You win some, you lose some
Yesterday was a good day and also a bit of a disaster.
Some of you may think that I am steaming ahead on the road to recovery at an amazing rate?
Yes, I have come a very long way since that day in Intesnsive Care when I looked at myself and I had the appearance of someone who had been smashed in the face by a double decker bus and then dragged several times through a bramble bush, I was a real fucking mess and frankly I got a bit of a shock.
And yes, I have healed up certainly in the face a fair bit. The scratches and gashes on the face have healed to the point where my face is still puffed up, my upper lip is sort of hanging in there [literally] and I have a strip of plaster where my nose should be. A remarkable recovery.
Sadly the problem lies in my neck. For some reason, all the muscles in my neck are at full stretch and won’t loosen in spite of all the stretching exercises I try. This leads to major problems. I cannot stand for very long or sit in an ordinary chair. My head is forced forward and the pain in my neck and down my spine is excruciating. The only way I can get any respite is to sit in an armchair where I can slouch so my back is at an angle to my neck. The pain then goes from a 10 to around a 1 or 2. So the only place I am comfortable and relatively pain free is in my comfy armchair or surprisingly, in the car [highly adjustable seat!].
Yesterday I thought it was time to visit the coffee shop. This had been a major goal on my road to recovery. I drove down and luckily got a parking space just across the road. I crutched my way to the shop to a great welcome. Then the problem started. Ordinary chairs! I should have known. The pain gradually increased to the point of being unbearable. I had ordered coffee and a fry-up. I managed the coffee [first in weeks] but then had to ask them to allow me to take the fry-up home.
Dave the owner held me by the arm as I made my way out. I got as far as his pavement benches and had to sit down again. after a short break he had to help me over to the car where I sat for about ten minutes until the pain eased. Not a very happy first visit!
I’m going to beat this. I made an appointment to see a physiotherapist this afternoon.
Maybe a spot of rough massage?
Sounds horrible! As someone with 2 compression fractures in the middle of my spine I totally get it. When mine flares the pain is much like you described and there is not much I can do except rest, take muscle relaxants and anti inflammatories. Have you tried muscle relaxants? Over here the common one is Cyclobenzaprine. Hope you get some relief today from PT. Hope today is better for you.
I haven’t tried muscle relaxants. I get a mental image of me lying in a rubbery heap on the floor after taking them!
Incidentally, you had trouble posting that comment because the site thought you were trying to sell me Cyclobenzaprine. My site has my interests at heart! ;-D
You are a brave and determined man Grandad, and you have my admiration for your perseverance and resilience. If I could buy you a Volvic or something as a show of support I gladly would. Keep your head held high (literally in this case!)
Cas
I don’t see myself as brave in the least. I’m just motoring along and refusing to quit. And the house is laden down with Volvic, thanks to Daughter who is mothering me which is a little strange….. Thanks for the offer though.
Keep at it my friend and it will eventually get better. The early days are the hardest (and you’ll notice I didn’t add; “and then it gets worse” since that would just be my horrible sense of humor). Take care now.