The Church of Dan

Things are kind of shitty right now.  Not shitty as in OMG I’m EMO, just shitty as in, bleh.

I’ve been off of work since the third week of November because I threw out my back.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Estimated recovery time was supposed to be 7-10 days with a lower/mid back strain.  Still simple, nes pas?  So I went to see a chiropracter to get me all straightened up.  After 2.5 weeks, I got _worse_.  Under normal circumstances, that isn’t supposed to happen!  So I went for X-rays, and found out I have a condition called Spondylolysis  (damaged/underdeveloped ligiments in my lower back).  It is a condition that is aggrivated by pushing/pulling/lifting – and is assumed I’ve had it since birth.  My job is all 3 of those aggrivating factors.  It’s no wonder that by the end of the week, my lower back is ready to kick my ass.   So.. I’ve been doing physio and chiro. Yay! RIght..?

The beggining of January it was assumed that by the 2nd or 3rd week, I’d be good to get back to work (THANK GOD) because I’ve been going stir crazy at home (It’s just me and my dad, but we really need time apart at times).  Found out that I was getting reimbursed 100% for all the treatments (SCORE!), so it was a happy time.  The light was at the end of the tunnel, everything seemed to be coming together.  But then…

The first day I return to work – dad drove me to the subway so I wouldn’t have to endure the bus ride.  Problem 1 – no seats, so I had to stand for a good 20 minutes.  Now is a good time to mention that standing/sitting/walking for anything more than 60-90minutes starts to trigger minor discomfort.  Something we didn’t consider in my treatments.  We assumed if I can do the exercises, and continue to do them, it should minimize the discomfort over time.  So by the time I get to work, its been about 40 minutes of standing/walking.

I got to work early (on purpose) so I could sit for a bit and just relax before I actually started my work-day.  9:30am hit, and I went on my first mail-run (I deliver documents from the mailroom, fun stuff – I know) but had help so that I could ease my way back in.  45 minutes later I had to sit, I couldn’t walk anymore – not comfortably.  I also had no medication aside from Tylenol Back-Pain which is a sack of shit.  My normal muscle relaxant was also out of the question a) I was out of them, and b) I would be knocked out shortly after taking it. Not something to take at work.

So by 10:15 I was at reception, and was told to altnernate standing/sitting.  This didn’t sit too well with me (pun intended!) because I knew my limitations – but I did it because I wanted to.  It was fun.  After being home for 2 months, it was nice to be back at work, seeing everyone again.  Yeah, yeah it’s work, who enjoys it?  Well I do!  I was going nuts at home, and my father and I have been at eachothers throats more and more.  Fastforward, 1PM (3hr45m (work) + 40m (commute) – I was well over the 4 hour mark.  I walked to A&W for lunch, sat and ate, then  headed back to work (1hour).  Sat back down for reception, and the discomfort turned to pain.  I just couldn’t find the right position to sit or stand.  I toughed it out as best I could until 4:30, then attempted my last mail-pickup, and decided it’s not something I should be doing when in this much pain.  Couldn’t sleep well that evening, but I hoped that rest would fix the pain.  It didn’t.  I lasted only half the day until I finally said “I can’t do this, I need to go home”.

Went to the doctor and he promptly took me off of work again and asked me to re-start my chiro and physio treatments.  Bleh.

I am slowly going crazy 1,2,3,4,5,6 switch..   Crazy going slowly am I 6 5 4 3 2 1… #@^!!*$%!$^%#!(*%&!$^!&