Wednesday, July 1, 2009

48 Hours To Shed The Cane

Our grandkids Jack & Isabel are flying in with oldest son Michael for a 5 day visit beginning this Friday. They're all pumped up, as are we.



Here's the problem - I can't walk, sit, drive, stand or lie down without major cuss-word bad pain. My back is waaaaayyy out of wack (2 herniated discs - a 15 year problem). It just went out on Saturday & kept getting worse. I finally had to leave work yesterday - something I never do. (Driving was so painful, I was trying to figure out ways to avoid using the brake pedal. Fat chance of that on an 80-mile one-way commute.) Heck, all I was doing was reviewing drawings. Brought the stuff home & made an attempt at working from home today. Couldn't accomplish much in 15 minute intervals & gave up after a couple of hours. So for the first time in a few years I'm using my cane (my old friend) to get to & fro.

(I'm typing this standing at the kitchen bar - can't tolerate sitting at all. Everything compresses. Needless to say, I'm also not writing & was on a really good roll for the past few weeks.)



Now I'm chokin' down high-powered painkillers like the ones a real-life celebrity physician would prescribe. I'm packed in ice like a freakin' salmon. Dr. Butcher (my real doc) would have a heart attack if he knew what I was up to with my 'home' treatment. Hey - gotta do what I gotta do. This old beach tiger has 48 hours to either feel better or somehow fake feeling great. Hope the kids don't ask me to body board with 'em. Wish me luck -


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, my... there's nothing more painful than a back out of whack! My condolences. (My DH used to be on Naproxin for a long term back problem, but the disks eventually fused on their own, for which he was very thankful.) Don't throw away that cane too quickly. Those visitors would feel terrible if you did more serious damage because of them. I'm sure they'll love just visiting you minus the body boarding. Or if water sports are a required part of the visit, you could take along a beach chair and cheer them on from the shore -- not as much fun, granted, but definitely a better bet for your back.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

I'm so sorry!
Does your cane have a crook on it like a shepherd's staff? At least then you could pull the kids to and fro. That could be entertaining for all involved.
I sure hope you feel better soon. There's not much worse than back pain!

David Ebright said...

MY Doc called in an emergency batch of muscle relaxers & anti - inflammatory meds - much stronger than the ones I usually take. I'm feeling a bit like Jimi Hendrix now but at least the pain has let up siginificantly. I might survive this after all.

Thanks for the well-wishes. I'll still passs on the body boarding.

Anonymous said...

Hope you're better soon!

Seems like these medical things always occur near holidays when the doctors are away ...

David Ebright said...

Update - The cane is getting very limited use. (Sitting is the biggest problem - everything tightens up.) Having a great time with the kids - 'specially storytellin'. Last night was 'How To Travel In A Magic Bed' & tonight will be 'Escape From The Nubbin Scubbins' (maybe I'll write books for kids someday!) - I did venture into the surf this afternoon & think it actually helped - though I moved around in the water like a big sissy.

Jenn - Good hearing from you. Hope all is well in the Philly area. My Doc is pretty cool - he knows I only use the meds when I absolutely have to.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear your back is easing up so you can enjoy those grandkids. I was going to suggest some blood-letting leeches but all I have on hand right now are mosquitoes. ;)