BACKlog

HELLO AGAIN

2011-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

8:41 AM 5/12/2010
NOTE THE DATE; THIS IS SOooo OLD!
I was a good girl this morning ... did my physical therapy exercises ... even before I got out of bed.
My first tour downstairs wasn't overly painful. But, I may be UP ... but I'm definately not "ATT'M".
It's so nice to look out & see green grass ... If we look hard enough ... we can see leaves on the trees & even buds starting on the early apple trees.
I evicted my old lounge chair ... guess I'll have to get another. Even tho I switched to a big, fluffy chair ... what my back needs for ease is the lounge chair so I can tip back. That really helps when my back is really bad, or to keep it from getting really bad.
It's terrible how far out of shape I got over the winter. Getting back from lethargy to being able to do something useful isn't going to be easy.
This spring, I did some maple syruping with the trees closer to the house ... mostly as an experiment to see if I could. I had just finished six weeks of physical therapy for a bad knee, & I didn't know if my back could take it. Well, it went okay ... with some cussing, lots of pauses, & quite a bit of liniment (internal & external).
Even the trip down to the mail box is not a spritely walk. But, I am forcing myself (partly as physical therapy) to get my vast lawn mowed ... on the installment plan. I have to hurry before the dandelions get a good start ... and before all the pretty white daisys get too high.
It's an electric push mower, but, my yard is on a slant ... making this a daunting task.
My back had developed some new areas of extreme pain, which the last round of injections at the Pain Clinic sorta gotten rid of. There was a sharp pain in my neck, which I thought may have been prompted partly by worring over my Mom's health, my finances, etc. The pain really low on my back was excrutiating pain on my first round of walking when getting out of bed.
8:09 AM 1/20/2011

NOTE THE DATE; THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF NEW ENTRIES!
My doctor at the pain clinic is always asking for an evaluation of how my back is responding to his treatments ... that is originally why I started this "BackLog".
OK ... I've been awake for several hours, tho mostly stayed in bed, with a few trips downstairs to "that little room". Then, I spent some time at the computer. Now, on my last trip upstairs ... I was moaning & groaning ... so, decided to take a pain pill & go back to bed & read a while.
9:35 AM 1/20/2011
Okay ... now ... I've read some of my library book ... One by Glenn Beck. My back is much happier now, but, now I notice a bit of stiffness in my upper back & neck. I've been scolding myself to quit hunching up & tightening that area ... "Relax, pull down & pull back".
9:00 AM 1/25/2011
This wintertime ... working on sedentary tasks, housecleaning, sitting at the computer- working on my family genealogy & organizing photos .... THIS IS THE REASON WHY MY BACK HAS BEEN WORSE THAN USUAL
BUT ... just about everything I could do ... except for sitting in my lounge chair, listening to the T.V. is off limits.
I do go to the chiropractor each week. I do get periodic injections from the Pain Clinic.
I wish I could find a marketable skill that I could do in my lounge chair ..????
11:41 PM 1/25/2011
I'm getting to being more ambitious ... hopefully it's partly because, after the calamities in my life for the past 4 months ... which, hopefully will reduce the muscle-tightening tension, which causes more back pain might result in a bit better relations with my back. From past experience, though, if I get too ambitious ... my back goes on strike & it may take several days in the lounge chair watching T.V. to recover! That's partly the cycle that cause me several days of real pain last week! I feel much better now than last week!
8:28 AM 2/22/2011
I promise myself that I will make an entry here TODAY! LATER!
I've been awake for several hours, but stayed in bed reading & doing my Cryptograms.
On my first trip downstairs, my lower back was in such distress that I was groaning & swearing at each step ... could hardly wait to take a pain pill. I usually try to NOT take the pain pill. It's a prescription pill, but not a drug-type pill.
It's hard to describe "distress" ... since my Pain Clinic injections for the past few years .... It's NOT pain anymore ... but an awful, gripping ACHE, which makes me swear, groan, & head for the nearest chair. I have 6 different problem areas on my back, from top to bottom ... mostly all different reasons. At least 3 were from injuries, 2 which should have been covered by Workman's Comp, but was denied & I had neither the time or money to fight in court for several years!
8:19 AM 2/23/2011
Another morning that I had to take a pain pill ... I've been more ambitious lately, but that make my back go on strike, so I have to head for the lounge chair again. That does make for a lot of TV watching & time to read or do puzzles. One of the worst things for my back is when I sit at the computer, or want to do some crafts!
10:45 AM 7/3/2011
TOMORROW IS THE 4th OF JULY ... I think I will go to the next little town south of Crystal Falls ... ALPHA ... about 6 miles. They have a good old-fashioned 4th, with a parade, kids games all day, music in the pavillion, fireworks at nite. The last time I went there, I had Mom up here.

OLD POSTS FIRST

2009-12-04T06:17:00.000-08:00

I'm having trouble accessing this old AOL blog ... transplanted. I feel the need to vent & keep this updated ...

HERE'S SOME OLD WRITINGS ....

12:53 AM 12/18/2008 I finally got to the chiropractor; almost talked myself out of it. The temps are so cold that I hate to abuse my car trying to get it started. WOW ... WAS MY BACK EVER SORE! Until I get my head scans ... the chiropractor didn't want to do anything in the neck area. His working on my mid-back did loosen it up to the point where I was getting Charlie-Horses in my ribs. I made an appointment for Friday again.\5:58 PM 12/18/2008 Today, I went to have my head examined. The doctor, not knowing what caused the upset to my system last Friday ... ordered a Cat scan, & a scan of my neck to check for circulation problems there. Whatever it was ... panic attack, TIA ... she didn't think it was the stroke that I had feared. Probably won't get the results until next week. Good thing this was not an emergency! This is not the best area to have something malfunction! I do know that my back is just awful. I went to the chiropractor yesterday & will go again tomorrow. Since the doctor mandated that I lay off my Ibuprofen because of endangering my kidneys ... well ... that's easier said than done!
11:02 PM 1/2/2009 NEW YEAR ... same old back pain ... tonight, my back hurts so much that I am writhing in pain ... got up to take my third ALEVE. My doctor has been fussing about my using so much IBUPROFEN ... the Tylanol company, too, has been issuing warnings of liver damage with "over-use".

2008-12-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

10:05 PM 12/13/2008 The most important problem takes precidence; I've had so many problems the past few days that my back problems are the least of my worries. I traveled to Marquette, MI for some important personal business. ACCOMPLISHED. But, in the getting upset (needlessly) ... I may have incurred another minor stroke: I have a doctor's appointment for Monday.

3:48 PM 12/14/2008 I must be feeling a bit better; I've been taking ibuprofen quite a bit today. I did force my self to take it easy today and mostly watch T.V. I was going to town to pick up some things at the grocery store and at the FAMILY DOLLAR ... didn't. I was going to go get my Christmas tree up in the woods today, before it got cold again ... didn't. I may work on printing up my Christmas cards.

10:16 AM 12/15/2008 Just practicing my typing before I go off to my doctor's appointment. IT'S MUCH BETTER, NKT GID,'' Oh, well.

7:20 AM 12/16/2008 Just practicing writing. No news is good news; my doctor didn't find anything wrong ,,, except SOMETHING IS WRONG. She has some tests scheduled for me Thursday. She doesn't want me to be taking so much Ibuprofen regularly. I am supposed to be more concerned about liver damage & do without the pain tablets.

3:27 AM 12/17/2008
Making a new entry; typing is still screwed up. I gave up & had some Ibuprofen ... & just now took some 8 hour Aleve.

Lois

2008-12-06T00:53:00.000-08:00

8:29 AM 12/3/2008

I didn't go to the chiropractor this week ... might not. I have to drive down to Green Bay to the dental clinic. My back has caused me to take one prescription Ibuprofen after another ... more than the 2-3 per day advised.
I took one at 8 ... doesn't seem to be helping much.

2:22 AM 12/5/2008

OKAY ... I did the Green Bay Dental Clinic thing; my back is just so mad at me. Back to bed.

5:29 PM 12/5/2008

My back has been bothering me so much today. I finally dragged myself off to town to do my banking, shopping (the Eagle flew over) ... bought some ALEVE ... like I usta take. Even with that ... I just cannot concentrate ... MY BACK HURTS!

2:09 AM 12/6/2008

WELL ... THE ALEVE JUST DIDN'T DO IT! I even took another Ibuprofen ... still I've been in agony for the past many hours. Cannot sleep; no kind of stretching, etc is helping to reduce the pain. Finally gave up lying in bed, sleepless. So ... I am sitting at the computer with a little snack ... and some linament (internal AND external).

I didn't get to the chiropractor this week ... I'm sure that is part of my problem. I have to go at least once a week.

2008-12-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

8:02 AM 11/28/2008

My THANKSGIVING DAY went well; I spent the day with friends & their large family. Sitting, visiting, surprisingly, really makes me suffer. But, I've learned to pack some pain pills in my pocket where they'll be handy. My back is a bit stiff this morning, but I don't think it's too bad.

11:08 AM 11/29/2008

Now, after several pain pills ... sitting in the lounge chair for several hours ... I'm ready for the day. My back still has a sharp ache about half way up, mostly on the left. I did do the dishes, got my December budget printed out & figured out for when the Eagle Flies next Wednesday. The sun is shining; do I feel like doing something outside? I don't need to go to town for several days.

12:07 PM 12/2/2008

I cannot believe that my back is giving me so much grief! BUT ... looking back ... there were times in my life that excruciating pain was the problem ... not just the gripping aches & stiffness I have now that is more of a nuisance & aggravation. Thank Heavens that I can get high-dosage prescription Ibuprofen on my Medicade.

L o i s

2008-11-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

I've been so bummed about missing the deadline & losing over four years of AOL Journal/virtual diary entries .... PLUS all my numerous web pages. Those were the main reason that I was on AOL. I was there since its birth. NOW ... WHY BOTHER?, well, "Pull up your big-girl panties & go on from here" ... SOON, BUT, NOT YET! I've got so many crucial things going on in my personal & family & financial life that are more important, and very time-consuming ... I WILL BE BACK IN THE GROOVE, EVENTUALLY ... I PROMISE. All this stress definately compounds my back problems ... so, for now ... I'll just not make these entries too important a part of my concerns.

We've had a little snow so far ... in fact, Marquette, MI ... somewhat a snow-capital ... set a snow-record (quite a feat) for the most snow that early. But ... here comes the "mother of all blizzards from the Dakota's ... 70 mph winds with at least 10 inches of dry, fluffy snow. IT'S HEADED OUR WAY ... supposedly only very cold, messy, & very miserable! I've just been so bummed about missing the deadline & losing over four years of AOL Journal/virtual diary entries .... PLUS all my numerous web pages. Those were the main reason that I was on AOL. I was there since its birth. NOW ... WHY BOTHER? Oh, well, "Pull up your big-girl panties & go on from here" ... SOON, BUT, NOT YET! I've got so many crucial things going on in my personal & family & financial life that are more important, and very time-consuming ... I WILL BE BACK IN THE GROOVE, EVENTUALLY ... I PROMISE. All this stress definately compounds my back problems ... so, for now ... I'll just not make these entries too important a part of my concerns.

Up here ... in the U.P. ... this is our Yooper-ATM-machine. We get 10 cents per re-cycle can or bottle. You should see the kids getting spending money here!

Meanwhile backatheranch (backatcamp) ... it's too early to feed the deer yet (I wait until the bear have gone to bed ... but, I still have critters going thru the yard. I made the decision NOT to mow my lawn any more; my farmer's eye saw nummie green grass for deer food. Like out West ... they can paw thru th snow to eat it! But ... I see them out there in the middle of the night ... grazing. I know that I made a practical decision (made my back much happier, too).

TURKEYS

DEER

Still winter for a while

2008-02-29T01:32:00.000-08:00

11:31 AM 2/23/2008

     I've spent too much time at the computer this morning ... I am in agony. That is one less job I'd be able to do ... anything at the computer or even at a desk.
    Physical-activity jobs, which I used to love ... are also out of the question.
    I thought that doing crafts would get me some extra money ... but, that doesn't work for me, either. No matter what position I try so I can do my crafts, even in the lounge chair ... my back soon starts bothering me.
    I'm so tired of being broke ... thank Heavens for Social Security ... but I earned that the hard way .... keeps me in the game, anyways.
   So, Medicare & my medical cards give me the chance to have treatments that do mitigate the pain & suffering. I don't have the high level of pain that I lived with since at least the mid-70's. Aches, agony, & discomfort do punish me for trying to do anything ... but, usually lying down for a while helps.

THESE PAST DAYS:
    I've felt fairly ambitious, which is always a clue that my body isn't hurting that much. The trouble with that is I get involved with lots of activities (mostly indoor stuff right now) that make sure that I DO start hurting again.
    Most of the last of my Christmas stuff is down, tho, not stored yet. Since "Valentines Day is my deadline for taking Christmas decorations down." ... I was forced to get that job done.
    SPRING CLEANING ... tho we've have mostly sub-zero weather (mostly at nite) ... maybe that's what's driving this cleaning urge?
     There's plenty of snow yet ... wondering if the amount of snow left will delay the start of my maple syruping, as it did last year? I'm not looking forward to that project; both of my brush buggies need a mechanic ... cannot afford that ... will have to do it on foot again.

2:58 AM 2/29/2008
     Where do the days & weeks go? My back has just been bothering me lately ... I MUST make an appointment for my facets! I did resume going back to the chiropractor.
   I have the excuse that our weather has been too cold to want to abuse my car trying to start it.
    I've even postponed many doctor appointments. Missing the weekly chiropractor visits will make me sorry! Also, I need some injections at the Pain Clinic ... and ... another clinic for injections in my knee. The others are mostly just SOP TESTS as part of getting acquainted with my new "regular doctor".

My winter project is to read all the books in the Crystal Falls Library on history of the Upper Peninsula.
I have to return a book today....

L o i s
My webpage: Crystal Falls, MI

My main AOL journal:

Click here: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond

NORTHERN PROVERB:

DON'T EAT YELLOW SNOW!

BACKLOG of entries in February

2008-02-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

click here: IRON County Courthouse Special on my main blog

"click on this picture to get a larger view"

3:44 PM 2/3/2008

     There ... I feel so much more enthused about this journal now ... with the new diary format.
     While I was making the entry, tho ... I smelled toasted cabbage; my stew simmering was running dry!   Oh, well ... that pot is cooling out in the snowbank; I've started a fresh pot. Thank heavens that I hadn't put the meat in yet. Not sure I like the toasted cabbage smell, tho.
    My back feels pretty good right now ... did that have anything to do with I did a few P.T. exercises this a.m.? So ... that must be why I am feeling a bit more ambitious?

