, lots of aspirin, some liniment ... & just now, after the fourth gin drink ... I feel slight relief.  I MUST get some sleep.

 

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

It's working? (So'm I)

     These entries are copied from my "daily log" on my back, so the newest entries are last.

      This entry has a happy ending; my latest notes show how happy I am that my recent injections at the pain clinic really made me feel better almost right away (in that part of my back).

                              

12:44 AM 7/18/06

     My back is really stiff ... in all areas ... slight to moderate pain ... but, real muscle stiffness & soreness.

     I did finish the main phase of my weeding yesterday.  I did it in two sessions, morning & late aftenoon, and took plenty of aspirin & some gin during the day. I did not do any housework... even going over to put the clothes from the washer to the dryer sounded like too much, so I quit for the day ... laid down on the sofa early in the evening ... even slept some.  Now, the pain woke me up & I could not find a comfortable position.

7:35 AM 7/18/06

     I am up, but certainly NOT attum ... today ,I don't know when, I am to have Very Important Company.  My housework has been left undone so that I could finish my weeds ... so ... somehow, I must do at least a tidy-up.

    I am on my feet but still too stiff & sore to do much.  SO, I am going to extremes:  I am having some gin.  I put on lots of liniment.  I must have something quick to eat so that I can take some   aspirins.

    CONGESTIVE HEART DISEASE: I don't understand it, but I have it.  More & more, I seem to have "a frog in my throat"... trying to ignore it.

     MY BACK:  right now, I am walking slowly, with pains in my left hip, etc. that keep me hunched forward & to the right.  Anything on the floor is not within range.  Hopefully, my emergency tactics & just moving around will loosen me up.  Usually, I purposely get off to a slow start.  It does the muscles harm to insist upon moving around until they are loosened up.

10:15 PM 7/18/06

     I ruint my back doing a big housecleaning today (company coming) ... didn't even make supper ... just had a few drinks & lots of external liniment, too ... then took the telepone out on the deck for several hours.  I really slept well (hadn't slept much the night before.)

8:37 AM 7/19/06

     APPOINTMENT AT THE PAIN CLINIC TODAY!    Not supposed to take aspirins for several days before, but, my back was so bad this past week that I gobbled the aspirins big time.  I'll be able to tell him, tho, that I haven't had any since yesterday morning.

      I've be sorta up & about for an hour ... but not moving too fast.

12:53 AM 7/20/06

     What a day that was!  I think that I napped a bit, got up & HAD to spend an hour & a half giving the dog a trim so that I could get all the burrs out of his hair.  Three weeks trimming burdocks, & somewhere this dog got burrs all over him!

     My back has been so miserable.  I had the injections yesterday; could feel the relief almost right away.  I was wondering if this was beause the Pain Clinic doctor always gives me some "numbing medication" first.  Maybe  lkkkkkkkkkkkkl (WHOOPSIE ... I FELL ASLEEP.)

9:45 AM 7/20/06

     I have been up early ... meant to go back to bed ... but, my back feels so much better that I am sooooooo ambitious that I keep getting ideas of something to do first before I sit down, even for breakfast.

     When the Pain Clinic called for the followup-next day phone call... I told them how happy I was that my back was feeling better.  I said that the other sections of my back that also have problems are also feeling much better today ... just slight muscle aches there.  I said, yes, I think that I have 100% improvement in that mid-back part ... lower ribs & the small of my back.

     This is (I think) the most dramatic effect of any of my treatments ... I wonder if there is an accumilative effect?  For the first many months ... I couldn't even guess if there were any improvement.

      I have at least three major problem areas in my back; in two weeks, my lower back is scheduled for the "lumbar facets". 

     From the x-rays ... they tell me that there are 6 points, all up & down my back, that show serious problems.

4:34 PM 7/20/06

     OH WHAT A GRAND DAY!  I FELT LIKE BOUNCING OUT OF THE CHIROPRACTOR'S OFFICE. 

     My back was already feeling much better than usual from the injections yesterday; the top of my back felt so much looser, now, too.  My lower back was only a mild ache ... I didn't have my usual stiff walk ... I am sure that I actually had a little wiggle to my walk.

