March 24th to March 27th FLORENCE, Italy - AMAZING!
March 27th to April 1st ROME, Italy - DOUBLE AMAZING!!
April 4th - Scottish Universities All-Star basketball training session, where during practice I injured my back, the muscles just tensed up and it was sore.
April 6th to April 9th - DURHAM, England, British Universities Home Nations Tournament, our Universities Team played the Universities teams of Wales, N. Ireland, and England. Because of my back, I didn't play much, but we creamed Wales and N. Ireland, and lost to England by about 12 points.
April 10 to April 12th - still some back pain but getting MUCH better...
April 13th - most of the day was ok, but back still giving some problems, so I went home and stretched. Did something to aggravate the Sciatic nerve.
That evening, laid in AGONY unable to sleep.
April 14th - Called my flatmate (Lindesay) at 6 AM we called an emergency service who told me to take pain killers (which I had and didn't work)
8:15 AM called my doctor, who got me an appointment at 9:35. Lindesay helped encourage me to get up, I was so lightheaded and thought I would pass out because of the pain. I got in her car and laid the seat down. She went in, told them I was there, and came back out to the car when they were ready for me and got me. I shuffled in. The Dr was worried, prescribed pain killers, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxers. We rescheduled an appointment a week later.
April 14th to April 17th - laid in bed with the pain slowly getting better and better. I didn't get up, much. The first day, Lindesay came home from work and checked on me, fed me, gave me my meds, and I have become more and more independent. Although, a lunch time decision to make scrambled eggs one day almost led to a disaster... but I laid on the couch while they were cooking, so no HUGE disasters!
I did have a field trip to the grocery store on Thursday, Lindesay drove and I walked around slowly... I just needed to get out of the house!!
April 17th - A physical therapist appointment, I was told to either lay down or stand up, but not sit...
April 20th - back to the Dr. She gave me another dose of meds and assigned me another physio appointment.
A few more days in bed...
April 23rd - I went to work and lasted 45 minutes, and had another physio appointment, she gave me exercises and a book called "The Back Book". In it, it described two types of people with back injuries, the copers and the avoiders. I guess it is good to cope with the pain, do what you can and hopefully it heals itself. It made me cry thinking I was an avoider because I laid in bed for a week, but my flatmate assured me that I did cope, I was showering and getting ready for the day (toward the end of the week!) After the physio, I came home, cleaned my flat and baked cookies... How is that for COPING!!!
Today I was at work for about 4 hours, and then decided to rest. I have a big job interview tomorrow and need my strength.
So I guess this wasn't the nutshell it was supposed to be, but I really want to write about Rome and Florence, so expect that soon (I hope).
Side notes
1. Sciatic nerve pain is THE most painful thing I have EVER experienced.
2. I was grateful for my friends who stopped by even just to visit. It made the days not so long and made me realize I was cared about.
3. My upper thigh and my little toes on my right leg are still numb with no feeling... VERY ODD. I am hoping that with time, the feeling comes back.
4. At the physio, I couldn't even do a calf raise with my right leg. The muscles just wouldn't move... weird!!
5. When you hurt your back, they ask you a million times in all sorts of ways "How your water works are?" (If you know what I mean...)
6. If you have back pain, try to get help so you can get exercises to strengthen it the right way. Don't wait until something serious happens!!
I mean, everyone needs mannequin arms, right? Especially when they are only $2!.jpg)
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