7:35 AM 2/4/2008

What should I do today? Oh ... a quick check of the calendar (on my cell-phone) tells me that I have a doctor's appointment (just a check-up) at 10:30. Recently, I changed to a new doctor; we're still getting acquainted. She seems quite intuitive; she's also experienced bad back problems & had some good advice.
That about takes care of the first half of the day. Since snow is moving in late afternoon ... to last a day or more ... I'd better do some shopping while in town, too.

6:27 AM 2/8/2008

    The past few days, I've been trying to get things ready to take my crafts to a week-end show. No heavy lifting ... just sustained periods of activity.
    Even my knee started bothering me; with being mostly cooped up in the house, the knee hasn't had much reason to start hurting. My new doctor had instructed me to make an appointment with the specialist for another injection. I had told her that I purposely am not overly active so as not to aggravate that knee. Partly, the reason for not having made the appointment is that I am rationing the gas for my car. My winter heating bills are getting behind and I'm on a budget.
     Yesterday ... even tho I did my craft work tipped back in my lounge chair, the heating pad on my back, many aspirins/ibuprophen, some gin, stretching exercises ... my back still was siezed up & really painful. That kept me from sleeping well.
     I did some stretching/traction type exercises before finally getting up ... it helped some. Now, I have the heating pad on the lounge chair ready for me to sit & get back at the craft project. I could have finished it last evening, except for I had to retreat to my bed because my back hurt so much.
     I'm not looking forward to sitting all day for two days this weekend at the craft show ... my back will be just so ruined.

5:11 PM 2/19/2008

Okay ... here I am, back to making a whining entry. I've been taking ibuprophen, etc ... my back is really in agony.
Because of the cold weather, snow, car problems ... I've been cancelling doctor appointments. I missed two weeks of chiropractor ... my facets injections at the pain clinic ... etc. ... now, I'm suffering.

Click here for my weather(& yours)

FIRST "DAILY" ENTRY;

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008

Another chilly day ... tho the bright sun, blue sky with pretty white clouds ... made you think it wasn't really that cold. At the time of this writing ... it is 19 degrees (F) below ZERO!

Many times, at the end of the day, like this, it seems as tho I didn't do much today ... but, I WAS busy doing SOMETHING. I tidied up the kitchen, putting stuff away that I'd had at the craft (gun) show. The set of antlers that I thought I'd done such a good job of repairing is loose AGAIN! Now, I have to take it apart again & figure out a procedure to REALLY fix it. I thought I'd done that.

I did some bookwork; found out that I probably cannot e-file my Energy Refund. After many tries to get into the Michigan Tax Department, I gave up that route, too. TOMORROW, I MUST MAIL IN THE FORM ... even tho I didn't get an answer to a question I have about filling it out.

I don't know how long it will take to get that refund; it is not as much as I'd hoped. It is based on what I used the past year; being economical with the thermostat thus worked against me.

The only things that I did outside today were to bring some warm food & water up to the cats in the Gunta shed ... & feed the deer at the end of the afternoon. After I got back into the house, I realized that I'd forgotten to get the mail ... but, I decided that wasn't important enough to go back out.

Besides ... about that time, my back started hurting big-time. Ibruprophen, etc. ... gin ... lounge chair didn't help. I took a nap; that helped some.

At the time of this entry ... now ... it's gone past midnite.

L o i S

YOOPER Ground Hog Day

2008-02-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

3:25 PM 2/3/2008

HERE WE GO WITH THE FIRST ENTRY ON THE NEW, IMPROVED WAY OF MAKING ENTRIES ... NOT JUST WHEN I TAKE SOME ASPIRIN, OR, HAVE TO GO TO BED WITH THE PAIN ....
I feel more enthused already! Here's a link to my main BLOG:

click here: YOOPER Ground Hog Day

MEET "Aino Chukinen"

... our local YOOPER Groundhog ...

So ... I'm gunta KEEP my Resolution List
Posting it here reminds me!

Get involved in community activities
Get involved with church activities
Get better at doing my vitamins & physical therapy

ADDING SOME MORE "GUNTA-DO's"

Sort out my GUNTA shed
Remember family birthdays

I'm doing fairly well on my list so far ... found out that diligently taking my vitamins makes me more ambitious, which, in turn, leads to doing more of my P.T. ... which helps how my back feels ... which makes me more cheerful, etc, etc.

L o i S

Tags: back, Yooper, New Year Resolution

BACK to entries

2008-01-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

8:36 PM 1/31/2008
   In the past few days, it's been so cold that I've not been doing much outside ... not even shovel the snow.
   What I did do was to spend some extra time at the computer, making a web presence for a new geology club.
   That caused my back to be really painful. This is a phenomenon that others experience ... one of my favorite blogs' writers wrote that she'd not be making entries for a while because her back was really bothering her & sitting at the computer caused horrible pain. Click here: Sorry

This is so discouraging ... everything that I'd hoped to do to earn a few extra dollars is just about impossible because of the back pain that I then experience.

Now, I did get rid of the pain somewhat by taking first 3 Ibuprofen ... then, some gin drinks ... then 2 aspirins ... & some more gin. Several hours with a heating pad with some more gin finally brought some relief.

8:46 PM 1/31/2008
My new chiropractor is so great ... he has a new procedure that involves a special table that applies gentle traction while he's doing his work upon my back. I've found out that I must go to him once a week ... even if I think I don't need it. When he starts to work on my back ... I realize that there is so much tension/stiffness/pain that needs his help. If I don't go every week, my upper back problems escalate so much that it takes him several weeks to get my back to a managable level again.
HERE'S A PICTURE OF A SIMILAR TABLE THAT HE USES FOR ME.

Click here: http://myweb.cableone.net/mdclement2002/Images/Vintage%20Deluxe/Vintage%20Deluxe%20McManis%20Mauve%20(800x600).jpg

B A C K again

2008-01-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

OKAY ...THIS IS A NEW YEAR ... I'M GUNTA RESUME MAKING ENTRIES HERE ... HERE'S A BACKLOG OF ENTRIES.

11:03 AM 7/27/2007

My back is not too bad this morning ... some aches during the night.

2:31 AM 7/30/2007

     Overall, my back is better since my last facets ... but, tonight, for some reason, I just cannot sleep because of the agony of my lower ribs & upper back.
    I have not accomplished much to be proud of the past few days ... even got several good night's sleep. Yesterday, didn't do much outside because of the heat ... WHY IS MY BACK HURTING SO MUCH NOW?
    I didn't take aspirins before bedtime; I don't like to take aspirins, etc. on an empty stomach.
    Now ... I am telling myself to get downstairs & make up a big cup of chicken broth ... with some powdered eggs & maybe a few noodles. Not that I'm hungry, but I need to take some aspirin & some acetaminophen.

2:56 AM 7/30/2007

There, I took two 500 acetaminophen & two aspirin ... plus applied some liniment to my upper ribs, the base of my neck, and my neck. (Wish I could reach to apply to my entire spine.) My spine & neck seem to be really stiff & sore; my neck clunks as I try to loosen it up.
My next appointment at the chiropractor isn't until Wednesday afternoon. The appointment for my facets in my mid back was to have been Thursday ... but, I had to postpone them until next week so that my Social Security check would be in. I didn't have enough money for the gas to get to the Pain Clinic in Niagra, WI.

3:26 AM 7/31/2007

My back is just so much better tonight ... is it because I let the hot spell we're having keep me mostly watching T.V. a lot?

10:06 PM 8/2/2007

I went to the chiropractor yesterday. My back felt pretty good today. I kept moderately busy ... just did short sessions of the harder jobs.

2:11 AM 8/6/2007
Been sleeping a while; thinking of putting some liniment on ... and of taking some aspirin. If I take aspirin ... I need to eat something first ...
My back is only stiff & sore ... but quite sore.

12:41 AM 8/11/2007
After my facets (injections) last week ... my whole back was just so improved ... I shore ruint it today!
It wasn't as tho I had been doing heavy labor ... just spent the day in the kitchen, mostly. But, I just kept too constantly busy. NOW, I'M IN AGONY.

9:52 AM 8/11/2007
After several applications of aspirins & some gin thru the night ... when I got out of bed ... my back is just awful ... I cannot imagine my being able to do anything today except lie down & watch T.V. & make phone calls. Even sitting at the desk or computer feels terrible!

1:36 AM 8/21/2007

     I have company coming in a few days. I am way behind on my basic house-cleaning. I am going to have to lower my standards on the outside work I'd hoped to do.
     Even after a few hours of sleep, my back dictates that I just lay around for at least a day; these cleaning projects must be cancelled. CANCELLED IS NOT AN OPTION.
     I just had some aspirins, had to have some cheese to coat my tummy ... drank some gin & milk (with maple syrup) ... am going to do a few easy/sitting down jobs before I go back to bed.

4:26 AM 8/22/2007

I'm really going to appreciate that trip to the chiropractor today. By experimenting, I found out that I'd better not skip my weekly visit there ... it just keeps my back from becoming an emergency situation.
With company coming in a few days ... I must push myself to get my cleaning done. Housework is one of worst things for my back.

8:06 AM 12/6/2007
Not writing in this BACKlog doesn't mean that my back is better ... what it means is that it sounds like just a different verse of the same old whining about the pains. Pains is plural; often there are distinct different areas of my back that are giving me problems ... often in different ways.
I know that the aches/pains of yesterday that even the chiropractor wasn't very successful in mitigating are TENSION caused. My social security check came; I've been trying to stuff it into my new, improved, written monthly budget form. What with a cash-advance loan to re-pay, the $79 the State of Michigan is demanding to renew the plates on my car, gas for the car ... I'm not sure if I can appease everyone. ALSO ... I FORGOT TO DO THE PAPERWORK TO RENEW MY BENEFITS FROM THE STATE ... FOOD CARD, MEDICAL INSURANCE PMT'S ... DON'T KNOW IF I CAN MAKE THE DEADLINE.

BACK to my back pain

2007-07-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

3:18 AM 6/6/2007

      A new chiropractor? Sorta ... same office ... new fellow. The chiropractor wants to move his young family nearby his relatives in Pennsylvania (health problems in some older people there in his family) ... I WILL HATE TO SEE HIM GO. He is just an excellent chiropractor & so caring & so nice!
    However, the new person is really nice, too ... & did my treatment yesterday. I was impressed with his skill. I know he has my office records, but I told him my history of my back ... there are 6 problem areas, some "bare" vertebrae, some injuries back in the 70's & 80's, lots of arthritis (which I found out can be triggered by injuries).
    I mentioned that I am getting the facets at the Pain Clinic, but, found out thru experimenting that I also need the chiropractic at least once a week. Right now, I need for the mid-upper back to stay adjusted ... otherwise it gets horribly tight & painful. We are making progress there ,,, after I had not been going hardly at all since Christmas, that area of my back just got to be impossible ... I need to be faithful in at least weekly adjustments, mostly between my shoulderblades & thru my lower ribs.

1:21 AM 6/18/2007
AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AGAIN ... BACK PAIN AGAIN! This time it is worst in my lower ribs. In trying to loosen it up, I got some "clunks", like shifting bones in my back there, but very little loosening. I took some aspirins & made a gin drink.
I had a fairly active day ... no heavy work, tho. I potted plants, etc ... washed dishes, vac'd the rugs ... watched T.V. ... had some company.

3:57 AM 6/8/2007

OKAY ... after my three asprins a few hours ago, I just took two extra strength acetominephen ... & a little more gin. I just have to get back to sleep; my back is really bothering me. Part of it may be due to emotional stress ... bills & the loss of my next to last goose. The one that is left is calling for her ... breaks my heart.

12:46 PM 6/11/2007
DAMN ... is it tension over my finances ... the extra pain that has developed in my "good" knee ... or WHAT?
I have done nothing physical so far today ... reasonably active ... some time at the computer ... I AM IN ABSOLUTE MISERY! I took some asprins ... even a little gin ... my upper/mid back has terrible pain & discomfort.

2:27 AM 6/12/2007
My upper back, between my shoulder blades, & down ... esp. my lower ribs, esp the ones on the left ... are in real pain. Not discomfort ... not ache ... REAL PAIN. Took some aspirin, acetominophen, some gin ... should I sit up for a while yet, exercise, or just go back to bed?

3:26 AM 6/12/2007
Still at the computer ... still hurt ... MORE GIN!

4:06 PM 7/20/2007
   I've been out of gin for quite a while ... my back is really tightened up, partly due to some stresses in my life. Having just resolved my finanacial emergency ... I am headed out to go get some gin to relax my back.
   Several days ago ... I had the lumbar facets in my lower back. My back had begun hurting at a level that I cannot remember for how long it had been that bad.
   Almost immediately, there was relief ... but, my upper back pain was still terrible ... tho ... the level came down somewhat.
    I am to go back in two weeks for the facets in my mid-back ... but, because of my financial condition ... I had to postpone that another week until my Social Security check comes ... probably can't change it back now.

The State of Misery

2007-06-05T03:23:00.000-07:00

12:38 PM 5/7/2007

My facets (injections) last week were in my upper back. That

had started torturing me more so than the usual problem zone in my

lower back. I had made the decision that I'd better start going

back to the chiropractor on a weekly basis; my upper back has been

so tight & sore. Then, I felt so great after the injections & the

chiropractor that I thought maybe I won't have to go back for the

injections in my lower back ... also might be able to go every

OTHER week to the chiropractor. NO SOONER DID I HAVE THAT

THOUGHT THAN MY UPPER BACK BEGAN TO FEEL TIGHT & VERY

SORE ... NOW .... today, my lower back is really hurting. All that

I did to earn that was to stand at the cupboard making up a big

batch of onion cookies. I still have to put them on trays & freeze

the chopped onion/carrot/chives mixture.

2:57 AM 5/8/20072:57 AM 5/8/2007

Not sure which part of my back hurts the worst. I think it is

the lower back hurting so much that the pain is extending upward?

I'm glad that, learning from past scheduling of injections, I did

insist upon the second set in the lower back soon after the ones in

the upper back.

Just read about a new technique that came out of a college

business competition. I put the link to the information on my main

Journal.

RejuvaDisc

Click here: Back pain treatment wins Wharton's business plan competition - Apr. 25, 2007

10:17 AM 5/11/2007
Yesterday, I had errands to do in town ... just headed towards

home, thinking how miserable my upper back felt. It was so stiff &

painful between my shoulder blades ... that got me to thinking about

the chiropractor. EVEN THO I'D CHECKED IN THE MORNING AS

TO WHAT TIME MY APPOINTMENT WAS, I ENDED UP GETTING

SO BUSY THAT I FORGOT COMPLETELY.
My appointment had been for 3 pm; now, it was 4:30! Thank

Heavens, he was able to take me in! He really had to work on that

area. This morning, it does feel so much better.

