One morning back when I was still working, I had two patients the same morning with chronic low back pain. They were both hard working, fairly pain tolerant folks who just had unfortunate anatomy. One, a young mother, had already had a spinal fusion and it seemed to just make things worse.
I remember walking up to the front of the office and telling my office manager how glad I was that I didn’t have a bad back. She concurred.
A few days later, I sneezed while bending to pick something up and got a spasm in my back. Yuck. It didn’t last long (a few days) but it really drove home how lucky those of us without chronic back pain are.
I mentioned that, a week ago as I was feverishly working to the the pavilion stairs built, I strained my back. It’s been an ordeal. I cannot take NSAIDS (ibuprofen, etc.) because of kidney problems — subclinical, and I want it to stay that way. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) doesn’t seem to help much. Though it’s pretty damn painful, it’s not bad enough that I’d consider opioids with their myriad adverse effects. So I’ve been stretching, moving, and just trying to wait it out.
Oh, and spending an inordinate amount of time in the hot tub. The model I got was equipped with “the Poseidon Jet (the most powerful spa jet in its class)“. That got me through the week, and today I was able to get a massage from HA who is an incredible massage therapist. I’m still not 100%, but I hope I’m in good enough shape to help raise the roof on the pavilion tomorrow.
—2p
addendum 20250811@16:40
The roof is raised and I’m spending quality time with The Big Jet.