Out For The Count
I threw my back out in class today. I sat down and felt something go. I’m writing this with only my left hand, so I’ll be brief. Ouch! How old am I? God. I can hardly move without sending a spasm of pain down my back.
Okay, I just slowly and painfully and switched into a crossed-legged sitting position that feels pretty good on my back, once I settled into it, so now I can type with two hands.
I had only ten minutes to catch the bus after my class ended and I barely made it. I couldn’t even stand up straight. The highest I could bend was about halfway. I tried to walk that way, but I gave up because it hurt too much and I figured I looked ridiculous. It was so embarrassing. I figured out that I could run pretty well bent forward like that, and it probably looked somewhat normal, so I used that to get most of the way to the bus stop near Mott Gym. I spent the rest of the evening crouching and hobbling around my living room and kitchen like a hunchback, using furniture and tables and banisters as crutches, and lying on the couch watching TV.
I’m hideous! Look away!
January 10th, 2008 at 9:31 am
You are not hideous! Well, maybe a little…
Sorry to hear that you threw your back out. I want to hear more about how it happened. Everybody I have talked to says that it happens so suddenly. What does it feel like? I guess I will know if it ever happens to me.
Seriously. how old are you? 50? Have you been drinking your milk? Maybe you have early-onset osteoporosis.
January 14th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I felt normal up until it happened. I stood up to get some papers and sat down again with my back flat against the chair back. I felt a small snap or pop in my lower back just above my waistband. It didn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable when it happened. I sat there for an hour and a half in the same upright position and felt almost fine. I could feel a little strained where it happened. When the class ended and I stood to leave, I suddenly found that my lower back was very sore and I was unable to stand up straight. The highest I could bend upward was about half way.
Milk is for bones, not muscular strength. I threw my back out a couple years ago. My chiropractor said that once you throw your back out, you’re more likely to throw it out again in the same place. Apparently what happens is a disc in your spine is bruised or squished, which can return to normal after a while, or hemorrhaged, which is much more severe and from which one cannot easily recover. He thinks I merely bruised mine.