3:50 AM 5/21/2007

Here I am, up in the middle of the night because my back hurts.

It helps to get up, move around, take some aspirins ... then, I

have to have some chicken soup or something to make sure that I

don't take them on an empty stomach. A little time sitting up (like

at the computer) also helps. Now, I'm going back to bed to try to

find a comfortable spot so I can sleep?

6:54 AM 5/30/2007

I awoke at dawn this morning, my lower back hurt so much that

I couldn't get it loosened with stretching exercises. I had a hot

milk/maple syrup/gin drink ... sat at the computer ... it is feeling a

bit better. Some aspirins ... then lay around a bit more ...
Yesterday, I had it scheduled to do a little weed-whacking ... it

tried to rain ... I talked myself into waiting until today. My

weekend housecleaning project & activities with my daughter had

sorta ruined my back anyways ... needed a bit more "rest".

5:09 AM 6/5/2007

I've spent several hours trying to exercise my spine to get it

to quit hurting. It is not so much a sharp pain as a gripping,

sickening discomfort with the pain level of at least an 8.
This is mostly in the small of my back, involving my hip area &

lower ribs. My vertebrae would clunk as I tried various movements

to loosen up my back. Now, it is not as bad. I took some aspirin &

some acetaminophen ... & another gin & milk. MAYBE I CAN GET

BACK TO SLEEP ... FINALLY?

When I talk to my doctor, I want to remember to be able to

tell him around the first of June is when I started having bouts of

pain again. I don't have an appointment at the Pain Clinic until next

month.

My "good" knee: the cortisone/steroid shot ... is that wearing

off, too? Usually, unless I have a misstep, there is no pain there,

just an awful tiredness & tenderness if I've been at all active. In

a week, I have an appointment with that doctor.

THE CHIROPRACTOR: I've gone back to going there every week again. It seems to be helping, especially the terrible tightness & discomfort in my upper back where I had the whip-lash problem. That is mostly between my shoulder blades, sometimes in my lower ribs, too. Today, I have an appointment there.

Tags: back, knee, pain

Ready for the Day

2007-04-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

1:14 PM 4/14/2007

As usual ... I am more motivated to add to this when I am in total misery, which is the case now.

I am foolishly forcing myself to do something that is almost impossible ... do my maple syrup project.

Is this foolish pride, or trying to maintain self-esteem?

Should I relegate myself to a lifetime of watching T.V., yacking on the telephone, playing on the computer, sleeping ... or ... try to stay active so that I don't die of a heart attack or high colesterol?

11:09 PM 4/23/2007

My upper back ... where I'd had the whiplash in 1976 ... has been having bouts of making me really miserable. The pain is mostly between my shoulder blades. Surprisingly, my lower back hasn't been too much of a problem. This past afternoon, when my upper back really started hurting, & four aspirins didn't help ... I made a really stiff gin drink & rested a while. My back was hurting so much that it almost felt as tho I would get a charlie horse in my ribs. The gin helped; I resumed some light activities.

Then, this evening the pain & cramps came back. My gin is nearly gone ... I've got enough for two small drinks.

10:20 AM 4/27/2007

My knee has been making me postpone activities; my back keeps getting worse, too. I had the cortisone/steroid injection in my knee ... not sure if it's helping?

Next week, I have an appointment for the steroid "facets" in my back. I've been getting them in my lower back, even if it's not terribly bad at the moment. It is a precautionary routine that I've learned is necessary. Then, the next step is to make sure that I also go back (several weeks later) for the facets in my mid-back. Since my upper back has been giving me such grief lately ... should I get facets in that area FIRST?

I've spent at least five hours trying to reduce the pain in my upper back. The chiropractor worked on that area Wednesday; it was so painfully tight & painful. I just must make sure that I do go to the chiropractor EVERY week without fail ... hadn't been going as much lately.

My maple syruping project is over ... I'll bet that the task of disinfecting/rinsing the jugs out is going to cause big-time pain tho!

Almost Easter

2007-04-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

3:12 AM 3/30/2007
I've been awake for several hours ... did some wiggly-stretchy exercises on the sofa to loosen my back & the leg where my knee is sore ... watched some T.V. NOW, I hope that I can get back to sleep??? Getting upstairs made my knee start hurting, sharp pains as I take a step on that side.

7:15 AM 4/7/2007 EASTER SUNDAY TOMORROW
This past week, I've been thinking of adding a note here to remind me that, when the doctor at the pain clinic asks how long my last "facets", injections, lasted ... I can say that the first week in April, my upper back started hurting again ... now, my lower back is beginning to ache, too. These are just awful aches, not really pains.
Since my "good" knee is bothering me so terribly, I really haven't noticed my back much ... it works that way. What back aches I have right now, could that be brought on by my knee hurting? It is often hard for me to get around ... I just have to quit & go lie down ... take aspirins ... This, of course, helps my back, tho.

OF COURSE, SPRING IS COMING IN, BUT, NEITHER LIKE A LION NOR A LAMB ... BUT, A MULE!

APRIL showers bring frostbite ... & SNOW !
Winter came back ... really lots of snow & cold ... my maple syruping, mercifully, has come to a temporary halt. I think that I shouldn't even have tried to do it this year ... but, I'm trying to get exercise, too.

I at least have to get some pre-Easter housecleaning done ... TODAY ... & make the trek to the grocery store before I get snowed in anyworse!

Tags: back ache, bad knee, Easter

Miseries, again

2007-03-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

7:42 AM 2/24/2007

This, to me, is still the night before. I fell asleep on the sofa in the evening ... as usual. My back was grieving me; about midnight, I took some more aspirins, some more gin.
I slept some more. Now, I am saying, "Oh my God, Oh, my God". I have a kink in my lower back ....

4:24 AM 3/10/2007

WELL ... ITZA 'BOUT TIME! HERE'S A 'NUTHER ENTRY:
I am awake because I am in agony. I had been taking a series of 3 aspirins ... just now I added an EXTRA STRENGHTH ACETOMENOPHIN ... PLUS A STIFF DRINK OF WARM MILK & GIN (& BROWN SUGAR) ...
I had done a minor project of dragging stuff into my car, then, dragging the stuff into the building where the week-end gun show is to be ... Saturday & Sunday. No heavy lifting. Not much sustained activity. TOTAL MISERY. This is the first time I've had this pain since my "thoractic facets" last week.

9:03 PM 3/28/2007

    OH, MY POOR, POOR JOURNAL ... I've been so involved in other projects that I've not been keeping up with making entries. It was easier when I still had my laptop on my desk downstairs & could make quick entries.
     NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS? Well, sorta. Since my last writing, I've had more facets, in another part of my back ... did another gun show, with not as much pain because I'd left a lot of the stuff still packed in my car.
     By & large, my back has been not such a problem. BUT ... for nearly a month, my "good" knee has been grieving me. I think that I hurt it ... got snowed in for a week & didn't get in to the doctor for an x-ray right away. Now, I have an appointment with a specialist (the same one who had done my knee replacement on the other knee) for April 9.
     With the warmer weather, the snow mostly gone, & the maple syrup season here, I've been more active.     THIS BOTHERS MY KNEE MORE & MORE. I didn't do very much today ... spent a lot of time lying on the sofa or in the lounge chair. I feel badly about neglecting the maple trees ... not so sure if I should just quit it & lie down until April 9?

My MSM HAS ARRIVED!

2007-02-13T05:14:00.000-08:00

NEED YOUR SCREEN CLEANED?

7:06 PM 2/9/2007

TOMORROW IS A "BIG DAY" ... I am taking some

craft things of mine & my son's to a gun show.
I was at this gun show two years ago ... did not go last

year.
I have a table rented; not too optimistic of selling much

... but, am printing out lots of brochures, price lists, &

business cards to have on hand. I've found out that this

one-on-one advertising is the most effective.
But ... I've also found out that my back will not let me

even do much of this crafting without making me absolutely

miserable.
MISERABLE ... this is how I anticipate being by the

time that I actually get everything set up & ready for the

9 am opening at the show.
I have put some of the larger things into the car,

including a folding chair. I'll really need that; I am thinking

of taking my crutches, too.
I still have to pack the items ... much of which is not

even all ready. I'm using several suitcases to haul stuff.

I'll probably have at least a dozen trips to make from the

car to the building ... not sure how close that I can get.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!
Hopefully, I can recuperate during the day. It is a two

day thingie.

4:08 AM 2/11/2007

I'M WONDERING HOW I'LL BE ABLE TO PUT IN

ANOTHER DAY THERE AT THE GUN SHOW... My back

was so bad, just sitting there in the afternoon that I just

took some aspirins, tried to do some stretching excercises

to loosen up ... even went to see if they were selling some

beer (they weren't)
It was all I could do to get the cats & dogs & geese &

deer taken care of. The items that I brought home to

work on ... that was just wishful thinking. The case is still

sitting down by the door.
I made some soup, had some more aspirins, a stiff gin

drink ... headed for the sofa. It took until 3:30 to get

loosened up enough to even get up to go to the bathroom.

My back was just so sore that I spent a long time in various

positions trying to ease it. I only came upstairs to the

computer to check my e-mail. IT'S BACK TO BED FOR ME

NOW! I was going to check the photos I'd taken at the

show, make some signs .... even make a journal entry in my

main journal (way overdue) ... do something important on

the CRAFTING web pages since I have the url on my

advertising cards & brochures. As I made the laborious

climb up the stairs, I was thinking if I should bring my

crutches tomorrow.

I really needed to do the web site, needed to do the

crafting, didn't get the mail or make phone calls ... the

dishes from two days ago will just have to wait some more.

Practically speaking ... I don't think I will do anything when

I get back from another day at the show ... even if I'm

just sitting. I really need to stop at the grocery on the

way home??

9:01 PM 2/11/2007

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES ... my back

feels OKAY today! Go figure! After being so miserable

yesterday & thru the night ... and oversleeping when I went

back to sleep ... I didn't expect the dramatic difference.

I did not have to re-load all the containers of my sale

items; I had left most everything right on my table. The

one suitcase & small bag I'd brought home to work on things

... well ... I might just as well have left them there, too

... my back was too sore to even consider dealing with that.

5:53 AM 2/13/2007

The MSM that I ordered arrived, & I have been trying

to remember to take them regularly. I used to take 3000

mg a day before my knee replacement operation. The

capsules I have are 1000 mg strength; I've been taking at

least two a day for several days. It takes a while for

them to get back into my system. It would be really great

if they work as well on my back as they did for my knee.

MSM, I am quite sure, is not covered by my prescription

drug plan. The cost is a big reason that I hadn't been

taking them for a long while.

6:58 AM 2/13/2007

I might as well stay up now ... I had mostly done some

on the computer for a "Change-of-Position" excercise to

ease my back ... made some coffee, put the dogs out

(briefly), made some instant oatmeal. I mostly slept thru

the night ... feel as tho I've pretty well reccuperated from

the week-end.

NOW, I HAVE TO PUT IN SOME OVERTIME GETTING

THE FAMILY HISTORY ALBUM DONE & MAILED OUT

FOR AN IMPORTANT FAMILY REUNION IN TEXAS THIS

WEEKEND. I just wasn't up to it ... had planned upon

beginning Sunday evening!

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

Tags: back pain, MSM, gun, Upper Peninsula

KEEP'IN ON isn't so easy

2007-02-09T04:50:00.000-08:00

12:07 PM 2/3/2007
NOW ... my back feels great; I did a lot of moaning & groaning thru

the night ... finally got up before daylight, never did really get back to

sleep. At the time, there was just no comfortable position ... no relief

from aspirins. Now, it is mostly just very tight & sore as tho I'd been

working hard...
Today ... I am going to keep my promise to myself & order some MSM

... that might be easier & quicker than traveling to some place where it

might be cheap.

10:24 PM 2/3/2007
Taking a break ... I'm getting company tomorrow. My son is driving

up to pick up some of his "product" ... his horse-shoe craft items that I

was supposed to be photographing, assembling, & marketing. Part of my

not working on it is that my basement area had gotten so silted in with

"stuff" from when my neighbor moved & gave me truckloads of so much.
So, I just took four aspirins & a acetaminaphin ... going to sit down.

BUT, I MUST AT LEAST ORGANIZE THOSE CRAFT ITEMS & DO SOME

WORK ON THEM BEFORE HE GETS HERE. I'LL HAVE TO WORK OFF &

ON THRU THE NITE. THAT WON'T BE MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE

SLEEPLESSNESS I WENT THRU LAST NITE FROM THE BACK PAIN!

10:11 AM 2/5/2007
I did get caught up on some sleep last nite ... really needed it ...

kinda overdid some house-cleaning over the week-end. Is that why my

back was just unbearable this morning for so long?

2:44 PM 2/5/2007

Okay, so my back has started to feel pretty good ... but, now, I feel

tired out ... very unambitious. Could some of this be tension over the

tractor repair bill, not being ready for the craft show this weekend?

10:19 PM 2/5/2007
My back hurt in all different areas today ... I can hardly wait til

next week for my injections. This time ... I'm Gunta go in for the second

set of injections in my mid-back! I really to want to lie down ... I am

trying to make up for lost time on my crafting projects.

11:23 PM 2/6/2007

Just recuperating from a strenuous day of sitting on a stool ... doing

craft projects ... I guess that's not the way out of my financial woes,

either.
I didn't even do any vacuuming or dishes washin today, either ...

tried to break up my sitting on the stool with other projects ... GUESS

THAT DIDN'T WORK ANYWAYS.
At the end of the afternoon, I had to retreat to the sofa ... did

some napping ... having taken many aspirins, etc ... did not even eat my

supper. My back was so miserable, couldn't do anything except lie down.
Almost midnite, my stomach was so upset from not having my supper.

I re-heated it, ate some ... had some more pain pills & some gin to

hopefully loosen my back.
BUMMER: I got an e-mail from my sister reminding me that I have all

the family black & white historical pictures to re-do the album ... MY

MOM NEEDS THESE SOON WHEN HER BABY SISTER DRIVES DOWN

TO VISIT HER.

HERE'S A COPY OF THE E-MAIL THAT I JUST SENT TO TEXAS TO

MY SISTER (& my Mom).