8:53 AM 7/21/06

      I am up, but not attum yet.   Part of the reason is that I did not get enough sleep last nite.  Part of the reason is my usual morning stiffness & soreness ... WHICH IS MUCH LESS SEVERE THAN USUAL.  My lower back is still making it painful to stand upright ... the rest of my back just has a lot of aching & soreness.   But, since I feel better than usual at this point of the day, I am hopeful that this will be a good day.

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

Ups & Downs

5:19 PM 7/5/06

     Okay ... so I had a bad yesterday & today with my back ... so ... I am now relaxed with some gin ... GUESS WHAT?  My back pain is mostly gone.

11:46 AM 7/6/06

      OH WELL ... I slept well last night, but, have had a really hard time getting in gear today.  Thank God that I had some leftover coffee ... I just couldn't even bring myself to make a pot of coffee right away.

     Slowly, I am getting loosened up ... I even made breakfast & did a few things on the computer.

     I made a grocery list; I'm going to town as soon as I can psych myself into getting ready. 
     OUTSIDE WORK?  Not right now.  Later,I have to at least get the water hose going to water my plants & flowers.

    What hurts is mainly my mid & lower back ... making me think that my guess that my lumbar facets have worn off IS CORRECT!  Maybe ... if I tell the doctor (my appointment's in two weeks), he will schedule me differently for the NEXT appointment.

     OR, I haven't had the injections into my upper back for quite a while ... maybe I'll have to add these?

     UP & ATT'UM ....

8:10 PM 7/6/06

     ALMOST DONE ... ALMOST DONE FOR.  I just have one more thing to do up by the shed, then I'd better quit for the day.  I had wanted to do a little more planing on my new screen door so that it fits ... BETTER WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW!

     Then, I just have to bring the dog in & turn the water hose off.

     I'll change clothes ... maybe take a shower (which I hate)  & heat up my supper (prepared).  I'll settle back with the phone or whatever.

    My lower back is in real agony.  All day today, I had to force myself to do anything.  I just took four more aspirins ... have been sipping on some gin.  I think that I will call the pain clinic tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment SOONER!

8:40 AM 7/7/06

     For hours last night, my shoulder hurt, my lower back hurt, & I just couldn't get sleepy.  I think I may have slept a little bit about 7 am.

    Now, I am not able to walk upright yet ... some friends are coming over to work on their camper ... I have to try to look alive.

12:41 PM 7/8/06

     My "lumbar region" is a real problem right now. The most strenuous thing that I did so far today was to sand a door.  I didn't work outside, or walk much, or wash dishes ... here my lower back is in extreme pain & has that dreaded "gonna kink if you just move a muscle" feeling.

     Monday ... I can hardly wait until Monday!  I have an appointment with the chiropractor, & the doctor from the pain clinic is to call to discuss planning for the next series of "lumbar facets" (injections).

2:41 AM 7/15/06

     I should have been writing here; my back has had so many drastic changes this past week. 

     I did make it until my chiropractor appointment ... the day AFTER that my back started to feel a little better, but I still made the appointment for another series of lumbar facets next week.  It seems as tho the others had "worn off" at the end of June.

     I had two really bad days in the middle of theweek, with the pain at the base of my neck returning.  Yesterday, Friday, I felt well enough to do some more weed wacking.

     I only did a little late in the afternoon, in two different sessions ... took much aspirins before & after ... then, some gin to relax my back.

     I headed for the sofa, and didn't do any housework, just quit for the day.  There is much discomfort, mostly in my mid & upper back now ... which is probably what woke me up.

  L o i s
Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond (my journal)

Now ... this REALLY hurts!

9:00 PM 6/30/06

     I started out this day rather slowly; I had a big project on the computer that took several hours.  I did some kitchen projects ... cooking  cleaning.  I sorted clothes ... altogether nothing very strenuous.
     Late in the day, I did spend some time outside, weed wacking & watering.  I made sure not to do too much.
     My back is loose, only mild aching. I have had some aspirins & some gin ... have been sitting in the lounge chair.

