Every Day is a Little Better Than the Last
Oct 28th, 2008 by Alex
A smart man keeps telling me that “healing takes time.” I’ve found this to be the case, especially since I suffered a back injury recently. It’s all cliche, but you really don’t miss things until they’re gone. In my case, you don’t miss having a functional and healthy spine until you don’t have the use of it. I don’t have a lot to complain about compared to those with more serious injuries, but the decrease in mobility has been a challenge for me physically and mentally. Acts at simple as putting on my shoes or tying the laces because exercises that must be relearned in new way to prevent pain.
People always say to lift with your knees. When you have a slipped disc, it isn’t just when you’re lifting things. Bending over slightly to wash my hands in the sink? Not anymore. Reaching to scrub my toes in the shower now? Try again. If the knees aren’t bent, I’m reminded by a sharp jab of localized pain. Getting up off the floor requires a roll to one side and push from the hands. I never realized how sensitive the system was.
Here’s how the week has progressed.
Saturday - Constant pain, eased by resting in certain positions. Positions only good for so long before having to change. When I got home from Virginia, I looked in the mirror and was a little shocked to see my torso misaligned. Despite my hobbling around I had been wearing loose-fitting clothes and hadn’t noticed my own appearance during the day. Slept horribly, awakened by pain every time I moved in my sleep and had to readjust my sleeping position to assist.
Sunday - Padded around the house and watched a lot of television, easing into comfortable positions. Sleep was a little better, but not great.
Monday - Suffered through the first day of a new job with the assistance of Advil and supportive coworkers. Left work early to go to a chiropractor for the first time. The Doctor Chiropractic (DC) recommended a regime of manipulation and physical therapy. A good explanation — complete with models — of how my spine was misaligned was given, essentially a slipped disc. I felt better knowing that the disfiguring appearance wasn’t so much the misalignment of the spine but the muscles around the afflicted area being shut down since the event (to protect me from further injury) and that in a few days my muscles would awaken and I’d be righted again. Physical therapy consisted of electrical stimulation of the muscles around the afflicted area and application of heating pad. I slept much better Monday night with a pillow between the knees (when on my side) or two pillows under my knees (when on my back), per recommendation.
Tuesday - Definitely straighter. No continual pain, just soreness and the occasional pain with movement. Getting in and out of the car is the worst. Walking in the morning is fine, but walking in the afternoon after work is tiring; my walking posture isn’t correct and it feels sore in the joints after a while.
Wednesday - Standing almost straight. New manipulation technique, prefixed by physical therapy and ice pack. Not as much soreness when walking to my car in the afternoon, though getting into it is still a pain. It definitely requires a two step approach: first sitting down with feet outside of the car, then pivoting my torso in place while bringing both legs into the car at once. It’s truly amazing how many little separate actions are involved in day-to-day actions.
Thursday - Soreness father up the back from previous evenings manipulation, but not painful at all. Feeling a little better walking around then before.
Friday - After sitting for long periods, ache turns into awkward movement. Need to stretch after sitting for long periods, especially is the goal is to walk somewhere. Had another round of manipulation and physical therapy. My DC says that I’m loosening up a lot since Monday and he recommended a few exercises that I could do at the gym (back extension and cable column) to strengthen my back.
Over the weekend I didn’t do much strenuous activity but I didn’t back down from activity either. I don’t want to grow weaker by laying around, plus it feels better to be up and about even if it’s just walking around the house.
Monday - For the first time since the accident, I feel as if I can walk normally. It feels incredible. I’m taking the stairs instead of the elevator and my legs aren’t tired at all. Even after hour-long bouts of sitting (at work), getting up wasn’t painful and after some brief stretching I’m able to walk about normally. A little ache with that.
Tuesday - Similar experience as Monday, but with less ache. I started at the gym per recommendation. 2 sets of 10 reps @ 30 pounds on the back extension machine followed by a set of 10 reps @ 35 pounds. 1 set of 10 reps @ 2 plates (need to find weight, didn’t see it on the column) on the cable column, followed by two sets of 10 @ 3 plates. I’m a little wary of the elliptical machines due to the motion involved, but I may give it a gentle try on Thursday.
In short, every day is a little better than the last. Pain is almost never present now except for the super-quick and unexpected overexertion (rolling down the car window), replaced by soreness and minor body ache. I suspect that in time, the soreness will be replaced by the ache and that eventually it will all fade. It may take a few weeks or even months, but it feels to me like the difficult stages (first not knowing what’s going on, then the immediate and pressing need to feel better) are past. I still need to take care of myself and consider my surroundings and actions to prevent re-injury, but these are things I can handle.
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Sounds about typical for your injury- sorry to hear it hit you so bad, however.
If I can give any advice for back injuries (you do know I was hit by a bus, right?), I’d say it’s the re-injuries that can be the worst of all. Because you go on about your life, and forget. The physical therapist (or whomever) should give you back exercises to continue after treatment, after you’re feeling pretty normal. Do continue to do them- seriously. At least a few times a week, forever. Not doing them can lead to serious seize-ups. Two winters ago, for some reason the cold just knocked my back out again, and I spent months back in physical therapy and unable to sleep from the pain. Learn from my failures; do the exercises.
Hope you get back to fully normal soon!