I AM JUST BESIDE MYSELF TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE ... NO

MATTER WHAT I DO ... SOMETHING ELSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE

FIRST ... I am bummed out that Alan made a quick trip up here last

week-end to retrieve most of his horseshoe creations that I was supposed

to be marketing ... I finally got MOST of my insulation project done ...

with this sub-zero weather here, I wish I had that DONE. I've been

working on the pictures & album ... thinking that I MUST get it down

there before Dorothy gets there ...

FIRST & FOREMOST ... I rented a "booth" at a gun show up here to

exhibit & try to sell my deer-antler dream webs for THIS WEEKEND (&

some of Alan's stuff). JUST AS SOON AS THAT IS DONE (next

Monday) I will concentrate on getting the album done!
It is just so discouraging ... my back was killing me today ... how much

of a strain should be on my back ... sitting on a stool at the counter,

doing dream-webs ! I was in AGONY ... took many aspirin, etc. ...

napped on the sofa ... finally dragged myself up (it's midnight) to re-heat

my supper & am now eating it because my stomach was getting queesy

from being empty ... my back is a bit better ... but, still feels as tho I

had been in a fight.

6:56 AM 2/7/2007
When my back got so sore yesterday ... it was my upper back, thru

the shoulder blade area. Thru the nite, then, it became my lower back

that hurt the worst. Even stretching exercises don't help loosen it. My

stomach gets upset with too much aspirin ... I did add some Tylanol.
I did nap off & on on the sofa ... after mid-nite, when I just had to

finally eat some supper, I did eventually get to bed. I slept off & on.

For the past hour or two, I've just been rolling around in bed ... so, I'm

going downstairs for a bit. I usually never get back to sleep then. I am

feeling so tired, tho.

6:32 AM 2/9/2007
OKAY ... so, I finally admitted that there is no way that I could

commit myself to a paying job ... I'm starting to wonder if making craft

items is a viable avenue. No matter what sort of configuration of "chair"

I used ... even with alternating my activities/positions ... would keep me

from developing a traumatic bout of back pain (how hard can SITTING

be??). I've been trying to do the crafting while sitting in a lounge chair.

That has mixed results ... but, at least it is not as bad as doing the

sitting-in-a-chair thing.
I'm going to call a halt to this rambling & post it. That is why I lost

the urge to keep it up ... it is just whining ... but, I am trying to

document what works, what causes problems, & what I should or shouldn't

do.

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

Gunta: MSM

2007-02-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

9:20 AM 2/1/2007

   I've been doing some on-line reading on MSM ... & looking for some bargains on ordering some.
   My daughter-in-law, who had been in a bad car accident & is suffering many bodily problems ... started me on taking MSM. We both agreed that it really helps & could notice (painfully) if we slacked off on taking it.
     SOooooo ... SOME TIME AGO, I HAD MADE THE DECISION THAT MSM IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NO LONGER IN MY BUDGET (my medical card wouldn't cover a prescription for it).
      BUT, NOW ... I have been scolding myself to somehow afford at least a small dosage. When my SOCIAL SECURITY check comes in ... I WILL get some MSM.

The most marvelous treatment (aside from the internal muscular relaxant: GIN) ... has been my Lumbar (& thoractic) facets. At first, I wasn't too impressed; I could not make a statement one way or the other on their effectiveness. NOW ... I am really noticing just how I depend upon them for relief. This is because there never is a direct cause/effect pattern ... & I never know exactly what is causing my present condition ... & there is usually such a time lag that it is difficult to draw any conclusions.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS THAT I WILL ADD LATER TO MY SIDEBAR:

Click here: Osteoarthritis: Treatment - MayoClinic.com

Click here: MSM for detoxification

Click here: Clusty Search » "lumbar facets"

Click here: Lumbar Facet Joint Injection

Tags: MSM, back pain

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

2007-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

4:01 AM 12/21/2006
Christmas is coming on too fast ... I have been pushing myself

past my limits to get things done.
Mom will have left my home in less than a week ... there's so

much that I had wanted to get done with her ...
I really did it yesterday. I was just thinking that, yes, my

injections really have taken effect ... but, I did too much.
Before 5 pm, I had sought refuge in my lounge chair & heating

pad & several drinks & much pain pills. I wish that I hadn't run out

of gin.
My lower back is kinking, catching. My lower ribs are cramping

... everything hurts terribly.
And, this day will be another marathon. I must, must assemble

my bookwork for Social Services & drive over to Iron River before 9

am to get my medical card & food stamps renewed for the next year

... that's the deadline!

7:26 AM 1/28/2007

OKAY ... I just decided: I'll make a New Year's resolution to

keep up this Backlog ... (get rid of the back log of entries?).
At the time of my last injections in December ... they hurt so

horribly that I will seriously consider the intravenous pain killer at

the time of the next ones in mid-February! The local numbing shots

have made the "facets" bearable ... BUT, NOT THE LAST TIME. I

asked the doctor if he thought that I'd had an infection or

something that kept the pain killer from working well ... He did say

that there was a high level of inflamation in my back that day.
I feel as tho I'm seriously overdue for the lumbar facets; my

appointment is several weeks away. This time, I AM going to go back

in for the "t'weener" facets in my mid-back ... are those the

thoractic facets?
Whatever ... I am really miserable. When I try to do simple

tasks, it doesn't take long to have my back feel terrible. This is so

discouraging. That makes me realize that, unlike all my hard-working

life, there is no way that I could take ANY sort of a job to try to

earn a little money to get my finances out of the red.
One good thing: for the last month or more, the new pain area at

the base of my neck has been going away. BUT ... maybe that is

the familiar, old situation that "whatever hurts the worst is the one

that I feel" ... eliminate that & a new pain area comes into focus. I

noticed that for sure when I was in the hospital IMMEDIATELY

after my knee replacement surgery ... IMMEDIATELY is when my old

back problems hit me severely!

GO FIGURE?

2006-12-17T05:15:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

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???

2006-08-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-07-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

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

2006-07-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-07-05T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

2006-06-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

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,

2006-06-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-05-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-04-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

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!

2006-04-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

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)

2006-04-15T02:54:00.000-07:00

   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

2006-04-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

WHAT HURTS?

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

2006-04-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

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.

Stand up straight!

2006-04-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

My back ... it feels OKAY so far this morning. I can actually stand up up straight.

Yesterday, I did kinda over do ... did some extra walking around to the maple trees. In the morning, I had done a little extra tidying in the house for company.

I took aspirins thru the day & evening ... had a few drinks, even in the nite. I was able to keep my back from tightening up; this morning I was surprised to not be in the usual awful pain.

I did tell the Pain Clinic on their follow-up phone call that there had been significant improvement after my facets ... even, also, in the upper back & neck.

I Think It's Fine?

2006-03-31T04:32:00.000-08:00

Last week, I just totally ruined my back in an hour's time, sitting, working on this craft item.

My upper & middle back just caused so much pain & misery that I promised myself I'd call the Pain Clinic for an appointment.

So ... Wednesday, I went to the chiropractor for an extremely satisfying treatment. I felt like skipping out of the office, flapping my wings like a chicken.

Yesterday, I had my "thoractic facets" in my mid-back. At first, I wasn't sure about the results, but, as I laid there in the recovery room ... an increasing flood of relaxation came over me. It actually felt as tho I'd had 3 or 4 drinks! The relaxation was so heavenly! Before the injections, I'd been trying, painfully, in vain to get my shoulders & base of my neck loosen up to get rid of the pain there.

AFTER ... that relaxation just kept soothing that area noticeably until the pain subsided greatly. How Wonderful!

So ... here in the dawn, I am reasonable comfortable ... made my trip downstairs walking fairly upright.

Hopefully, I can go back to sleep for a while.

Hopefully, I can keep this "better" feeling ... I'll even try some more craftwork today. THAT'LL BE THE REAL TEST!

DAMN ... it hurts!

2006-03-28T23:58:00.000-08:00

When I fed the deer today ... it was a slow, laborious trek ... with my walking stick ... walking slowly, all hunched over.

Yesterday, I forced myself to do a major cleaning under the basement steps ... the kitty pan area ... it was a must do project sadly overdue. Several times, I just had to time-out & sit down a while.

It took all nite, lots of internal & external liniment to get over the pain. In the morning, walking was a slow, miserable process for a long time. I kept trying to consciously lower my shoulders & relax my back. I did a little more cleaning & housework ... nothing major. In the afternoon, I felt a bit better, then walked around, putting a few maple syrup taps in some trees near the house.

When I came in, I had much gin, forced myself to lock up the basement, feed the deer, eat a microwave dinner ... and retreat to the lounge chair ... "QUIT FOR THE DAY!"

Now, more gin, a little aspirin ... because I woke up not being able to find a comfortable position in bed. Just the trip downstairs to the bathroom, etc. was a real chore.

I have an appointment at the chiropractor ... today ... and tomorrow will get some more facets (steroid injections) in my upper back on the next day. I have to check with the chiropractor to see how many visits I've had; I'm only allowed 18 per year!

GOOD DAY?????

2006-03-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

This feels like a GOOD DAY????

I did start out a bit stiff, sore, & not able to stand up straight ... but, using the theorum that I feel ambitious ... & don't have a lot of serious pain ... maybe this is a good day????

That figures ... I have an appointment with the chiropractor this afternoon! I sure would have loved to go there some of those terrible days during this past week when I was in such ungodly pain ... make that misery.

I think that I will call & finally make that appointment to go to the Pain Clinic for a 'tweener ... some extra injections, this time in my upper back & or mid-back.

L o i s

Sorta Better

2006-03-20T22:13:00.000-08:00

I'm gunta make it ... I guess that the solution to my back problem is to gobble aspirins, ,slob on the liniment, slug gin, become a couch potato.

I cannot believe that during the past week, my level of REAL pain has been so high so often. Usually, by doing the above formula ... and then, by the end of a long night, there will be some improvement.

The base of my neck has been the outstanding area of concern ... when it is at its worst ... my lower ribs & mid back really bother me.

I cannot even sit at the computer much when it is so bad; bed or sofa time is the only solution for some relief.

I made sure that I didn't do any ice chopping, vacuuming, or anything that resembled WORK ... now, my back is not as bad ... finally!

Not Worse

2006-03-19T04:02:00.000-08:00

I did sleep some; bed was the only place that I could go. I felt a feeling of comfort when I rolled over onto my tummy. I put a lot of liniment on ... did SLEEP.

Now, my tummy says no more aspirins ... I decided upon a can of soda for using for my gin drink ... that seemed to go well.

I put copious quantities of liniment & rubbing alcohol on ... liniment is expensive ... tried to fashion a liniment poultice ... didn't work.

Let's try BED again ...

sitting at the computer is not yet an option. It's discouraging to think that I couldn't even get a sitting down job ... that is not always possible. I'm so sick of being broke & IN THE RED!

Return to AGONY

2006-03-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

After some days of my back feeling better ... this past week has been off & on terrible. I did practically nothing today because I was so miserable during the nite last nite ... did just a little snow chopping, no shoveling. Just laid around watching T.V. most of the day.

No amount of aspirins, rest, aspirins, liniment, or gin can relieve this misery. THIS IS REAL PAIN ... not just ache or discomfort. I don't know what to try next. What good will it do to go to bed? I've been napping some. I cannot even sit at the computer or desk to do anything.

copy of last entry

2006-03-18T04:33:00.000-08:00

A RE-RUN OF THE LAST ENTRY

SOME IMPROVEMENT

MORE:

Pain
aspirin
gin
Food to coat my stomach
More exercises
HOPEFULLY: more sleep?

L o i s

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

2006-03-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

MORE:

Pain
aspirin
gin
Food to coat my stomach
More exercises
HOPEFULLY: more sleep?

L o i s

Some GOOD, some BAD

2006-03-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY ... before & after ... the two days & nites before ... my back had felt worse than it has for MONTHS!

TUESDAY night ... I kept taking aspirins, gin, and applying liniment. FINALLY, Wednesday am ... my back started to feel better ... and in the afternoon, I went to the chiropractor. I didn't dare do any shoveling ... almost made it out of my driveway ... had some minor shoveling to get my car unstuck twice. Same for getting back in. I left the car halfway to the house.

The chiropractor did quite a bit in different areas of my back ... even did some extra on my neck/shoulder muscles, which are always so tight... THAT FELT SO HEAVENLY! Afterwards, I got off the table & walked very carefully ... felt a bit stiff ... but okay.

My back was pretty good for several days. I noticed that I had the usual several nights of great sleep after the chiropractor.

Today, I did some vacuuming, some floor washing ... and a little snow chopping & shoveling ... MY BACK IS RAPIDLY BECOMING SORE, STIFF, AND PAINFUL! The worst area is my mid-back & lower ribs ... I feel like it even hurts to breathe.

I had forced myself to drive in to town & get some gin ... I'm glad I did ... I'm going to need it. I will take some aspirins, some gin, put some liniment on ... and just quit for the day ... LIE DOWN IN THE ONLY THING..... I cannot even sit here at the computer because of the pain.

Slight Improvement

2006-03-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

Somewhat better ... after aspirins ... several hours on the sofa & several gin drinks. My back is no longer at the crisis mode ... but is threatening to revert to that.

I have left so many things undone ... so many just plain messes that I don't dare even think of doing tonight.

Another gin, some more aspirins, sit at the computer for a while ... some strong liniment ... hopefully, then, sleep the rest of the night.

My pain is still at the severe level, not as bad as before, but threatening to get worse.

Writhing in Pain

2006-03-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

Where did this pain come from? All day, I was marveling at how great my back felt ... even if I had to cancel my chiropractor's appointment because I was snowed in.

I hardly took any aspirins today ... did some of this & some of that ... some T.V. watching, some computer stuff.

I was just going to do the dishes, when my back started hurting so bad ... like severe pain ... like a 9. The pain is in my lower rib section, terrible ... probably working its way up.

Just now, I took several aspirin, several gin ... got back in the lounge chair .... this is lie down pain ...

no sitting at the computer even.

Why????? I did do some serious snow scooping today, in several sessions ... mostly no lifting. But ... that was much earlier today.

OWIE ... WOWIE!

2006-03-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

This really hurts ...

I took one of my evening naps; woke up to find that my lower ribs have severe pain ... at first mostly on the left side. I couldn't stand up straight, but had some unfinished business, which was that my whole salmon still laid on the sink, waiting to be "stuffed", wrapped, & put into the oven to bake. (I haven't had supper yet). I did all that ... & even forced myself to put everything away.

Now, I am sitting at the computer so I don't sleep thru the time for the fish to be done baking. My whole lower rib section is in agony ... my shoulder's are drawing up & tightening ... and there is a horrible ache at the base of my neck.

I also, because of my nap, did not get the nice hot bath I'd planned ... not sure that I am into the preparation necessary to do that ... tho, it probably be a good thing to do right now.