5:02 PM 7/1/06
    
     Another busy day where I didn't do much of anything important ... no outside projects ... just putzing .... GUESS WHAT????  MY BACK FEELS GREAT!!!!  Now, if I could just afford a someone to do my projects around here!   I haven't even gotten around to resuming my housepainting from last fall.

8:04 AM 7/2/06

     Last night, I tried doing a second shift to finish a small project ... kept at it until after midnight ... finally quit when it sounded like too much work to go down to the basement to get a larger drill bit.

     I fell asleep on the sofa, slept well, just got up now.  It took some time rolling around to different positions & stretching everything to want to stand up.  It was a real chore to take the dog outside; I'm going to have to go lie down for a while yet.
     My left hip has moderate pain; I cannot stand upright.  My lower ribs, esp. on the left, have slight pain.  The base of my neck is more of a discomfort.  My mid back, just below the ribs & the lumbar region are starting to develop real pain as I move.  TIME TO GET BACK TO THE SOFA!

     Maybe, I can force myself to start the coffee pot, first?

3:10 PM 7/2/06

     BREAK TIME AGAIN ... the major things that I did was a sit-down carpentry project and sort out a drawer of papers ... NOW ... my lower back has a lot of pain.
     I took some aspirin, having a gin drink, and will put on some lininment and sit back in the lounge chair for a while ...

2:09 PM 7/5/06

     WOW ... DID I EVER RUIN MY BACK YESTERDAY !!!!  All I did was to go to a Fourth of July celebration.  There, all I did was to walk around and sit a lot here & there.  I came home early because my back was bothering me.  I laid down for a while, and, because there was no point in trying to do anything ... I went outside to sit an watch some friends who came over to construct their hunting blind.  At dusk, I decided that I just wasn't up to driving over to Alpha to see their fireworks display!

     Instead, I fell soundly asleep until 5:30 this morning, then, went back to another sound sleep until 9!

    All that I accomplished so far all day was to get the dishes caught up.

    My mid & lower back has such extreme pain that I have no hope of trying to do too much today.  

     I have been wondering if those steroid injections (lumbar facets) have worn off???  Also, I was wondering if the new & not very delightful problem with my right shoulder & arm (weakness & pain) would be from a pinched nerve?  From my base-of-neck pains???

 

Back to my back

3:00 PM 6/26/06

       Back to another whining entry ... I did something drastic ... got out my OLD back brace.  It is pretty well worn, but, should give me some support.  The doctors say not to wear it; my back would then begin to depend upon it.  BIG WOW!  My back hurts terrible now & I have things to do.  This morning was just doing light activity inside ... making meals, doing computer things, and some putzing -- tidying up some small areas of dust & clutter.
     I took three aspirins; my gin is all gone.  I probably will just have to lie down for a while.

11:17 AM 6/27/06

      My  back must feel pretty good ... the clue ... I FEEL AMBITIOUS ... am looking forward to the day!  That feeling kinda dawns upon me (now that I realize its implications) FIRST ... then, I notice that: "Hey, my back feels okay!".  Looking back, it did NOT take the hours to get out of bed & get loosened up as it did yesterday morning.
     With my back so miserable yesterday, I didn't do much that was very active ... besides a few weeds.  I retreated to the sofa a coupla times, & EARLY in the evening quit for the day ... even left a big mess in the kitchen.
     WHATEVER ... today is starting out better than yesterday; that is always a plus.  My mid-back is a bit sore ... very sore to the touch, but, I am walking upright & not in misery.

2:30 PM 6/27/06

     Okay ... so, just about all I did the past few hours was to sit in the lounge chair to eat lunch & wash dishes  ... so, why is my lower/mid back becoming such a torture?  Just when I was going to have a fruitful day!  Ouchie!

 

10:35 AM 6/28/06

     Still getting loosened up for theday.  My back feels just awful.  It is mostly  my mid-back that has a pain level of at least a seven right now.  The problem area at the base of my  neck hasn't been too bad for a while; if I do some stretching &  traction type exercises I can usually ease it.    

