My back is “out”.

Where does that phrase come from? It’s probably chiropractic lingo. But, as you’ve probably figured out, my back hasn’t taken the evening off for dinner and a movie. Let’s be more precise. My back is unhappy with me, tender, strained, and having muscle spasms.

I’m not prone to back problems, and I’m not quite sure how I did it, although it was probably cumulative. I gardened last weekend and definitely tweaked it then, I felt my lower back pop and shoot pain when I was reaching and twisting to trim a vine, and stepped down wrong to recover.

It was tender all week, and then Friday Bryan and I had a dinner date (ok, my back DID go out to dinner). The slick wood seats at the restaurant with no back support were so uncomfortable I could barely sit for an entire hour in them. I popped Aleve that night and put my feet up.

Saturday, after more Aleve, we went to the dog show and then shopping, which meant lots of time strolling about on concrete floor. This didn’t help my back, which was really spasming by the time I was done for the day. When we got home, it was time for more Aleve, muscle relaxant, and ice.

I’ve been trying to alternate sitting, standing and reclining, ice and heat, and take Aleve around the clock ever since. It’s very tender and hurts to move, stand, or sit for long periods of time. Thank goodness I’m not having neurological symptoms like shooting leg pain, numbness or weakness!

Here’s the million dollar question: what am I supposed to be learning from all this? I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and our job is to learn from the good things and the trials. Of course, I do need to pay attention proper posture and back care when gardening.

I’m also learning that:

…although I’ve been procrastinating getting started on a more regular exercise program, I really badly miss the freedom to move about as I wish right now! And if I’d had better body core strength, I might have avoided this injury.

…I’m grateful for the freedom to telecommute, so that I’m able to work in various positions, feet up, reclining, standing, sitting, and with ice packs and heat pads, as my body dictates.

…I need to work on my jewelry projects whenever I have time, because I can’t always count on having weekend time available for undivided focus.

…Muscle relaxants change me from a type A driver into a stoned, laid back dudette with no focus or creative energy.

…Aleve really should be taken with food, in addition to copious amounts of water, or it tears up the stomach.

…Real ice packs last longer than frozen gel packs.