I'm a reasonably healthy person. Ok... not to brag or anything, but I'm a ridiculously healthy person. I think Dave has seen me sick for about 1/2 a day in the almost two years that we've been together.
So today, while I was at work, simply minding my own business, quietly typing on my computer, I was not expecting a muscle spasm to go ripping through the middle of my back like a giant angry bull mauling a matador! The pain was so sudden and intense that it literally made me involuntarily jump, (which, I'm sure, just caused more damage to already tense and strained muscles...). I immediately shifted position to relieve the spasm, but that didn't stop the tunnel vision, shortness of breath, cold clammy sweat... Yes, I think I almost passed out. While sitting quietly at my desk. Doing next to nothing. Wow, am I glad that no one came into my office at that exact moment! I suddenly have a lot of empathy for people who throw out their back.
I've managed to remain upright and mobile, having been warned once to never, ever lay down when you throw out your back, (for fear that you probably won't be able to get up yourself! - a certain brother-in-law of mine landed on the floor and it took the local fire department to get him on his feet again.) Currently, standing is slightly more comfortable than sitting, but only slightly. Every little movement brings with it the risk of making the muscles spasm again. Sitting, standing, walking, reaching for the phone, picking up a glass of water, moving the mouse... *sigh* I was going to go to the bank this afternoon, now I'm not sure I could walk down the sidewalk right at the moment without having to stop every two or three feet. Maybe we'll wait to see if the 6 fistfuls of Advil I took take the edge off.
As for, 'ooh, Amy you should go see a Dr', I've already done the next best thing - I Googled what a Dr would tell me, thus, saving both him and me some time (duh). Mid-back muscle spasms are usually caused by muscle fatigue (like by sitting still at a computer for endless hours - which I'm guilty of) or muscle strain (like by yanking a giantly heavy tree branch across the lawn - which I'm also guilty of). Treatment involves stopping what you were doing when the spasm started, cutting way back on exercise, keeping small children from using you as their personal jungle gym, applying cold liberally, and ibuprofen to relieve the pain and inflammation. If it's not significantly better in a few days, then go see a doctor. Until then, leave him alone, he's already overworked. Being that it's already much more bearable than it was an hour ago, I think I'll survive.
But, wow! Did that hurt!
If you're having trouble fathoming the amount of pain we're talking about here, as a child, I was in the stands at a local fastball game, standing with my back to the game. A wild throw came across the top of the safety fence and hit me square in the middle of the back. I'd rather that happen to me 16 times than have another muscle spasm!
"Old", I could do without you.