10:47 AM 6/28/06

     THIS  MAKES ME WONDER IF MY "LUMBAR FACETS" HAVE WORN OFF.  I have another appoint ment in mid-July.  TODAY... I am going to the chiropractor.  I usually l feel better after that; can hardly wait.  I had made the appointment for this afternoon; usually my back is loosened up by the afternoon.
     The way my back hurts, I am not making much of any plans to get anything done except lie on the sofa ... even sitting is uncomfortable & brings no relief ... so, that leaves out doing computer stuff.
     It's hard to believe that a few mornings ago, I was finding it hard to believe that my back felt so great!

 

7:42 PM 6/28/06

    PRESCRIPTION FOR RELIEVING BACK PAIN:

Aply liberal  applications of external liniment.
Aply liberal  applications of internal liniment.
Sit in lounge chair & watch TV.
BLABBER ON TELEPHONE.

 

10:02 AM 6/29/06

     YESTERDAY ... I went to the chiropractor & got some more gin.  It being rainy, I did practically nothing physical ... no outdoors tasks.  I slept very well (usually do after a chiropractor session), and my back was fairly loose this morning.  The back pain was more of a very noticeable ache ... like a muscle ache ...  but like the memory ache of the pain yesterday.  I remember, when I had been going to a chiropractor in the 90's, my back would notice the improvement THE DAY FOLLOWING THE TREATMENT.
 
     So far today ... I've done NOTHING. I sat at the computer a while, fed the dogs, fed the cats, & made coffee.

12:31 PM 6/29/06

     SOooo ...  when my back does start to feel better, then,  I feel more ambitious.  That is when I must catch  up on all the stuff that I didn't do/couldn't do.  Things that fell down need to be picked up ... cooking messes need to be cleaned up ... chores that I put off have piled up.  It is such a nice day out ... I want to go outside ... but, first have been catching up tidying up.

 

7:59 PM 6/29/06

     This afternoon, I DID get outside.  I did a bit more with the electric trimmer than I'd planned ... forced myself to  achieve a goal ... with the promise of something nice  for supper & a drink & a rest.  I did all the above ... then, later, actually did a bit more with the trimmer.  I had some more aspirins.  I have been putting liniment on all day, too.  The drink relaxes my muscles; tension causes tightness & pain.

     My activities for the day had better cease.   I do have a lot of computer work to do.  My pain level is very low, my muscles are relaxed, I have a feeling of accomplishment.

L o i s
Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond (my journal)

BACKlog of entries ... back in business,

10:52 AM 6/26/06
    OKAY ... HERE'S A REASON, OR, EXCUSE, FOR NOT ADDING TO THIS FOR OVER A MONTH ....

•      For one thing, I had been getting discouraged about the same-0 , same-o entry of taking more aspirins & more liniment ... & not being able to get much done ... & being so broke.
•       And ... I had been successfully procrastinating by never getting around to setting up my "summer desk" and laptop ... so I could just come into the sunroom instead of running upstairs to jot down a note of the moment.

 

    I finally dug out the laptop, solved the plugin system, charged up the laptop (which is old & excruciatingly SLOW) ... , and made room on the desk in the sunroom again.  It is really a lovely place to sit, surrounded by windows ... but, entirely too cold in the winter!

 

CURRENT CONDITION: 

     I spent many hours getting loosened up ... was  sore & stiff at dawn ... took a while to get out of bed & get in gear.

     I am wondering if my upper back seems happier ... overall ... because I am active outofdoors doing spring things around the place.  It gets awfully sore ... & hurts, too ... but, I've always felt that my upper back NEEDS exercise (and my lower back needs the couch potato treatment).  Really hard to do both!

 

 

HERE'S MY OLD NOTES FROM MAY:

 

3:34 AM 5/11/2006
   Up in the middle of the nite, again ... I was getting quite miserable trying to find a comfortable way to lie.  The worst pain was on my left side, but, not in the lower back as usual.  My lower ribs were cramping & making it hard to stand straight, or walk.
 
