Hoo hah.

[katallison]

So. Somewhere on the list of Stuff Not To Do On A Major Holiday Week/Weekend (or in fact at *any time whatsoever*) would be: Inflict a major injury on your lower back, making it impossible to sit up, walk, stand, use the computer, leave the house, drive a car, or engage in any form of normal basic daily life activity, for the better part of a week.

Gnargh.

I am mending, thankfully, with shoutouts to: (a) my good friend Mr. Vicodin, (b) the heating pad of blessedness, (c) my wonderful hosts/roomies M and J who took care of me and entertained me and fed me a wonderful turkey dinner while I was immobilized, and (d) NPR, which helped me while away the endless tedious hours of lying flat on my back with the knees elevated while fuming about how friggin' impossible it is to read, use a laptop, or watch TV when one is flat on one's back.

I'm pretty sure I just had a muscle strain, rather than any form of spinal/structural damage; and on my list of Good Resolutions for 2008 and every year thereafter is Do NOT for godsake go to the gym and do heavy-weight back squats without a spotter at hand, dumbass.

So. *sigh* Am back to around 50% functionality, and hope to continue improving this week. WOW, does getting old suck.

Comments

[qe2.livejournal.com]

Ow.

I say again: OW.

Heal as quickly and as painlessly as possible, please. I commands it, I does.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Recovery is proceeding, though more slowly than I'd like.

[qe2.livejournal.com]

Good news/bad news. May the balance shift swiftly towards the former.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Do you have a doctor (or friend) who can prescribe you something? What you want is a dose-pack of prednisone: a set of decreasing dosages to be taken for a week, six the first day, five the second, and so on. There's a name for it, I forget, but any doctor or pharmacist should recognize this. It's a very serious anti-inflammatory. (I endured back injury this past July after helping my inlaws bring in the hay.)

If you don't want to go the serious route, Aleve/naprosyn at double dosage is also highly recommended. Again, it's the anti-inflammatory property that does the magic, as most back pain is from bits that are swollen that shouldn't be, pressing on nerves and stuff that hurts.

Feel better soon. And yeah, getting old sucks. (Hi, I am waiting on my new progressive bifocals! Yay! Not!)

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I don't really have a doctor at this point, but I've been slamming lots of NSAIDs and they *do* help. I've also got a good set of stretches/exercises that I've started gingerly doing, so, y'know, we creep forward.

(And I have your new story to read, as soon as I can sit up for very lobg, yay!)

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

OUCHIES!!!

::sends you loads of healing vibes::

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I do believe they're helping -- I can actually sort of sit up today.

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Ack! Here's hoping you're up to 100% functionality soon!

*hugs*

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Hugs back to you! And yeah, things are slowly improving, but wow, this is annoying. *sigh*

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

Aiee! *pets you very very gently*

[katallison.livejournal.com]

YOU are the one who should be getting any and all gentle pets and sympathy that might be going around! Sounds like your recovery has been going forward smoothly, which is wonderful -- a two-mile walk ten days after surgery? Wow! *admiring you vastly*

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. Back pain is so - DEBILITATING. I'm so sorry! I hope it heals soon and yes, please, take care of it! We need you in one piece. :D

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Back pain is so - DEBILITATING.

*nodding* It just screws up so MANY things that one doesn't expect. (Toothbrushing! Oh my GOD, I almost killed myself trying to brush my friggin' teeth!) Thanks for the kind words!

[sherrold.livejournal.com]

Oh honey -- I hear you, I hear you. I've spent the last (mumble,mumble) months gimping around from a moment of hip overconfidence. I can only repeat what you already know -- it will get better, and you have our sympathy. Good luck and fast healing!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about your hip -- god, this kind of stuff is a pain (literally & figuratively). Hope we *both* feel better, right damn soon!

[blacksquirrel.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - get well soon!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (And strength to your application-writing arm -- hope something good comes through soon!)

[blacksquirrel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm horribly nervous and appreciate the positive thoughts

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Awwww! Thanks, sweetie.

[debg.livejournal.com]

WOW, does getting old suck.

looks at results of latest MRI of Doom

Yes. It really does...

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I was so sorry to read about that, Deb, and I most fervently hope that 2008 brings some better breaks your way, because it sounds like this year has been a right *bastard*.

[debg.livejournal.com]

It's had a few high points. Mostly, though? Pretty much everyone I know has been through serious rubbish this year.

