I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up

Quote of the Day: "When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened!" - Winston Churchill

Today has been a long, strange, bad, not so bad, and painful day. I don't want to go into detail about most of it, but I am going to talk about the painful part because it doesn't involve anyone else but me and I feel the need to share.

Remember when I ran over myself? (How many blog posts have I started with that sentence?) Anyway, it left me out of commission for a while, and a couple of months later, I was trying to move my stuff out of storage and managed to hurt my back. I think the back thing came because I was so weak from staying off my knee for two months. Either that, or because my knee was still so weak. Anyway, the point is, ever since I hurt my back in October, 2008, the pain will come and go from time to time. I don't know what causes it, I think it's stress-related. My mom suggested it was because I have been swimming too much lately. Everyone I know has a different suggestion, but for the most part, it's bearable. Until today.

The pain has been more frequent lately. The weekend before my birthday and about two nights before I went to Florida, it started to hurt some, but not enough to really be a big deal. Last night, around 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, it started to hurt and it wasn't too bad. I figured it was because I'd been sitting for most of the day, in the same chair (working), and it just needed a change of scenery, so I laid down for a while, walked for a while, stretched, etc.

I was up pretty late last night, working and talking to my friend Candice, and it started to hurt a little worse. Around 2:00 AM, I actually took my laptop to bed and laid down to work. Seriously. It was probably a funny sight, but I had no choice, I couldn't sit up any longer and I had to get a few more things done. When I finally decided to go to sleep, I couldn't. I couldn't roll over without it taking me ten minutes (I had to kind of inch myself over) and every time I'd drift off, I'd wake up in pain. I had to be up super early to take my mom to the doctor, so when I knew my alarm was about to go off, I just gave up on sleep and got up. Or tried...it took me a good 20 minutes to get out of bed.

And it took me a good 20 minutes to get in and out of the shower and another good 20 minutes to put my pants on and get in the car. I couldn't even shave my legs and the only things I had clean were carpi's. I not so carefully drove my mom to the doctor (I couldn't see to merge lanes or anything so that was a fun little guessing game), let her out at the door and drove around, looking for a parking place. They were so full, that I thought I was going to have to park at the next building over. Fortunately, I saw a free space with a sign that read "injured patients only." I parked there and figured anyone who saw me get out of the car and hobble into the building would have to know I was injured; never mind the fact that I wasn't a patient.

I'd taken some pain medication before we left and it started to work as we sat in the office, but afterwards, I went grocery shopping and to pick up prescriptions, and I could feel it all wearing off. I came home, ate lunch, took care of a few work issues, and went straight to bed. I was exhausted and in lots of pain at this point. While I was laying in bed, my back started doing this weird thing when I'd breathe deeply or move my arms - almost like it was locking up. I couldn't really get comfortable but I was so tired that I just passed out in a strange position.

When I woke up about an hour later, I felt awful. Not only did my back seem to hurt worse, but I was sweating, my mouth was dry, and I was desperate for water. I tried to get out of bed, but the minute my feet hit the floor, I doubled over in agonizing pain and before I knew it, my knees hit the floor and then the rest of me. I tried to get up but my back felt totally locked up and I couldn't move. I freaked, thinking I was paralyzed. I manged to pull myself up on the bed, from the waist up, but couldn't straighten up.

I ended up laying in the floor for an hour. I wiggled and twisted and tried to pull myself up on the bed, the TV, and this cabinet I have in there, which really just resulted in me wedging myself in between it all. I cried, screamed, and debated calling 911, if I could just reach my phone. The dogs kept climbing on top of me, I was covered in sweat, and I just felt absolutely defeated. I finally got up at 8:00. How that happened, I couldn't tell you. I also somehow managed to get myself to the pool (ha, I drove through my parents' yard, right to the gate), hoping the water would help loosen something up. My dad gave me some sort of OTC medication cocktail. Now I'm sitting on my sofa, with my feet propped up in a chair. I've got my laptop, a book, a remote, a blanket and pillow, and a bottle of water. This is probably where I'll sleep. Sigh.

Anyway...I guess the moral to this story is you don't have to be a little old lady on an iconic commercial to fall and not be able to get up.

Hopefully, I'll have something more positive to post soon.