4:38 AM 5/12/2006
    Guess what ... it's the middle of the night again ... my back is giving me grief & keeping me awake.  Maybe it is partly from stress/tension worrying about money. 
    I took some aspirins again & the last of my gin.  This time, it is mostly my mid back & upper back ... really hurts ... like about a seven or more.
 
12:57 PM 5/12/2006
     I DID GET BACK TO SLEEP ... slept soundly.  While still in bed, I do a traction exercise where I grab the headboard, and gently, but, firmly pull to stretch my back.  I THINK that seems to help.
    I got off to a fairly slow start ... come to think of it ... without too much discomfort ... Then, I spent a long time in a nice hot bath.  NOW ... my back feels great.  There is still a sensation that I can feel that it HAD been hurting ... BUT ... is feeling so much better now.
 
12:07 PM 5/13/2006
    I faded out early yesterday ... actually didn't do to much of anything.  Is that why my back feels so great today?  I think that I will take some precautionary aspirins & do some more exercises, esp. the traction ones.  I don't really notice a great effect from the aspirin ... but ... I figure that they might do some good overall because of being anti-inflamatory.  Also, another factor ... I know that, even subconsiously, I have stress from worrying about how I'll get thru the month financially.  It would be great if I could sell a little something on eBay, or, get over my mental block & get some more advertising out on my craft project & make some personal contacts about selling locally.  When the craft show comes up ... I don't think that I will have the $20 to rent a booth.....
 
12:57 AM 5/28/2006
 
INSTEAD OF AN ENTRY ... HERE'S A COPY OF A PREVIOUS ONE ... SAME-O, SAME-O ... EXCEPT FOR THE TIMES & I AM OUT OF GIN & CANNOT AFFORD ANY MORE RIGHT NOW.
 
"3:34 AM 5/11/2006
   Up in the middle of the nite, again ... I was getting quite miserable trying to find a comfortable way to lie.  The worst pain was on my left side, but, not in the lower back as usual.  My lower ribs were cramping & making it hard to stand straight, or walk.
 
4:38 AM 5/12/2006
    Guess what ... it's the middle of the night again ... my back is giving me grief & keeping me awake.  Maybe it is partly from stress/tension worrying about money. 
    I took some aspirins again & the last of my gin.  This time, it is mostly my mid back & upper back ... really hurts ... like about a seven or more."

 

L o i s
Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond (my journal)
Finnish Links

Discouraged

5:27 AM 5/9/2006
     I've been awake for a while; I'm going to try to get back to sleep.  Yesterday, I just felt so great ... was thinking that my back almost felt "normal", whatever that is.  Later on in the day, I had some work to do on the computer, and spent several hours doing that.  THEN, my back began bothering me in all the areas.
   I took some gin & some aspirins ... and slept for quite a while.   NOW, my midback/ribs are really in agony after sitting at the computer for a while longer.  BACK TO BED.

8:46 AM 5/10/2006
     I haven't been very good at documenting the ups-&-downs of my back situation during each day as I usta ... Maybe, in a way, that might be a good sign; it is mostly horrible discomfort that has me making another entry?
     Overall ... my back seems to be "better" than it was a year ago ... which is sorta a "back-handed" compliment ... it doesn't take just too much to be "better" than it was a year ago!
     With me ... it is a positive statement to say, "Well, it's not WORSE!".  It is still so discouraging to be so broke, and, for the first time in my life, not being able to get at least a part-time job.  Most, if not all, of my past occupations would not be possible now, anyways.
    Even a sitting down job is totally out of the question, as I have found out the painful way.  I had hoped to at least do some craftwork ... but, that causes real problems, esp in my mid-back & ribs ... like after just a short time sitting at my craft table.  I even used a short stool so that I wouldn't be leaning down & over.
     Driving?  I just cannot predict how my back will feel at any given time, so, could not be a reliable employee.  If I were transporting people, I might not be able to assist a passenger in a difficulty or emergency.  I certainly could not transport ANYTHING that would need moving!  I was so disappointed to learn that a "part-time, substitute" rural mail carrier job was out of the question ... when I was told that I'd have to spend some time sorting my mail, then, putting it into my car.  Even the sorting makes me hurt just thinking about it!
     My Social Security Disability just does not cover my monthly expenses, & it doesn't take much to get behind ... like when the car needs repair, etc.

http://journals.aol.com/lowis6535/UpperPeninsulaMIandbeyond/

How good not to feel bad!

