I think I’m going to think twice about blogging about positive progress on my back problems, because whenever I do it, I seem to have a small relapse the day after! I’m not a superstitious person, but it does seem to be a bit of a coincidence. Or, maybe it’s just that when things are starting to feel really good, I go a bit overboard and push it too much.
I was feeling great on Saturday after my week with a stand-up desk, so maybe I was a little too adventuruous with my activities that day, being in a good mood and feeling generally positive. First thing Sunday, still feeling fine, I’m rummaging about in a drawer for a T-shirt and I suddenly feel a horrible crackly sensation in my mid-back (not crackly in terms of sound, that’s just how it feels, like little lightning bolts crawling across the affected area), and from then on it was really painful. B*st*rd. Sleeping last night and getting up this morning was particularly difficult after that – when you’re not moving you feel like you’ve been kicked by a mule, and moving runs the risk of upgrading it to ‘meat cleaver class’, even though you have to do it because being stationary for too long guarantees more problems.
At least once I got moving this morning I started to feel better, but I’m super-paranoid about it again which is distracting. Hopefully it’ll improve again this week.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:28 am
You again overdid one type of activity (standing). As far as my experience goes variety is more important as it effectively avoids continued strain. The key is balance between movement and being stationery. The only killer seems overdoing anything. You may try to become more versatile, person with varied interests and activities for sometime, till your back turns to light side.
Once again I will say health is all. I remember last week I though of nothing except getting up out of bed and run again during my fever combined with sevre headache.
After recovering I have started sleeping before 11.00 pm.
You REALLY NEED TO FIND AND AVOID ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOUR BACK MORE WORSE.
January 26th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Glad you are getting better though mate – it has made me think that the adjustbable desks that Mr Joel on Software goes on about might actually be worthwhile whenever I get to make such choices
January 26th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Well, you know recovering is a complex process that not always go forward. If you have a broken leg, it hurts from time to time even if it’s in the recovery process. As long as the overall process works fine for you, these “bumps” in the recovery process may be ignored in my opinion.
Take care!
January 26th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Are you still exercising? I remember reading about you jogging, or walking? How is that going?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Yeah, still doing the exercise too, which still helps (although it’s tougher since my feet are taking a pounding already).
I seem to have improved a lot in the last 24 hours (touch wood), and slept mostly ok, so here’s hoping it was just a short-term case of straining it over the weekend.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:13 am
I havn’t read the entire history of your back problems, but I assume you have sought a medical diagnosis. If you haven’t, I would strongly suggest getting one, just in case your problems are of a medical nature. If, like many people, you have what doctors call “non-specific musculoskeletal pain”, then you might try some postural education. I myself am a teacher of the Alexander Technique, and have helped many people manage their back pain. The British Medical Journal recently published the results of a study demonstrating the efficacy of the Alexander Technique for back pain sufferers. The results are impressive.If you haven’t looked into this, you might want to consider it. At any rate, best of luck to you in solving this problem
January 28th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Yes, I’ve seen several physios / osteopaths. All seem to have problems determining exactly why the problems are occurring which is why I ended up trying to treat myself instead.
I’ve heard of the Alexander Technique, but haven’t looked into it much yet. Thanks for the suggestion.