[heresluck]

Oh dear. I think the resolution's a good one -- and in the meantime I'm glad you're on the mend and better able to self-entertain!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was great fun (during the brief interludes of sitting-up) to read about your T-day with renenet, and I really wished I could've been there with you guys.

[kristiinthedark.livejournal.com]

Back pain is the worst. *hugs* I hope you feel better soon!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

It's just so damned *incapacitating* -- as I said to Liz upthread, I've had hell just trying to do stuff like brush my lousy TEETH. *sigh* Thanks for the kind wishes!

[sanj.livejournal.com]

Oh, OW. Can I send audio drama? You poor thing.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the kind words and offer--I've got a raft of books-on-CD from the library, so I think I'm set for now. I just wish to god it was easier to type, because man, I could at least get some writing done...

gnargh, indeed!

[kormantic.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, you've had a hell of a health run, baby!

Let me know if you need anything.

xo

Re: gnargh, indeed!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I know! It's like--what *other* part of my lousy aging body can fall apart next?! I really would love to get together sometime soon, depending on what your schedule is--you wanna give me a call later this week?

[popfantastic.livejournal.com]

Oh no!

As you are weaned from the Heating Pad of Blessedness, may I recommend its companion, the Stick-on Heat Patch of Joy?

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I started using some of those this morning, and they are, indeed, The Goods.

Also, I have been negligent in sending along my deep sympathies and commiseration on all the craziness that's been breaking loose in your life lately. I just hope to god that the rest of the semester, at least, passes without any more fresh hell, and that 2008 brings all kinds of improvements in the direction of peace, prosperity, calm, health, sanity in one's intimates, etc. God knows NO one deserves it more than you.

[spike21.livejournal.com]

*pets* Try reading in fetal position on a bed with lots of pillows (supporting your neck, between your knees, tucked hither and yon to keep you from rolling.) It's not ideal but it won't strain your back and it's less excrutiating than holding a book over your face.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I've been doing some of that--the only problem is that after a while my glasses start to sort of bend and get out of alignment. (Damn glasses...) But today I'm doing a lot better with sitting up, reading, using computer, etc., which is YAY. Thank you so much for kind words & good suggestions!

[flambeau.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor woman. *hugs* And I second the comment about anti-inflammatories. Since you're getting better already, nsaids should do it.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

I started taking mega-ibuprofen today and it's been a godsend; I'm actually doing pretty well with sitting up today. Thanks so much for kind words and hugs!

[geekturnedvamp.livejournal.com]

I am SO sorry! (And when I say I feel your pain, you know I really mean it... I wish I could express-mail you my ortho-bionomy practitioner for an emergency session.) Hope you feel better soon.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Ooh, ortho-bionomy sounds great ... I'm actually doing a lot better today, which is a huge relief. Thanks so much for the kind words!

[vagabondage.livejournal.com]

::hugs::

I'm glad you had good friends to take care of you. Please, do not do such things without a spotter ever again.

::more hugs::

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really, really have to stop trying to be so goddamned macho ...

I hug you back, and Pete too, and hope everything's good with you guys!

[c-regalis.livejournal.com]

Ow. *hugs you gingerly*

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm feeling much better today, which is a big relief. (Spent some time looking at pix of CKR on older entries of yours, which I swear have healing and restorative properties. *g*)

[arallara.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I am SO sorry! What a dumb way to have to spend Thanksgiving! I'm glad you had folks to take care of you.

I guess it's okay that I didn't call you to hang out, then! I ended up having quite a bit more family time than I expected, so I didn't have much left over for seeing friends. :(

But! Next time I'm in Seattle, we will hang out for sure, yes?

Recover quickly, my dear!!

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely we must get together soon! Let me know when you're going to be in town, and we shall hang and talk and have a blast.

(And thanks so much for the kind wishes --I'm actually feeling a lot better today, thank god.)

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Ack! ::pets you::

I wish I'd known. I'd have sent you entertaining music or something. ):

Feel better, dammit.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks so much, Laura! I'm actually feeling a lot better today and can sit up for more than a few minutes at a stretch -- wow, it's great having some basic functionality back. *g*

congratulations

[talking-sock.livejournal.com]

I'm pleased to see you've moved to Seattle -- I only just saw in a mention on gwyn's lj. I hope it's good to you. After you get all settled and in your own space, of course!

Lynn