     THE NURSE FROM THE PAIN CLINIC MADE A FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL TO ME THIS MORNING; IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TELL HER THAT I HAD ONLY MINOR DISCOMFORT TODAY!

     And, I told her that when I went into the Pain Clinic yesterday, my mid-back was increasingly cramping & it was getting awful ... but, immediately after the "lumbar facets" ... I could feel the relief ... & I told my nurse how blissful that was ... and & was sure that my whole back was relaxing.

    I had mentioned to my sister to check upon them for my Mom.

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI

I survived

  WOW ... yesterday, I sure ruined my back ... mostly all I did was to walk around a lot outside.  When the evening came ... I said ... "Somebody else is gunta have to wash my dishes ... I'm sure not!"

    Next week, I am to go to the pain clinic for another series of "facets" ... injections into my spine ... and the doctor DOESN'T WANT ME TO TAKE ASPIRINS OR ANY SUCH FOR THE WEEK BEFORE!

     Finally ... after 10 pm, I made a quick trip into town to get some gin to relax my back.  How I lied to the grocery man when he asked how I was doing ... "FINE", I lied....  I was stumping around the store, leaning heavily on the shopping cart.

     All night, I thrashed around the bed, trying to find a comfortable spot.  I got off to a slow start this morning, did a few stretching exercises, just drew a hot bath.

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

Liniment at last!

   Thank Heavens for e-Bay!   After three attempts, I took a low bid on an item I'd listed three times ... with the thought that I really needed some internal liniment ... gin.

     My doctor at the Pain Clinic wants me to not take any of my pain pills, such as aspirin many days before my appointment next week for more "facets" ... back injections ...

    Today ... with the weather so nice, I overdid it ... mostly just walking around ... nothing really heavy-duty.  My back was in such misery that I decided that somebody else was going to have to wash the dishes tonite ... NOT ME!  Just so that I could force myself into bringing my plants in so they didn't get frosted ....

      I had promised myself that if my Pay Pal came thru ... I would go get some more gin to try to relax this pain out of my back.

I MUST SPEND MORE TIME WITH THIS BLOG: The Spine Line Too(<<<click here)

CHURCH HURTS!

WHO WOULD'A THUNK????

  EASTER SUNDAY: I went to church; I was so physically miserable.  This reminded me why I haven't been to church in a long time.

MOSTLY, standing caused such misery in my back that I devised the procedure of placing my hymnal upon the pew ahead of me to lean upon. 

AFTER THE STANDING BECAME SUCH A PROBLEM: sitting was no comfort, either.

      My ugly, fresh-from-the-woods walking sticks would have helped, but, I'm not sure that I would like to be seen in church using them.

     When I go shopping, I ALWAYS  use a shopping cart to lean upon.  I don't do much shopping.  I don't go much of anywhere else.

     SO ... EASTER SUNDAY WAS MOSTLY SPENT IN AGONY ... I NEVER DID RECOVER THE COMFORT/ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF BACK PAIN ALL DAY!

      All night, finding a comfortable sleeping position was a problem; this morning, I opted for a warm milk & gin instead of making coffee.

     AGAIN: not knowing ever the direct cause/effect for sure ... I don't know if it was the going to church or other activities on previous days that made me so miserable ......

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

Hitting the bottle again (ASPIRIN BOTTLE)