I took three aspirin ... almost took a PM pain pill, but, decided to wait until my fish is done (not done for).

Slow Start this morning

2006-03-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

TRAIN OF EVENTS ... Was I overly-ambitious yesterday because my back started feeling better????

I brought the birdfeeder in & took care of how unsightly it was, and put it back together quite sturdily, and filled it. (Actually got some birds visiting)
Did some wading in the snow to get a bucket, etc.
Cleared the north steps
Used up the rest of the snow-melt in the bucket on the steps to sprinkle on my tire tracks in the driveway ... hope to get down to the gravel so I can get up the driveway all the way to the house without several runs at it.
I did the washer/dryer thing ... those wet clothes had been in there maybe three days?
I found my bag of leather scraps.
I finished packaging, freezing, & putting away all my cooked meat.
I took half of the bathroom apart so that I could do a perfect job of vac/soak/scrub the floor on that half.
I scrubbed ALL of the toilet.
All the dishes are done/put away.

AT THE END OF THE DAY ... I HAD TO RETREAT TO THE SOFA ... HAVING PUSHED MYSELF TO FINISH THE LAST TASKS.

I did sleep soundly, tho not without waking up a few times. My back didn't feel "better" until this morning. I'd been putting a little liniment on, mostly on my neck & shoulders ... this last time I put some on my hips/lower rib section.

I'd been taking some aspirins ... had only one drink of gin left. Just now, I took two Ibuprophen.

My back has moderate aches & pains in all areas ... I don't think it is a good idea do much except to get back onto the sofa. If I had some gin ... I'd take that. (Have to go get some LATER after I loosen up) A hot, soaky bath would feel good, too.

Lately, I've been having a fleeting threat of a hint of a headache that doesn't stay ... worries me to think it might have to do with my blood pressure. HOPING, instead that it has to do with my neck problems.

Finally ... some relief

2006-03-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS GETTING NICER ... I HOPE I WON'T BE SO LIMITED WITH MY BACK PROBLEMS ...

I'm used to being limited by my back; if I can just hope for periods of capability ... & do-able pain.

The awful pain in my upper back & neck has subsided to just stiff, sore, & achy.

I've been noticing that I do sleep like a log the nights after the chiropractor ... even if I do wake up for various reasons.

My upper back & neck have been awful, sometimes one more so than the other, even with loosening excersizes. I was miserable thru the nite .... but, after my last sleep ... feel better where it was hurting ... probably why my lower ribs are now at the moderate pain level.

I should plan upon a nice soaky bath later.

That really hurt!

2006-03-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

My back ... right this moment it is not so bad ... several hours ago ... I could not escape the pain even by lying down!

Before that, I had tried reclining in the lounge chair & going thru my prescribed exercises from the chiropractor.

I had been washing dishes & doing some dishes, etc. The pain in my back between my shoulder blades became unbearable!

I took two Aleve, three aspirins & a strong mixed drink (gin) , and laid down some more.

Right now ... my back has relaxed & most of the pain is gone. I don't know just why.

Spread the Misery

2006-03-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

I HAVE TRAVELING MISERIES ... my lower back, I'm sure, is hurting ... but not that noticeable with the misery in the rest of my back.

It isn't exactly pain; but it is. Probably it is because I have found out that relieving the horrible tightness often results in aches and sore muscles... so that I equate it as positive rather than negative.

WHATEVER .... IT HURTS ... I'M MISERABLE. Since my last visit to the chiropractor, day before yesterday ... I've experienced the phenomenon of sleeping like a log at night, tho, I do still wake up several times.

First to bother me, big time, as noted in the last entry was my upper back & neck. Alternating with that, now, is my mid-back & lower ribs. MISERABLE is the best term ... Pain? Sorta ...

Extremely stiff & sore is more like it. It was suggested that it is due to re-aligning my back, and that the muscles need to adjust, too.

WHATEVER ....

Is DIFFERENT better?

2006-03-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

As per the last entry ... I DID get back to sleep & slept soundly. I DID call the chiropractor, tho, after I'd been up for a while, my back didn't feel as terrible as during the night.

The chiropractor's nurse set me up for an appointment next Tuesday ... saying that likely the pain was due to rearranging my back ... I know that sometimes my back is too tight to hurt, and when it loosens up the pain will get worse.

Right now, the worst pain is at the top of my back/neck/shoulders. For a time today, my lower ribs were really sore ... not too bad now. My lower back is stiff & a little sore ... not as bad as the rest.

QUICK: another appt.

2006-03-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

THIS IS REALLY BAD ... IS THIS BAD A GOOD SIGN?

I quit for the evening; took a nap ...woke up in the middle of the night in compete agony.

There is terrible pain in various areas of my back. I cannot walk upright. The worst is in my upper back, my lower ribs, & not so much my lower back, where the injections were.

RIGHT AWAY IN THE MORNING ... I've promised myself to call the chiropractor to see if he can schedule a quick appt.

Where's My Chiropractor?

2006-03-07T00:37:00.000-08:00

Where's My Chiropractor when I need him?

I have an appointment manana in the afternoon ... BUT, I HURT NOW! I didn't want to take my Tylanol PM as I'd done the nite before (with moderate success) ... because I'd had some gin. I did sleep several hours, now, I can only hope my applications of aspirins & more gin will eventually put me back to sleep.

MUST DO ... make another entry in my regular journal ...

Of course, there are always things to do like laundry, put up stuff for the freezer, wash more dishes, do my crafts so I can finish my brochure ..... etc, etc.

I think I'll go get some liniment for my back ... then, do my entry ... and threaten myself with laundry if I still cannot sleep.

What hurts most is my neck & shoulder region. The pain clinic did a follow-up call today; they seemed eager to initiate a positive response. We agreed that I had a 75% improvement after the injections last Thursday ... THAT WAS THIS MORNING! NOW ... I might have a different response. But, it is not my lower back (where the injections were) that is my major owie at the moment.

I don't know if it had anything to do with the two sessions of snow scooping that I did ... or the tension of grieving for Toto.

I cannot walk upright without a lot of pain. The worst pain is in my neck/shoulder area, my lower ribs are hurting, but, overshadowed by that pain. Perhaps the position is aggravating my lower back to have major discomfort?

Traveling pain

2006-03-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

I hope that I'll soon be sleeping soundly; I took two PM pain tablets plus two aspirins.

I did dishes & a lot of cleaning in the kitchen this afternoon ... my mid back is really bothering me. I guess that's a good sign. Whatever is the worst, that's what I feel. After contemplating, I decided that my total, overall pain level has dropped considerably.

But, the stiffness/soreness and resultant pain travel across my back ... whatever is the worst sore spot is what I'll be concentrating on.

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF PREVIOUS BACKlog.:

7:25 AM 3/3/2006
     Yesterday afternoon, I had an appointment at the Pain Clinc. I had more of the "lumbar facets", which are steroid injections into the joints of the spine.
     I didn't tell him that I'd been going to the chiroproctor; most doctors will not advocate that.
     My back wasn't bothering me much when I went in; but, I thought that I could tell them I'd felt some improvement at the time I left.
     However, my upper back was really bothering me ... and during the night, my lower back was hurting moderately ... enought to keep me from wanting to get up.
     Next week, I have another chiropractor appointmen (I can only get 18 per year on my medical card.
     At the Pain Clinic, the doctor said thatafter two weeks, I could come in for injections in my upper back. I might just do that.
     Overall, my back is not giving me the extreme pain levels that I used to have ... but, I've been housebound with the snowy winter, and spending a lot of time sitting or lying anyways ... which isn't giving me enought excercise for my weight problem & my heart & my back muscles. The doctors have been fussing at me to do my excersizes.
     My upper back is getting tight & very sore now. The cold weather doesn't help that. My lower back ... I'll have to pay attention so that I can assess the effects of those injections that I had yesterday. Those quick, painful twinges still happen in my lower back, on the left side near my hip. That's all I need is a problem with my hips now.

BETTER ... means NOT WORSE

2006-03-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

If I'm not snowed in tomorrow, I have another appointment at the Pain Clinic for some more "lumbar facets" ...

I have been sneaking to the chiropractor (I have 18 visits per year on my medical card) ... because doctors never advocate chiropractors.

I'm never sure what has an effect one way or the other ... but, yesterday ... at the session at the chiropractor ... I became aware that my back was really tied up in knots of tension. He was able to get some relaxation there ... I slept like a log thru the nite , not waking up with pain or discomfort ... quite rare. Was this a result?

Appointments

2006-02-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

I missed my appointment at my new Chiropractor last Thursday ... I have an appointment tomorrow. My necessary snow shoveling really caused some agony ... but, it had to be done.

This Thursday ... I have another appointment at the Pain Clinic; dare I hope that this procedure is making my extreme pain downgrade to annoying discomfort (from mild to severe)?

Oh, Oh ... now I did it!

2006-02-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

7:10 PM 2/25/2006

Somebody had to do it ... my back is threatening to get even with me .... I spent some time scooping, pushing snow. I didn't quite finish ... but, tomorrow's another day.

My back is getting increasingly more painful. I had hoped that a moderate workout would help me to loosen up. WRONG! I came inside, had some Aleve, sat down with a gin drink; just vegged out.

The main area of discomfort/pain is in my mid-back. My lower ribs are painful & cramping. The base of my neck, and my neck are miserable. Just sitting & taking it easy ... why is it getting so sore & painful?

L o i s
my website: Crystal Falls, MI
my blog: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Pain-LESS?

2006-02-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

Driving home from town today ... I pondered ... is the actual pain in my back subsiding?

Sitting in my car ... I wondered ... but, I remembered as I ever so slowly walked into the post office & up to the window, I was aware that it must be obvious that I was walking slowly & somewhat painfully up to the window.

I have an appointment for some more injections in my back next week ... also ... to the chiropractor. I guess that I could endure being severly hampered in daily activities if the pain would subside, and be more managable.

It can be that trying to vacuum or finish the dishes will make my back insist upon an IMMEDIATE retreat to the sofa ... I cannot even keep up with my housework! There is no way that I could maintain my presence at a job ... I am so broke ... but, it would be ridiculous to even think of getting a job!

BETTER? ... late than never!

2006-02-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CATCH UP ON MY ENTRIES ... I should just begin making regular entries!

It seems so repetitous moaning about my pain & agony & how little I can accomplish ...

I began going to the chiropractor last week. My medical card will pay for only 18 visits per YEAR... I cannot afford to pay for any more.

I've been to chiropractors off & on since 1976 ... was never really impressed with the results. The best compliment I could usually say is that "It makes me feel refreshed" or "taller".

That's about the best I can say for the "facets", the injections in my back at the pain clinic ...

Like today, when I am not in extreme pain or discomfort ... it is easy to say that there has been general, lasting improvement ... MAYBE? At any rate, it is not an impressive improvement if I can't even be sure. It seems as tho I haven't been taking so many aspirins ....

Usually ... the best GOOD thing that I can say is that "It's not WORSE!"

I am cautiously hoping that the chiropractor has achieved some loosening of my back muscles, which always helps.

He took many x-rays; I never saw such a curly-Q in a spine before! There are at least four problem areas, from one end of the spine to the other!

Reasons & Escuses

2006-02-15T04:49:00.000-08:00

REASONS & EXCUSES .... for no entries lately. The REASON began because I had computer trouble ... then ... it was setting up the new computer ... then ... it was Christmas ...

It became more of an EXCUSE ... which was ... "I'm so far behind" ... and ... a ready file was (is) on the transfer disk from my poky laptop.

I do have that file to post ... but, this is just a start on more regular entries.

This week, I began going to the chiropractor, as my friends had been nagging me to do. After many x-rays at the first visit ... yesterday was my first session.

After previous rounds with chiropractors (or any other form of treatment), I've found very little DRAMATIC results, nor QUICK results.

I did feel "refreshed" ... but after a bit extra of catching up on housework for Maggie's impending visit this weekend ... I had to retreat to the sofa ... apply some aspirins & gin ... and also thru the nite ... and now, early in the morning ... because of severe aches & pains all over my back. I couldn't even walk upright.

It would be helpful to keep a log to show this chiropractor, and also, the doctor at the pain clinic.

My Prescription

2005-11-29T18:59:00.000-08:00

10:14 AM 11/23/05
`     Last nite was another one where I retreated to the sofa, and couldn't quite finish some important household projects .... let alone do anything outside that should have been done with more snow predicted.
     I finished up my food prep/freezing enough to get my kitchen back to normal. Then, I found out that my freezer section was not working. Hoping that it was that ice had built up inside ... I did a major defrosting.
     That doesn't sound too physical ... but my back had pain all day. I was wondering if it was either a cumulative effect of several days of doing a little snow removal each day ... or just the final push the day before yesterday? OR .... ?
     So, I slept pretty well ... decided to "get up" about five am ... which usually means going to go back to the sofa several times while getting loosened up.
    The severe pain is gone; mostly I just have severe muscle-type aches & pains in my mid & lower back.
    Could my aspirins ... which I used to take to relax ... contribute to a funk/blue/despondent mood sometimes? Or, is it just that I am so overwhelmed trying to catch up on all my tasks, and then, have to give up until my back says so?

7:07 AM 11/26/05
Thanksgiving day and the next, I went out of town for a family visit ... which means that mostly I laid around and did NOTHING. That means that my back is feeling relatively pain-free. There is some stiffness and minor aches as I get "loosened up" for the day ... So again, the prescription to alleviate back pain & agony is just for me to become a couch potato ... and, improve upon that even further by sipping gin all day to keep my back relaxed ... MAYBE I COULD LEARN TO LIKE THAT!

5:41 AM 11/27/05
I had a long, fairly sound sleep ... woke up a few times trying to find a comfortable way to lie in bed. Now, aside from the usual muscle-type stiff & sore ... I am sitting at the computer, afraid to get up right away. I got a terrific, painful kink in my left hip & lower back ... made me think for a moment that I might not ever be able to get out of the chair again. Right now, my back doesn't actually HURT too much ... tho when I move around, there is pain in my lower ribs, and the base of my neck ... and ... my lower back. These areas can have independent soreness &/or pain.
I took three aspirins ... certainly wish that I had some gin to relax that back. I don't know when I'll be able to try to get back to bed!

