Oh my aching back

So far, being 50 sucks ass.


Yesterday morning I got up, dressed, and headed out to the vet with Kayla for one of her never-ending urine tests (getting old for dogs sucks ass too, she has recurrent bladder infections).  She jumped in the back of the car (she LOVES going to the vet -- well to be honest, she loves going anywhere) and off we went.  I parked the SUV, I turned it off, I opened the car door, stepped out, and WHAM! Huge spasms in my lower back.  


I figured it was some fluke temporary thing and hobbled to the back of the car, got Kayla out and took her into the office.  Sat down on a bench and WHAM! Another spasm of pain which doubled me over in my seat.  Nice receptionist asks if I am okay, I say yes, just having a back spasm.  I should insert that in spite of 36 years of RA, I have fortunately had little to no back problems, and never had a back spasm that I can recall.  So I thought this was just some temporary thing that would work itself out soon.  WRONG!


Got home with some difficulty -- sitting and then trying to stand are my biggest challenges right now -- and decided to skip the gym and go sit in the hot tub.  Figured that would take care of it like it does my arthritis stiffness.  Um, no.  Had a hell of a time getting in and out of the tub, and felt worse afterwards (found out much later that ice was what I should have been doing -- am sitting/leaning on some now as a matter of fact -- me likey). Bob got off early for a 1pm appointment we had with our accountant, which he insisted we cancel so I could go lie down, flat (instead of sitting at the computer, which I had been doing since getting out of the hot tub). This happens to Bob about once a year and he is a pro when it comes to incapacitating lower back pain. Dumb ole me insisted we go to the meeting.  We did.  The car ride to and from south Bloomington almost killed me.


So I went home to bed after the meeting, right?  Um, no. I had Bob drop me off at the office to get ready for a board meeting I had at 4pm.  Sat at that computer for two hours, then the board meeting, then home.  I called "uncle" finally -- tho much later than I should have.  I was dying, and wisely decided to stay home from my 6:30pm meeting.  I reclined in my gravity chair with wine and ice and watched GLEE.


Much to my relief I slept pretty well, but oy, getting out of bed this morning was loud and profane.  Felt just as bad as the day before, so back to ice, gravity chair, bed, and a visit from my friendly PT later this evening.  Followed by more wine.  And hopefully no trip to the doctor ... tho I would love to try muscle relaxers. Me on muscle relaxers could be a hoot!


Thank goodness Philly gets here this afternoon -- she can take care of me.  Bob is picking her up at the Amtrak station in Princeton this afternoon since I can't sit in a car for that long.  Hope she is well rested!