   The fruits of my labors ...
   Thank Heavens that this maple syrup project only lasts a few weeks once a year.  I don't HAVE to do it ... sorta ... it is one of those things that I used to do & it would only add to my discouragement if I couldn't do it at all.  My procedures have been scaled back & new ways of doing things so as to be easier on my back.  I keep reminding myself that the lifting has got to be kept at a minimum ... for instance ...   using gallon milk jugs, and ONLY MOVING ONE AT A TIME !!!!!  Instead of boiling off the sap outside over a wood fire ... I am doing it inside on the kitchen stove.  Then, I can lie down & tend to the kettle, and not have wood to cut & haul & pitch into the firepit.  There have been times when I just realized that going out to gather sap was not going to be possible until my back would allow it.
     I have been told to get more exercise ... & to walk more ... this is certainly providing that ... but, I'm sure that advice did not factor in the steep hill.
     Often, I've had to call off another trip to gather sap, or some other household task, just because there was so much back pain ... which often took hours, or, all night to get a grip on.
     Now, with the snow about gone, and it's so nice out ... maybe I can get more exercise, which I'm sure would benefit my blood pressure & heart condition.
     I have to check & see how I'm doing on the allowable number of chiropractor visits  ...  only 18 allowed on my medical card for the year!   I have been wondering if I could somehow convince  "them" to allow more. 
     Treatment by a physical therapist is allowed, if on a doctor's prescription ... but, the chiropractor seems to be accomplishing miracles compared to the results of the physical therapist. 
     I wonder if one of my doctors would write a prescription for the chiropractor ... most doctors have an aversion to chiropractors!
     Over the months since my back injections (facets) ... I have gone from skeptical & unsure to HOPEFUL.  The overall pain level is just not as miserable as it used to be!  I am afraid to hope!  Just about the time when everything is going well ... for no major reason ... there I am on the sofa again ... or rolling around in the bed at night, trying to find a comfortable position!
      I am never sure what helps or hurts ... there is never a clear cause & effect.  It might take until the next day for effects to be apparent.  When something helps or hurts, it might be only a little.  When there is little or no improvement ... sometimes I wonder if it could have been WORSE? 
     To me ... it is a very positive statement to be able to announce, "At least, it's not WORSE"!

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

DAMN

 WHAT HURTS?

OR

WHAT DOESN'T HURT?

 

     My back is so miserable.  I had to drive to town; I returned with a bottle of gin.  I have been eating aspirins non-stop since last evening.  I had run out of gin.  I used lots of liniment.

     I HAD to go to Crystal Falls.  I returned with  a bottle of GIN.  Life-giving GIN.  GIN relaxes my back.  It is my "internal liniment".  I have  used it with much success since my first back problems in 1976.  I dislike "drugs". I trust aspirin & gin.  Natural. Predictable.

     I don't want to become an alcoholic; I am skeptical of pain killer drugs... even just the side effects of the over-the-counter ones.

     It took me all nite to get a grip on  my back pain from gathering maple sap yesterday.  It took several hours this morning to get in gear to (grumpily) get to the monthly food pantry.

     The sun is out; that means I can  anticipate making the tour of the woods to gather sap.  That statement does not factor in my extreme non-fit physical condition, nor ... the g. damn hill to contend with.

    If anyone cares ... my kitchen is a wreck.  Every big pot is sticky or full.  Two have an inch of embedded carbon crust.  The stove is a disaster area.  The cupboards are sticky.  All the potholders are sticky.  The floor is sticky.  I SHIVE A GIT!

     The season for gathering sap is limited; TODAY I must gather some more.  The hill is what makes it extreme.

   WHY?

I USTA.

SO ... WHY?

BEATS ME.

    

    

Movin' Slowly

     This is just such a pretty photo ... have to use it again!

      While wallowing around in bed this morning, I knew that getting turned and upright was going to be an experiment.  It turned out better than expected.  My wrenched shoulder has the worst pain ... I cannot walk upright.  I made a poultice for my back, made the coffee, and came back upstairs to sit at the computer.  There were some things on the floor that I made the decision to "you can stay there until LATER".

     I really must get out & about SOON ... I could make my trip to town while I am still moving so slowly?

     The maple trees seem to be not "running" any more?  That will be several less chores ... tho a large part of what makes it so difficult is being so sadly out of condition ... climbing that hill shore should be a conditioning workout!

     The most pain is in my lower back, esp. near my left hip ... then ... my mid back & lower ribs.  My upper back *& neck don't seem to be as much of a problem since the facets in my mid-back.  MY SHOULDER THAT I WRENCHED STILL HAS A LOT OF PAIN ... BUT, that, hopefully is short-term.