9:12 AM 11/27/05
     Well, I did sit here at the computer a long time ... the awful cramp & pain went away, and I did start to move around a bit.
     My back is still stiff & sore, but, much better than when I first got up!
     There usually seems to be no direct, immediate cause & effect to either the pain or relief. I am trying to figure some out.
     Besides my findings that the couch potato/sipping gin system is the only consistantly effective procedure ... another fairly consistant observation is that I have noticed that whatever hurts most often seems to be the ONLY problem at that point in time ... NOT ... it is only the one more noticeable. ANOTHER: The pain often "spreads" UP my back ... when my neck hurts ... everything else is also unbearable. My lower back is just about never "normal". The worse it feels ... pain begets tension, which begets more pain, which begets even more pain. This ends up expanding the area of discomfort/pain up, up, up my back progressively. However, each of the three or four areas of problems often act independently, also. I haven't gotten it all figured out yet!

1:38 AM 11/28/05
After a few hours of sleep, I needed to move around a bit, & take a few aspirins. I had left a lot of things undone last nite, so, maybe I'll be up early and do them.
Right now, my lower rib section is the main problem ... it is at the moderate ache level.

10:12 AM 11/11/05

2005-11-22T10:38:00.000-08:00

10:12 AM 11/11/05
I meant to go back to bed ... instead sat down in front of the computer. Hope I can get going on this, perhaps my last nice day, for outside work.

I had taken four aspirins and rubbed some liniment on my lower back. Just sitting here, it has maybe helped, because now the main area of severe discomfort has moved to my lower ribs ... which are really bothering me now.

6:12 PM 11/11/05
Here I am ... not feeling as much pain as I'd thought ... been taking aspirins four at a time all day. Supper is cooking. I have yesterday's dishes soaking; the water is cold now. I'm not sure I'll be able to do the dishes. Usually when I sit or lie down ... I cannot get back up for hours.

2:12 AM 11/14/05
The last time I woke up ... the pain across my lower ribs was just awful; this time my whole back is just extremely stiff & sore. I had slept soundly; I hope to get back to sleep now. I had more aspirins, and some Aleve.

11:56 PM 11/16/05
     Yesterday was awful; I ruined my back several times ... had to give up and take to to sofa several times. We had a foot of snow and I had to clear off front and back steps ... plus do some more things because it had snowed a foot, but things were not frozen down.
     I never did get started on shoveling at least the snowbank at the end of the driveway so that it wouldn't freeze into an ice wall.
     Needless to say, I had many doses of four aspirins at a time ... plus a few drinks to try to keep my back loosened.

11:26 AM 11/17/05
My back isn't too bad so far today; I have to go try a little snow shoveling .... some aspirins FIRST!

7:17 AM 11/18/05
     IF ... STRESS is a contributory factor to back pain ... I am doomed. The hard-drive on my cmputer crashed; I have lost thousands of photos, as well as much stored data that must be replicated ... some that cannot.   I am using my elderly laptop as a substitute ... is is soooooo sloooow that it literally makes me scream.
     BUT, COMPUTER is so far down on my list of things to be concerned about ......
     I have been doing my exit strategy ... eg. opening my driveway so that I may EXIT ... on the installment plan. In a few more days, I may be able to get out!
    STRESS: these cute little kittens are driving me mad with their exuberance, need for attention and FOOD ... and I need to find new homes for them. BUT ... IF I CANNOT GET OUT .... NOBODY CA N GET IN! I have to shovel my way out to the road!
    I slept fairly well last nite ... in between trying to find a comfortable position for my back ....
    When my back hurts ... the WORST is when it hurts even when I'm lying or sitting. The reality phase comes when I try to get up and actually do something!
     THEREFORE ... when my back hurts thru the nite, it is serious! I have decided to forego the coffee this am ... and had four asprins and liberal doses of liniment, external & internal ... I am starting out slow by sitting at the computer ... hopefully relieving some stress by setting up this old laptop to accept my printer, camera, scanner ... etc. All of which will probably make it sllllllloooowwwerrr than ever!

1:24 PM 11/18/05
After being awake a lot in the middle of the night ... I slept like a log until NOW! I usually never sleep this long! My back is happier now than it was last evening when I couldn't walk or sit or lie without pain.
The problem is that I still must do some sort of shoveling today. Hiring someone to remove the snow is not in the budget!

6:57 AM 11/19/05
I had another good nite's sleep; no bad pains, except when I try to bend over or move around much. I'll just go thru the usual loosening up phase.
I MUST GET THE DRIVEWAY SHOVELED WELL ENOUGH TO GET OUT TODAY!

10:43 AM 11/19/05
I took some aspirins, been mostly sitting ... I feel ambitious ... will try to get something done!

6:20 AM 11/20/05
I give up trying to sleep; I've slept off & on thru the nite. My back had enough of an ache to keep me rolling around, trying to get comfortable. Then, I tried to force myself to get up and finish my dish washing that I had only started last nite .... DIDN'T.
I am sitting at the computer to have a change of position ... probably will stay up ... short of sleep again. I had some aspirins thru the nite ... should take some more.

12:00 PM 11/22/05
I had finished shoveling the last of my driveway ... just pushing the scoop ... not using a shovel ... I did a little each day.

     My back sure hated that, and made me suffer. For the past two days, I have spent a large part of each day on a sitting-down project I had ... and ... that made my back hurt as much or more than the snow removal!
    The worst pain was/is across my lower back ... my lower ribs are very stiff & sore. I've been taking aspirins, falling asleep early, getting up VERY early ...
    My housecleaning is SO FAR BEHIND! When I was working, and hurting, I could hire someone to help me here

... but, that is not in the budget any more. I don't know if I'll ever catch up!

Perhaps worrying about all that doesn't help my back, either!

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

Who's Gonna Du'it?

2005-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

3:14 AM 11/7/05

I've spent several hours trying to loosen up, trying to find a comfortable position in bed. My mid-section/rib area has pain; for a while, between my shoulder blades hurt, too. AGONY would aptly describe my situation.
I just took three more aspirins. I slept pretty soundly for quite a few hours when I first laid down early last evening. I left my dishes & cooking mess all over the kitchen; a pile of laundry on the floor, on its way to the washer. This means that before I can attend to anything for the day when I finally get up in the morning, I have to finish yesterday's unfinished work!

8:55 AM 11/11/05
That was an excruciating 45 minutes! I made up a to-do-list while still in bed ...

PUT ON MY BOOTS
START COFFEE POT
SOAK DISHES IN SINK
TAKE PILLS
FEED CATS & DOGS

     I really had to talk myself thru finishing this list ... took four aspirins, rubbed some liniment on mylower back. While still in bed, my right hip had hurt worse ... when up ... my left hip hurt worse ... making it impossible to reach something on the floor or walk upright. The rest of my back is stiff & sore ... but, with the other pain ... I don't really notice it.
     The problem is that with the weather forcast, there is some minor touch-up painting to do (some I can even do sitting down) ... the other stuff can wait if it must, except for the caulking. The afternoon will be short ... I must lie down again and rest up for it.
     When I was working (towards the end, my bad knee made me a cripple) ... I could afford several ladies several times a week to help me with these things ... now, I cannot.

My laptop computer isn't as accessible; I haven't been making as many entries.

Moving SLOWLY

2005-11-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

2:44 AM 11/6/05
     FINALLY ... the horrible cramping pain in my mid-back & ribs went away!
    I did practically nothing physical yesterday; my back felt fairly comfortable.
     It feels good to sit in a chair & bend my back back-wards ... aches, but, feels good.

11:13 AM 11/6/05
I'm starting out slowly; my mid-back is still stiff & sore.

6:17 PM 11/6/05
     EMERGENCY ... THIS REALLY HURTS! I'm afraid to stop & sit down. This is stupid ... just how strenuous can squeezing the staple gun be ... & sitting down, pulling little nails out?
     I made sure that I made my supper, fed all the little critters, and took four aspirins, and made several stiff gin drinks before sitting here at the computer ....
     I wasn't going to take any gin, but, I feel that I MUST relax my back.
     I have severe pain across my lower back. My rib section is cramping & in moderate pain. It feels good to arch my back backwards. I am doing some stretching/relaxing exercises. Sitting here at the computer, I am having threatening little twinges in my lower back.

I didn't do any prolonged or strenuous activities today. Am I just supposed to stay in bed all day?

Gotta go have my lovely supper ... sorta pre-fab.

TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT!

2005-11-04T09:08:00.000-08:00

12:20 PM 10/30/05
I wish I'd been able to finish another half hour of my painting project yesterday. My back just hurt too much. But, now, it will rain today and for several more days.

3:32 PM 10/30/05
I spent several hours caulking and touch-up painting ... about as strenuous as icing a cake. Towards the end, my back hurt so much that I had to take some sofa-breaks ... and some aspirings and some gin to relax my back. I cannot take gin if I am to be climbing on the ladder, or anything risky. I just had to force myself ... talk myself thru finishing what I had to do.
Then, some friends came over wanting me to do something on the computer for them. They had to wait until I had a sofa-gin break.

12:23 PM 10/31/05
     I DID IT! I DID "ALL-THE-ABOVE"!   Good thing my sister called me about 10 pm ... I talked for a while, telling her that I was hungry ... hadn't had supper yet ... and some of my kitties still needed to be fed.
     I eventually dragged myself out of bed ... made supper, and fed the kitties ... even washed the dishes and set up the coffee pot for a "love-myself-in-the-morning" treat. This was achieved by taking four aspirins and several hot toddies. I hadn't really wanted to take any more gin ... but, that was the only way to calm my back.
     Now, finally, I am having my gourmet chile ... and, another hot toddy ... hope to have a good nite's sleep!

4:52 AM 11/2/05
This night was a re-run of last night ... my back was so ruined that I just barely got my evening chores done, had supper, and laid down. Again, I woke up after midnite ... couldn't find a comfortable spot on the bed, and spent several hours trying to losen up and get the courage to get out of bed. Then, I took four aspirins and the last of my gin.
... There was severe pain across my lower back ... at first my right hip hurt the worst ( usually it's my left hip). Now, I'm still not walking upright well, but, a lot of the pain hase supbsiddedsddddddddsssssssssssssssssss
(drifted off to sleep again.)

5:07 AM 11/3/05
I've been awake for many hours ... don't think I slept much all nite ... tho I had a long nap last evening when I laid down ... actually, caved in to my back pain. The pain is mostly in my lower back. When one part of my back hurts so much, I don't even notice what else hurts.
I didn't have any gin last evening, just some aspirins. I hope I'll be able to get around when it's "time to get up". I cannot walk upright ... lean over to the right, extreme pain in my left hip area. I cannot pick up something off the floor. The pain does not go away when I sit or lie down.

10:08 AM 11/4/05
     I SURVIVED ANOTHER BAD NITE ... I retreated to the sofa just after dark ... did as much as I could first, knowing it might be hard to get up again. I bribed myself with gin ... hoping to relax my back to reduce the pain.
     Several times during the night, I had four aspirins at a time, and some more gin.
     The back pain took over my whole back; especially in my lower rib section and between my shoulder-blades. It hadn't hurt there for quite a few days. The base of my neck has moderate pain when rolling my head/neck around ... but, not the stabbing pain there I'd had for many weeks a while ago!

I am trying to figure out how to appease my back.

Number one cure for my lower back is just to spend all my time in bed. That tends to stiffen up my whole back, tho.
I take aspirins and whatever, hoping to reduce inflamation, and, therefore, pain.
When I've overdone it (according to my back) ... I take some gin to keep my back muscles from tightening up and causing pain, which causes more tightening and then more pain.
I haven't gone to physical therapy lately, partly for economic reasons ... try to at least do some loosening exercises periodically thru the day or nite.
Applying liniment seems to help.
I'm going to try something else: going to go back to wearing my cowboy boots more ... like around the house, even ... instead of slipping on a pair of tennis shoes. I used to live in these boots before I had to quit work.
I'm never sure if my "facets" (injections) are helping ornot ... like ... would it be worse without? I'm never sure of a direct link betweeen the pains and either causes or cures!

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

Back to My Back

2005-10-30T06:08:00.000-08:00

7:19 AM 10/29/05
    Ooooooh ... my back is NOT good! I did invest in some gin; I did have a drink at bedtime. I HAVE to get some things done on my house before WINTER; I must force myself to make use of the dwindling sunshine! Yesterday, I overdid it (according to my back ... tho ... nothing heavily physical) ... now, I cannot sleep for the pain in my lower back.
     This morning, I felt the old-familiar "kinking twinge" in my left lower back; it hasn't been doing that too much lately.
     I'm having another gin, two Aleve, and hopefully going back to sleep.
     I ran out of MSM several months ago; it is not in the SS budget. That always made a noticeable difference before. Now, I have the "facets" injections in my back ... I wonder if MSM would be benefical still?
     I was told that "injuries act as a catlyst to the onset of arthritis in an area" ... MSM helps arthritis. Also, B6, which I ran out of, too, has helped me before.
     Whenever I can, I stock up on quantities of at least generic aspirin; I am out of the generic Tylanol, Excedrin, Ibrupophen ... almost out of the generic Aleve. I like to alternate these pain remedies ... prefer to stick to aspirin.
     The thing about the gin: I do not like to take drugs. I know the effects of gin. Gin can make me relax; it is not really a joke when I say that "I take it for medicinal purposes only". From back in the 1970's when my first two back injuries occured, when my back pain got to emergency proportions, slugging some gin right out of the bottle would bring such heavenly relaxation and RELIEF!
    That's why, now, I can thoughtfully take some gin to relax when my back figures I've overdone it. The main result now is to have the main problem area, my lower back, quit cramping. My back pain seems to travel upwards in progression. I do have three separate areas of back problems (caused by three different injuries). When my lower back pain is excruciating, it triggers maximum problems with my upper back. Then, the next is my neck/shoulder area. When the latter gets really bad, the problems start creeping over my shoulders, down over my chest/shoulder area. When my mid-back gets really bad, my lower ribs in back start cramping severly. Sometimes, when everything is really bad, it causes pain "echos" in my chest. I cannot tell if it would be a heart attack or just echos of my back pain!

1:28 PM 10/29/05
Four aspirins ... my back is just awful, but, this is one of the last decent days for my paint project ... so ....
I sat in the lounge chair to have my lunch to placate my back ... it was hard to leave the chair.

4:38 PM 10/29/05
Three more aspirins ... my back is cramping and in severe pain ... mostly in my lower back. I must do some more.

5:05 PM 10/29/05
MUST feed my kitties. No more painting or anything else for the day! I cannot believe the pain in my lower back. I already had several gin drinks. I had 20 minutes left on the project I was doing before dark; I had to surrender ... and just go lie down.

8:51 PM 10/29/05
I think I'll survive. I had plenty of gin. My back is relaxed. I quit for the day. I don't think I can do a hot bath. I must just QUIT!

