I’m not used to being fragile.

Sure, when it comes to infertility-related events, but not as far as my general health is concerned. Yes, I have issues around my weight, but other than that I’ve managed to stay out of trouble.

I broke my finger when I was a teen, and had a sprained ankle once or twice in my youth. That’s about it. I’ve not had any major illnesses or ailments. In fact, I used to laugh with my husband about the unused heating pad in the bathroom closet. It’s been in the box for about 7 years. We joked that when we got old, we’d have a matching set that would get used every day.  We were so amused…

Then last week, I hurt my back.

Twice.

Well, let me explain. The first time I was carrying a VERY heavy load of laundry UP the stairs. You know, one step at a time. Take a step, lift a step, take a step, lift a step. Last step, I extended my arms to move the basket forward while lifting it.

Pop.

Did my back just pop? It was sort of a click or pull.  I can’t remember now, but it was an odd feeling.  So I imagined it was nothing and went on my day. The next morning I woke up to a very negligible and dull lower backache. I took some Aleve and it went away. Later the same day, I went to pickup the little guy at the bus stop. I drove the car because it was raining. I got in and out of the car very quickly. So quickly, I realized I twisted my back instead of pivoting my legs to get out.

Ouch. Again.

That night I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t find a good position to sleep. My back was killing me. By morning, I woke up and realized very quickly…

I can’t sit up. I can’t walk. Except I could hobble and crawl. So I did. The pain was excruciating. I made it downstairs to the kitchen with a heating pad and my work laptop. I cried actual tears of pain. I took straight prescription naproxen and prayed.

I stayed in my recliner for 4 days straight. Well, except for bathroom breaks, sanity checks, food, and going upstairs to sleep.

I have a profound appreciation for folks with back problems, because I just became one of them. I cannot, CANNOT imagine those of you who have ongoing back issues and pain. It was the WORST feeling ever. The one-two punch of naproxen and Tylenol did take the edge off greatly. BUT. At some point I got nervous because the pain lingered. And my range of motion was limited.  It didn’t last for a day or two or three. It was an entire WEEK. I said to myself that if the pain was still unbearable today I would beeline to the doctors office for an x-ray.

I googled.  Nope, not a slipped or hernitated disc by my rekoning.  I didn’t have any sciatica symptoms either.  No pins and needles, no shooting pain.  Just constant low-level lower back pain, that (without meds) was 7-8 on a scale of 10 for pain.

Alas, the pain started to subside a bit on Saturday. On Sunday it felt even better. Today I am sitting upright in my home office chair. A chair I haven’t sat in for a week.

Now that I’ve been sitting here for about 3 hours, I am starting to feel strain, so after I finish this post I am going to park my ass in the safety and comfort of my recliner.  With my heating pad.

Heating pads are awesome. And I finally wore out the one that had been sitting in the closet for all those years.

I need to buy another one.

Maybe two, just for insurance.