Reaching a tentative truce

My back has been spasming a bit lately and I thought about one of the first times I went to see the doctor for back pain. Seventeen years ago, I sat in front of my doctor at the time and tried to sit up, but the pain made it challenging.

The doctor asked how I hurt it. I said I wasn’t sure since I had just come home from vacation. We had spent the previous week in Disney World in Orlando, Florida and I had felt fine.

I said I had gone on a bunch of rides with my kids, but I didn’t feel anything pop. He continued to press gently around my back muscles and where I was complaining about the most issues and asked if I had lifted anything. I started to answer no, but stopped immediately. “Um, you know I was carrying my kids everywhere and we did a lot of running through the park.”

The doctor laughed. Yes, that might do it.

Image by Brian McGowan by Unsplash.

The things dads do . . .

I have not always been kind to my back and it likes to let me know about it. In fact, it likes to make itself known at the most inopportune times, like the first day back from a vacation or right in front of my boss or at the start of presentation.

The pain can be so devastating and challenging that my back and I have come to truce, I promise to be gentle with my back and take it easy when I can, and it promises not go crazy and send me to the hospital. We’re generally on good terms, but it can turn devious and a bit underhanded at a moment’s notice.

Image by Perry Merritt II by Unsplash.

Oh, I try to strengthen my back muscles and make them stronger, but I think the damage from too many moves — I lifted stuff on my own, that I had no business lifting — when I was in my 20s and too many crazy games with my kids when they were young have done their damage. Check out my blog post, Running out of gas, on The Heart of the Matter on one of those times when I probably should have given more thought to taking care of my back.

But, hey, sometimes the roller coaster is calling loudly and you have to run to get in line and get your seat! Okay, maybe it wasn’t all the kid’s fault! Maybe I’m to blame too! Maybe.

Related Story:

Running out of gas

on The Heart of the Matter

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23 thoughts on “Reaching a tentative truce”

  1. I had an injury from from 20s I never took care of…crushes my back…arthritis etc. whenever someone says what would you do differently, it’s always take care of my back

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  2. I love how the doctor gave you a knowing laugh when you shared what you…and your back…had been doing prior to the pain. Yep…carrying kids, running around a theme park. Probably toting a BACKpack. 😉

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Oh, Brian, we have this in common! I had a bad slip on a wet surface wearing crocks in 2013. I now have three herniated lower lumbar that earned me a handicap tag for the truck. When they slip out, I am left using my cane and can hardly walk or even get in or out of bed. I know your pain, Brian. 😭

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  5. We want to be active and do what needs to be done at the time–without having to consider the consequences down the road. Our bodies remind us of our overexertion though. Backs never seem to forget.

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  6. My husband is suffering from back pain and getting no relief. The insurance co won’t approve the MRI until he has x-rays, and goes through a certain number of months of PT — all of which he’s done. You’d think the insurance company, who paid for it all, would have record of it!!!

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  7. Oh my gosh Brian, men aren’t the only ones who don’t think about not overexerting our bodies. 😲 When we were young, I believe we thought we were invincible and could do anything to show how strong we were. I assumed back then that such aches and pains were things old folks go through. Now that I am in that mid-60’s club, those aches and pains managed to find me! UGH! And the back, oh my, can truly bring you to your knees like a UFC wrestler! 😱🏋🏼‍♂️🥊 Take care of yourself! 👍🏼

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  8. Ugh. Back pain. I feel you, Brian. Not long ago, I feared I would have to miss an important event this month because I wasn’t able to walk from the spasms, pinched nerves, bone spurs, arthritis, and scoliosis that seem to be a part of aging. I’ve had flare-ups before when I was still teaching. The difference here in Portugal is that my x-rays cost 12 euro, osteopath 40 euro, and orthopedist 75 euro, before reimbursement by health insurance. Now, if I could just reach that truce with my back.

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    1. Okay, I really do need to start working on my Portuguese Natalie. Love those prices! Ha ha. As far as a truce goes, mine is very tentative. My back likes to surprise me out of the blue … just because it can. Sort of crazy😂😂😂😂

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