5:49 AM 10/30/05
One Aleve, two aspirins, more gin. My lower back has improved to only a severe ache. The base of my neck has moderate muscle ache & pain; I am always worried that I could go back to not being able to turn my head.

8:42 AM 10/30/05
I can walk fairly upright; my neck pain has subsided to almost nothing. Bending over the sink caused a threatening sharp twinge.

Long Day

2005-10-28T21:22:00.000-07:00

6:58 PM 10/25/05
I kept pretty busy today, tho nothing heavy duty. I finally got my long, soaky bath; I had just pooped out last evening!
My back has felt increasingly better all day. The difference is that I was not out there, busy on the house project.

10:31 AM 10/26/05
I was up in the middle of the night for a while; some aches had me tossing around, so I got up.
So far, this morning, I feel pretty good. I am walking upright by now ... I am feeling ambitious.

5:13 PM 10/26/05
     A couple'a breaks ... things I had to get done ... my back is getting bad again, mostly my lower back and rib area. There is pain, even when I'm sitting or lying ... not just in moving.
     I still didn't get the mail; I need to make supper. I may have to quit for the day. I'd love to get my dishes washed, and my wet laundry into the dryer ... the pile of tools in the kitchen waiting to bring down to the basement is really aggravating. Those may have to wait until tomorrow.
     I just had a gin; will take two Aleve ... almost out of them.

7:44 PM 10/27/05
Now, I did it! My back felt pretty good today; I was most of the night working on my photos ... didn't do too much active most of the day. But, near the end of the afternoon, I started some more caulking ... and kept at it longer than I should.
My lower back is stiff and soresssssssssssssssssssss

8:51 AM 10/28/05
      Well ... that last word of last nite was where I fell asleep at the computer! No gin either.
     I went to watch some T.V. and fell asleep for the night. My back is cranky this morning. I tried to pick something off the floor, and decided that would have to wait until "later" ... my lower back is threatening to kink up ... esp. on the left side. I cannot stand up straight, of course.

10:53 AM 10/28/05
     I'm loosened up a bit now, been mostly sitting. My neck pain is threatening to come back. I really feel that, If I'd taken some gin last nite before bed to relax my muscles that I wouldn't be having so many problems this morning!

11:33 AM 10/28/05
Three more aspirins.

3:11 PM 10/28/05
FOUR more aspirins,

11:04 PM 10/28/05
     I am having a gin or two to hopefully keep my back from being so bad again tomorrow morning.
     I had to spend the afternoon on my paint project ... several times I had to take a break to ease my back. It was getting so achy, esp in the lower back, and would be difficult to reach down for something.
     There were things that had to be done in the house after dark; I really just wanted to go lie down ... which I will now.

2005-10-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Just testing the IM feature.
Entry for Backlog:

3:14 AM 10/25/05
I am going back to bed soon ... the three Aleve I took earlier maybe kicked in; the pain has subsided. I hope that I can get back to sleep....=-O
:-)1:02 PM 10/25/05
I have had a good nite's sleep ... eventually ... have done a few minor chores around the house. When I got up, my back had improved over the pain level of last evening & thru the nite. I was worried that my neck pain would return; it did not.
I'm actually feeling ambitious ... something I could not force to happen yesterday.

Backache is back.

2005-10-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

6:00 AM 10/21/05
Had a good sleep; I'm going back to bed with some more Aleve and some liniment of both kinds. My lower back has moderate pain; my whole spine up to my neck has severe aching when I try to flex & move it. I'm walking bent over again; I hope that this goes away. It was so nice to have some days with minimum discomfort.

11:25 AM 10/21/05
I did get back to sleep. My back is happier now. I'm feeling ambitious ... will try not to over-do it again!
I took three aspirins.

2:46 PM 10/21/05
I took three aspirins. Must finish my project. My back is co-operating. My project involves no great physical effort ... just something else than lying on the sofa.

7:14 PM 10/21/05
     Relaxed I am. Done I am not. I must tend to my pets. I am warming up a supper. I finished my outside project ... impending bad weather dictated extra effort.
     Relaxed means that my back will not threaten me; I can finish my most important chores ... but ... much will have to wait until tomorrow ... as usual.    That means that tomorrow I start out behind even before I start!

   Sofa break ... three more aspirins ... back to caulking.

5:55 AM 10/22/05`
Cannot sleep for the past few hours ... thinking about the things that I left undone when I pooped out. I left the partially open paint cans out in the rain. I did not feed all the kitties. So ... I am up ... gunta do these things ... hoping that will let me relax and go back to sleep. I do really want to keep my back relaxed so that it doesn't start the pain cycle again. I just took three aspirins and a hot milk gin toddy.

   1:23 PM 10/23/05
     Yesterday was cold and rainy ... I got to rest ... didn't do much all day. I felt tired.
     TODAY ... had some computer work to do ... so have not done much physically yet today. I had two Aleve about 9 am ... nothing else.
      My aches in my lower back of yesterday have gone away. There is nearly no discomfort, tho, when I first got up this morning, I couldn't stand up straight. I've been having a problem with my legs & feet cramping in the middle of the night.

   5:36 PM 10/23/05
    It's getting dark; my break is over. I must go feed my kittens. I ruined my back cleaning up the mess of sawdust & tools in the frontroom and on the deck. I just couldn't do it sooner; all my available time and energy and back has been directed to gettting the painting done before this wet, rainy spell.
     Three aspirins now. I rested for more than an hour. I will need my gin later on, when I get my chores done.

   8:11 PM 10/23/05
FOUR aspirins!   Some hot toddieS coming up! There were some emergency things that I just couldn't put off any longer ... In trying to get the painting done ... many things had been let slide! There are standards of civilized living! I used to be able to afford ladies to come and help me with my chores ... that is not in the budget anymore. PRIORITIES ... and, now, I suffer.
     Forget my rationing the gin until my next Social Security check comes ... my back is kinking and cramping! BUT ... I did all the above. There are standards!

7:18 PM 10/24/05
I give up! I didn't do much today except get caught up on some desk-type stuff, so, I was going to do just a few things around the house, and have a nice hot, soaky bath. Then I just stared at my to-do list, and instead headed for bed because of my back aching so badly.
I just took three aspirins and rubbed on some liniment ... no hot toddies.

1:14 AM 10/25/05
I cannot find a comfortable position in bed. My legs & feet have been having severe cramping. My back has been getting worse ever since early last evening. Now, it isn't just hurting when I'm up or moving ... there is pain just sitting or lying down.
I just took two Aleve. I hope to get back to bed and back to sleep.

Some GOOD, Some BAD

2005-10-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

11:05 AM 10/15/05
     It certainly feels strange not to have so much back pain!
     I was awake many times thru the nite (I think that these injections make me have to visit the bathroom more often). BUT, I did get a lot of sleep; my last sleep was til after 10 am.
     I do have a gripping ache in my lower back that prompts me to not stand up straight ... but, it seems that partly, I'm used to stooping over when my back hurts ... like a habit ... so it's partly out of habit.
     Just sitting here at the computer, my mid-back & ribs have a moderate soreness ... not really a pain.
     I can roll my head around all directions and look over both shoulders with no pain. That neck pain had mysteriously disappeared by itself, after two days of especially vegging out ... BEFORE the injections.

12:01 PM 10/15/05
This discomfort that I had this morning feels more of a residual sensation than real pain. Perhaps, each morning I will still have an hour or so of loosening up ... to feel at my best?
I do feel quite ambitious ... that's always a good sign!

2:29 PM 10/15/05
Still perking along, doing some light housework ... no major discomfort. Just took three aspirins; feel like a short sofa break so that I don't over-do it.

12:06 PM 10/16/05
I feel so strange, not having severe pain or muscle aches. That is giving me a restless feeling; I'm not used to being ambitious so much. I had trouble getting to sleep last nite... slept late, then did some computer stuff.
There are residual aches ... not real pain. Knowing that this improvement began BEFORE my injections, I'm wondering how long this relief will last?

9:20 AM 10/17/05
      It is rare that I can feel ambitous so early in the day. I had a good nite's sleep, and, getting loosened up wasn't as much of a problem as usual.

3:45 PM 10/17/05
     My back is still feeling better ... perhaps the injections (lumbar facets) are helping? I'm still not sure what had caused the mysterious improvement BEFORE that. I'm afraid to hope that it would continue. I am being careful not to over-do it, and still am going to take occasional sofa-breaks to KEEP from getting sore.

11:04 AM 10/20/05
      I've been busy ... whether at the computer, or at my house painting. Each evening, I went to bed early, because my back was very uncomfortable, and I didn't want to abuse it. I was out of gin; I have been using it to relax my back in such situations so as to KEEP it from cramping. The next best thing was to go lie down and try to relax. That meant that I woke up in the middle of the nite, and cannot get back to sleep.   Now, I am building up a sleep deficit.
     Last nite, I took quite a few doses of Aleve and of aspirins. Several times, I had a charlie-horse in my right foot and leg.
     This morning, I had a dull, gripping ache across my lower back. My neck/shoulder pain has not returned ... that's a mystery. My upper back may sometimes be a little stiff/sore ... but, not too bad.
     RIGHT NOW: I'm feeling ambitious (a good sign) ... and most of my lower back discomfort has left.

7:21 PM 10/20/05
      ooooooOOOOWWWIE! ... NOW I DID IT! RUIN'T MY BACK FOR SURE.   I wanted to finish some painting ... kept at it too long ... didn't take enough breaks!
      I just had one extra strong Tylanol and three aspirins. I'm afraid to sit down too long, or I may never get back up again. I for sure am headed to the grocery store first to get some "internal liniment" ... gin.
     That's the problem when I have a good day and my back doesn't hurt: I am so behind on everything that I try to catch up and overdo it!
     The gin will relax my back and keep the tension from causing more pain ... because pain causes my muscles to tighten up and that causes MORE pain ... which causes MORE tightness ... then more PAIN ... etc.

10:07 PM 10/20/05
My supper is ready; I've had my warm milk/gin drinks ... ... hoping that I can get my back to quit bothering me and get caught up on my sleep. I am leaving so much housework undone.

Is This Really Me?

2005-10-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

10:40 AM 10/10/05
I woke up late ... had gone to sleep early the evening before (Sunday, the 9th) because my back was just ruined.

When I first got out of bed, I was thinking, wondering if my injections had "worn off" ... and wishing that I hadn't missed my appointment. This week, I get some more injections, and will print this out for my doctor to have a history of "How'm I du'in?".

After midnite, I had to get loosened up and finally was able to get up to make my "supper"... and have some more gin.

9:20 PM 10/11/05

... I was gone all day, taking a drive. I was mostly in the car, but made frequent stops to get out to take photos, etc.
     This long drive was what my back really needed ... a "day of doing NOTHING".
     Having been short of sleep, I slept very well last nite. My back has aches and pains all over, mostly in my lower back ... but not too bad right now, that I'm loosened up.
      I'm going to have some aspirins now, had some Aleve before bed last nite.

5:09 PM 10/12/05
     MY BACK FEELS ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS ... NOT A TRACE OF EVEN DISCOMFORT!
     I've spent most of this day at the computer, doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PHYSICAL!
     Is my prescription to completely become a couch potato ... and suck gin? Those two seem to be the only common denominators to my back's feeling comfortable!
    I cannot believe just how great I feel after two days of vegging ... it did take two days in a row to achieve this level of comfort. There is absolutely no ache anywhere, no matter how I bend and flex in any position! It is as tho I never had any problem with my back!

It's hard to believe that my neck & shoulders have no trace of discomfort after two months or more of terrible pain when I try to look over my shoulder, esp. over my left shoulder!

8:21 AM 10/13/05
TODAY .... I am finally getting to keep my appointment at the pain clinic for my "facets" .... some sort of injections into my back. If I had kept my original appointment of several weeks ago, I would have attributed the last two days of feeling WONDERFUL to the injections!

6:11 PM 10/13/05
I am just so happy that my back feels so great! AND ... wonderfully opitimistic about maintaining this now that I have had the "lumbar facets" ... four injections on both sides of my spine between my hip area. He had intended to put these in my upper back area in the shoulder blade area, but, since my back was feeling so much better, and the worst discomfort was my lower back ... he decided to put the injections there.
He did say that if my upper back returned to being unbearable before my next appointment (in two months) that I should return for more injections there.

I printed out a copy of this Journal for the doctor ... it is in my files there. Perhaps it would be a matter of interest to have an idea of my daily battle with my back problems ... and help to figure out what triggers either lasting agony or times of relief ... there never seems to be a direct cause & effect!

10:30 AM 10/14/05

    When the Pain Clinic called for its follow-up check on me this morning ... I told them that my relief level was at least 50% better than yesterday ... which had been UNUSUALLY pain-free. I said that the improvement over my usual level of pain/incapacity was at least 95% or more!
     Dare I hope that I can carefully resume some minor activities, and not have to just veg out on the sofa? I've put on at least ten pounds the last few months!
     Just prior to these heavenly days of relief from back pain, I had had to take a lot of gin to relax my back when it was in such major agony. So, now, that I don't need the gin, I haven't had any at all for several days ... I always have to tell the doctor that I don't know ever what triggers either lasting agony or times of relief ... there never seems to be a direct cause & effect!

I wish I could be lazy!

2005-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

9:19 AM 10/6/05
Cold & rainy ... that's never good for aches & pains. I'm feeling only slightly ambitious and still have some threatening twinges in my left, lower ribs ... severe aches in my lower back, and a slight ache in my neck.
I slept poorly last night, but, had gone to bed early. I do feel short of sleep, tho.

5:35 PM 10/6/05
I had a carpenter here to do some major repair on my house today. It was necessary to assist by getting tools, providing extra hands ... nothing heavy. I had to retreat to the sofa several times. Pain pills didn't help. I would lean upon something, and not be able to disengage myself to move out the way, even. Eventually, I hit the gin bottle big time. That did relax me. I fell asleep early, but woke up in the middle of the night, and couldn't get back to sleep, because I had important things left undone, and couldn't make myself get up to do them ... like feed the kittens, and bring in my flowers so they wouldn't freeze. So, now, I'm short of sleep again .... BUT ... tho my back is stiff and somewhat sore, I am walking upright, and the pain level is only moderate ... NOT incapacitated as I had expected! GIN? It seems to be the common denominator.

11:17 PM 10/7/05
     I DID IT ... I DID IT! Although I hadn't wanted to get into the same problem as last night, when I couldn't sleep most of the night because I hadn't finished some important chores ... THERE WERE SOME THAT I HADN'T FINISHED.
     So now, I scolded myself into getting the last of the plants covered or brought in. The kitchen doesn't look too bad ... AND, I EARNED THE RIGHT TO GO TO BED!
     I fell asleep on the sofa again, and my back hurt so much that I didn't think that I'd get myself dragged up to finish my tasks ....
     Now, I put some liniment on, took some more aspirins ... and some gin. I hope something helps so that I could get back to sleep.

11:09 AM 10/8/05
     My back is shore getting even with me for forcing it so that I could get my plants all in! I had started earlier in the day, but, had been able to do a little at a time ... The last plants that I brought in look a little sickly ... but I won (last nite).
     I was up in the middle of the nite for a while hoping that I could keep the stiffness away. Whatever ... I spent hours in bed this morning getting able to get up. USUALLY ... I can roll around in bed, to change posititions and get loosened up ... BUT ... NOT THIS MORNING!
     I had to make breakfast to eat so that I could take some aspirin ... I'll have four. I had a hot milk toddy ... then a coffee toddy ... I think I shall overcome!
     The carpenter is coming later; I am supposed to get some tools, etc. ready. His son, the hunter, has promised me some venison if he gets one here; the freezer, saws, wrapping, etc. need to be gathered. The neighbor is gone for the day; I have to drive over to let their dog out.

11:53 AM 10/8/05
Okay, so I ate ... I think I'll lie down on the sofa for a bit ... rub some liniment on my neck and back.

7:33 APM 10/8/05
I really ruined my back, nothing strenuous ... just steady, being a carpenter's Gopher ... getting tools, holding things ... etc. Several times, I had to retreat to the sofa when my back got so bad that I couldn't even set something down onto the floor, or reach for something.
Lots of internal and external liniment, and Ibuprophen and aspirins.

5:12 PM 10/9/05
FOUR ASPIRINS ... have to drag myself outside ... need to finish a few things before dark. Not hurting just too much, but, my lower back is getting that severe, gripping ache that is hard to ignore.

2:13 AM 10/11/05
     I guess I'll survive ... kinda overdid it again! I started out slowly, doing "sitting down jobs", until late morning. My goal was to finish painting the back of the house. Then, the carpenter came, and, I had to be gopher for several hours first.
     I had to take several breaks when my back (mostly lower) got too bad. I had to force myself to finish the painting. Some of it I could do while sitting on my stool.
     Thank heavens the carpenter helped by getting my plants dragged in. My last chore, to feed my pets ... used up all my GO. I just had to force myself and lean upon my walking stick, and not move very fast.
     Now, after a nap on the sofa, this change of position ... sitting at the computer ... should help me sleep better. I have an EARLY morning appointment "tomorrow".
     I took several stiff drinks to loosen up my back muscles about 7 p.m. .... now, I have another. I'm eating my supper now, couldn't before for the pain.
     My left hip has severe pain and I cannot walk upright.

My regular Journal ... (click Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond here)

Mid-Nite

2005-10-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'VE KEPT THE TITLE OF "MID-NITE" ... THIS IS MY THIRD TRY AT GETTING THIS POSTED!

AOL (or my laptop) kept kicking me offline. What an aggravation when I had all the decorations and everything just so!

4:30 PM 10/2/05
Gotta take a break ... and, one extra strength Tylanol and three aspirins .

9:59 PM 10/2/05
I just took one extra strength Tylanol and three aspirins. I'm trying to pry myself off the sofa to drive to go get the gin that I promised myself if I kept caulking until dark and if I clean the kitchen before I go to bed.

7:57 AM 10/3/05
     Been awake for about three hours; I'd hoped to get back to sleep ....
    I spent a lot of time loosening up, some of my physial therapy routine, too.
    I had been up for a while during the night, mostly watching T.V., had some more gin and went back to sleep for a while.
    This morning ... from my back being so mean to me last evening ... to now, it is the best it's been for a long time.
     My lower back has just minor muscle soreness in my lower back between my hips.

1:04 PM 10/3/05
     My back feels better than it has for a long time. I never know for sure what makes it feel good ... I never know for sure what makes it cause me such agony! ... OR ... why? or why not?
     I just could not force myself to do my dishes and other housework last evening ... it just hurt too much. So, here I am again with half the day gone doing YESTERDAY'S tasks!
     I'm going to do a little more scraping & caulking ... and hopefully a little painting. The weather is going to turn cold & wet.
     I'd hate to admit that it seems to help to keep a little gin in my system when I feel my back wanting to cramp/go bad. But, I don't want to drink if I'm going to drive or climb the ladder .... For right now, I'm going to take two Ibuprophen and two aspirins as a precaution before I go outside. AND ... I poured some liniment on my back ... to soak my waistband and to soak my shirt collar & shoulders, etc.

6:32 PM 10/3/05
I kept at my project until dark ... but, had taken several breaks and some pain pills. I had also made a stiff drink to quiet my muscles, and all in all, was only at the severe ache level of pain ... like all over.

    9:02 AM 10/4/05
     RAINY DAY ... working inside today ... keeping kitchen tidy ... actually had forced myself (eventually) to tidy it up last night.
     My back must feel good; I feel ambitious. I didn't sleep too well, so, kept getting up and therefore wasn't too stiff & sore this morning.

1:45 PM 10/4/05
     I sat in front of the computer for several hours doing some "catch-up" work.
     I laid on the sofa a bit, then, spent an hour sorting books & magazines.
     NOW ... MY LOWER BACK IS THREATENING TO CRAMP UP NEAR MY LEFT HIP ... something that it hasn't done for months.
     Time for a serious break, some aspirins, maybe a hot bath ... maybe a drink. LIKE ... NOW!

3:02 PM 10/4/05
Go figure ... no strenuous work ... moderately active ... some rest ... some physical therapy exercises ... and now, EMERGENCY!
FOUR aspirins, ANOTHER drink, MORE sofa time!

5:06 AM 10/5/05
Miserable night ... up and down ... didn't get much sleep ... am going back to sleep now, I hope. It took me until after 1 AM to get all my stuff done.

2:11 PM 10/5/05
I did get loosened up; I did a some housework. I took a long, hot bath ... didn't do much sofa time.
But, the weather threatened to rain, so there was only a little outside stuff that I got done. I just took four more aspirins ... Almost went to town. Almost went for a walk to pick apples ... but, then it really started to rain.

5:13 PM 10/5/05
A sofa break sounds good, BEFORE my back gets to be a problem. I had put on a goodly amount of "IcyHot" liniment ... feels pretty good!
I had forgotten about an appointment at the pain clinic for more injections (facets?) in my back. There is a new appointment made for next Tuesday ... It is Wednesday now.

2:44 AM 10/6/05
     I've been awake for about an hour.     I had to fix something to eat so that I could take three aspirins. I'll have another drink, too.
     I slept pretty well; the previous nite had left me short of sleep. I hope to get back to sleep.
     Right now, it is hard to stand up straight. There is moderate pain in my left hip & lower back there. My lower ribs and base-of-neck have an ache only when I try to loosen and exercise that area.
     While I'm up (and eating) I might as well post this before it gets SOOoooo long. It is probably a nuisance that my entries run from the oldest first, which might make it confusing, especially when the entry gets over-long. But, this is the way I make the notes ... just sit down and post the current observations.

9:00 AM 10/6/05

THIS HAD BEEN MEANT TO BE POSTED HOURS AGO ... GLITCHES KEPT ME FROM GETTING IT DONE UNTIL NOW. That annoying twinge that threates me sometimes is in my left, lower ribs when I wriggle... otherwise, my mid back is moderately stiff & sore (like muscle aches) ... and I'm walking fairly well. It's enough to ruin my ambition, tho.

2005-10-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Upper Peninsula, MI CLICK HERE and beyond

That is my other Journal ... this Journal is just to keep a back log to print out for my doctor......

9:45 AM 9/30/05
     Have been up for an hour & a half ... my left hip is the worst problem. I cannot stand up straight ... and had to explain to the cats that I couldn't feed them because I couldn't bend down enough to pick up their dish ... later ... as soon as I loosen up.
    The past few days, another problem has returned ... I have been getting leg cramps, mostly when I am lying down.
     I don't have a lot of really bad pain, except my hip now, my spine & neck have like muscle pain when I move around.
     If I heed my inner hint ... which is: I feel ambitious ... that usually means that I'll feel pretty good for a while!

10:39 AM 9/30/05
Just took two extra strength Tylanol and two aspirins. My hip just won't loosen up or quit hurting.

4:40 PM 9/30/05
     DAMN! I cannot stand the pain; I must go lie down. I just took another extra-strength Tylanol to go with the three aspirins that I took two hours ago.
     I was so full of ambition ... didn't do anything strenuous. I made a trip to town to get some more caulk and a paint-remover tool that goes in the electric drill so I don't have to scrub the siding with the paint scraper.
    I did that and some caulking, just standing on the ground .... NOW .... my lower back is in such awful pain. I may regret my decision not to buy another bottle of gin!

8:42 PM 9/30/05
     OWIE ... WOWIE ... ! I did go outside to do some more caulking & painting ... tried to do as much of it sitting down as I could.
    Then, some must do things like change the kitty pan ... feed the cats, etc.
    My kitchen mess is going to have to wait until tomorrow! Even lying on the sofa, my lower back was in extreme pain ... an 8 or so. I HAD to get up ... forgot to get my milk out of the car ... AND ... I'm hungry have to make a quick supper.

8:56 AM 10/1/05
     BETTER... better than yesterday, tho. I did get up a few more times during the nite ... I did squeeze the last few shots out of the gin bottle before bed ...
     I woke up about two hours ago. I was able to do a few loosening up exercises; the pain level certainly is not as great as yesterday!
    I even was able to feed the cats & geese ... did a tidying up of the horrible kitchen mess (making apple juice & supper).
    Going to take three aspirins ... eat a banana ... breakfast will have to wait until the next time that I get up.

4:58 PM 10/1/05
     I've had a medley of activities, from talking on the phone, watching T.V., and scraping old paint & caulking on the exterior of the house. Whenever possible, I sat on my stool; I did not use any ladders today.
     For a while, my lower back caused a retreat. I had my back cracked, took four aspirins ... and a break, then felt okay enough to resume.
     Now, two extra duty Tylanol, and a sofa break.

5:01 AM 10/2/05
     Oh, for some gin ... I've been awake for two hours, trying to get past the pain to loosen up my back. Pain causes more tightness; tightness causes more pain. The gin relaxes me and breaks that cycle.
     The problem areas are my lower rib section, and the base of my neck. Tho the pain level is only a seven, it is the gripping muscle aches when I move that make me miserable. Sometimes, when I wake up, I am afraid to move.
    Well, now that I'm loosened up some, I'll have three aspirins and try to get back to sleep.
     My activities after my last entry included more caulking and scraping on the house ... make supper ... tho I left my kitchen mess for tomorrow, again.

11:05 AM 10/2/05
     I wanted to "get to work" on the caulking sooner ... didn't yet ... I'm just sitting down to eat brunch ...
     I cleaned up the dishes, mixed up kitty food, made some phone calls ...
     The hours that I spent in the middle of the night loosening up resulted in getting off to an easier start this a.m. Mostly what I've felt this a.m. is minor aches & pains in my lower back and shoulders.
     I feel ambitious ... that's a good sign. I had three Ibuprohen earlier, am going to take three aspirins now. ... then GO TO DO SOME MORE SCRAPING & CAULKING:

SEE MY OTHER JOURNAL FOR PHOTOS:

Upper Peninsula, MI CLICK HERE and beyond

2005-09-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

10:48 AM 9/26/05
Okay ... loosened up ... getting around pretty well ... had breakfast ... took pills & aspirins, two extra strength Tylanol and two aspirins. Not hurting too much ... I think I'll start slow by going to get my shopping done.

8:06 PM 9/26/05

     Today, my back felt pretty good (comparatively speaking), with the worst problem area first my lower back, then my rib section.
     I took lots of breaks ... did some scraping, caulking on my paint project.
     When I quit for the day, I decided to have a few drinks to make sure my back didn't tighten up and start cramping.

3:38 AM 9/27/05
Haven't been able to sleep for over an hour. I tried doing some loosening up excercises, mostly for my neck & the top of my back. I cannot walk upright. Usually that is because of my lower back ... right now, it is my lower ribs again. They keep kinking when I move. I just now tried to look over my left shoulder; my neck did not cause bad pain, but, I got a severe twinge in my left lower ribs. They haven't bothered me a lot for many weeks.
I just took four more aspirins ... will try to get back to sleep. Maybe I will putz at the computer a while.

8:11 AM 9/27/05
I did sleep for several more hours ... taking three Ibuprophen. There is only moderate discomfort. Maybe it helped to get up and move around in the middle of the night ... and ... have a big hot milk & gin....

11:54 PM 9/27/05
Four more aspirins ... been mostly working at the computer ... put on lots of liniment again. Now, I'm going outside to do some scraping/caulking. Those activities mostly involve standing and not much walking or bending or heavy work.

4:00 PM 9/27/05
I needed an hour sofa time. I just took two extra strength Tylanol and two aspirins ... and am going back outside for an hour to paint & caulk.

8:07 AM 9/28/05
     I spent many hours on the computer last night ... hope to get back to sleep for a while. My left side, especially my left hip is in real pain. No way can I stand up straight!
      My neck area has pain ... esp on the left side. I just about couldn't pick up something off the floor just now.
      I just took two extra strength Tylanol and two aspirins ... and am going back to bed.

5:12 PM 9/28/05
Four more aspirins and retreat to the sofa for a while... I just finished the dishes & cleaning the kitchen ... nothing strenuous. My lower back really hurts, my ribs are aching slightly, and my neck area really hurts, too.

3:50 AM 9/29/05
I hope that I can get back to sleep. I just had three aspirins just to help me sleep. I did spend a lot of time sitting or lying before bedtime ... had a stiff drink ... slept soundly for a while. NOW, my back has only moderate discomfort instead of the pain that woke me up the previous night.

10:43 AM 9/29/05
     I DID IT ... got back to sleep ... several times, actually. Finally got loosened up enough to GET UP about ten o'clock.
    I have a moderate amount of pain & stiffness in my lower back. Again, I found out that I'd better not try to pick somethingup off the floor for a while yet.    I can roll my head around with practically no discomfort.
     I feel ambitious. That's the signal that my back isn't as bad as usual. I'll finish my breakfast and take three Ibuprophen and an aspirin.... that should get me off to a good start on the day!

09:03 AM 9/29/05
Going to bed early, with some aspirins and a hot gin drink ... my back doesn't really hurt much ... but, I definately overdid it ... wanted to work outside on caulking until dark. I did rest on the sofa off & on ... but, now, my back is giving me the signals that it wants to start cramping up... thence the gin ... and lots of liniment, too!