Bit fucked up...

[Spallalala]

Well its good to see the good folk of horror kept him sane ( well as sane as he can be anyway) :)

I just noticed this big lump in my back too , no more flat back for me.

Dayum drugs making me all funky.

But yes bascially ok. Learning some breathing techniques and trying to figure out how to get outta bed in less then an hour anyway.

If you guys know of any stretches or any advice you can throw at me it would be appreciated.

[bloodrayne]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

L2 and L3 if that means anything to anyone

That means 'Lumbar 2 and Lumbar 3'...The spine is labeled in 3 separate parts:

Cervical - Those are the vertebrae in the neck, from the base of the skull, to the shoulders

Thoracic - From the shoulders, to just below the waist

Lumbar - From below the waist, to the tailbone (Sacrum)

Each individual vertebra is numbered, from bottom to top...So, Lumbar 2 and 3 are the second and third vertebra in the lower back

Lumbar injuries cause the most problems and pain because that's the part of the back where we carry the most weight when we're standing upright, and that's the part that gets pulled on the most when we bend over...It's also more difficult for this part of the back to heal BECAUSE it's used so much

I'm sure that by now the doctors have explained all of this to you, I'm just laying it out here to let you know that I know what you're going through (and to inform our other members if they're curious)...

Originally Posted by Spallalala

If you guys know of any stretches or any advice you can throw at me it would be appreciated.

Anna, you're really going to have to take it easy for quite a while, I wouldn't try 'stretching' just yet (you should be able to tell when it's the right time, when there's the least amount of pain and potential disk slippage)...There's not really much that they can do for these types of injuries...If you haven't tried walking up and down any stairs yet, I'll tell ya right now, that's gonna be a major bitch (It's because of the way the weight is distributed kinda crooked on the lower back when you step up or down and one foot is higher than the other)...I feel for ya, I really do

Daily Calcium supplements will help to strengthen the bones, you may wanna try that especially since you're female (females generally start to 'lose' calcium as they get older, over 25...It can lead to osteoporosis, so it's really not a bad idea to take Calcium supplements even if you hadn't injured your back)

If it's possible for you to lose weight, or if that's something you might considered doing, that would help a LOT for the pain because it would put much less stress and pressure on your lower back while standing AND bending over...That would give Cheeba more things to experiment with, low fat, low calorie dishes that taste awesome and are filling :)

If you DO need to bend over for something (like picking something up off the floor) you should SQUAT, not BEND...That will help to take the stress off of your back, too and help to keep the lower vertebrae from slipping...And you shouldn't attempt to lift anything heavy for a VERY long time

You'll most likely develop arthritis in these bones (it happens once they've been injured) and rain and cold will REALLY fuck with it...But, that shouldn't be for at least a couple years...Usually when the vertebrae are injured, the cartilage in between the bones is injured too and can erode over time, causing the bones to rub together in spots and sometimes pinching nerves (which can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and sometimes immobility)...So, please be ALWAYS aware of your lower back and what you're doing to/with it

Getting out of bed after you've slept (or just laid still) for a while, will be a bit difficult because the area can stiffen up from immobility...But, after getting up and around for a bit, it should ease up

You'll also have swelling in that area from time to time, which makes a sore, tender "lump"...That's to let you know when you've overdone it, and it can also happen if you've just slept on it wrong, slipped it or twisted it...Lightly massaging it (when it isn't too sore to touch) can help loosen it up and ease the pain...Laying in a hot tub of water can help for the pain, but a cold compress can help ease the swelling (but usually makes it hurt more :()...I guess it's kinda your choice on that one

I feel so very bad for you...I know what kind of a bitch this is

*comes from a family with a long history of back problems....and was also a stellar anatomy student (for what that's worth :p)*

My best to you, Anna

[crabapple]

(and make sure to watch some monster movies while wrapped in a blanket sipping hot cocoa. make you feel GOOD! well you probably doing that anyway huh!)

[Spallalala]

Actually, the really fucked up thing is that the drs didn't explain what was going on..They said l2 l3 and that I shouldn't worry. I had to do a little googling to find out some stuff which was worrying me, like my body temp goin from normal to very hot quickly. If they had mentioned that I wouldn't have been freakin out as much.

I do a few toe and foot stretches in bed before I try and get up to help but still hard as fuck.

As for losing weight well thats always been on the agender. Right now from the meds ( I think you guys call it vicadon or something) its making me a lil constipated even with all the fresh fruit and veg, I backed off from the meat to help me out.

As for the stairs well I had to do that as soon as I walk in cos we have a few flights up haha so yeah one step at a time.

For the little lump well I know where that is hehe. Found that lil one today.

I know about the squating thing hehe..I had a back problem when I was younger so I was taught well about that one. Learnt my lesson many times from bending hehe.

Hot choccy sounds good. Got one from starbucks last week which was awesome and tasted like dark choco. Not too milky and not too sickly.

I still maintain I won't be blaiming the horse at all..If it wasn't for the stupid laser skrimish I reckon nothing would have happened....The sound the guns make sound like toy guns so yeah.

Either way. I can walk so no complaints. Just gotta take it easy.

Thanks for the support guys. I knew there was always good folk in horror.

[Roderick Usher]

I'm so glad to hear you're up and moving...even if it is a little zombie-ish.

Hope you can keep your spirits up during the rehab process. Attitude is half the battle.

All of us here are wishing you a speedy and COMPLETE recovery.

[Spallalala]

Yknow what sucks the most when you are injured, is that you feel every other bloody bone and muscle in your body cos they gotta support the bad bits hehe. Right now my right hip is sore ( thats from leaning over the first 2 days i was out ) hurt the top of my back cos I put my bra on when I was told not too haha, then the upper arms cos I keep lifting myself and the calf muscles oh man.

Im still wanting to know what the hell I did wrong to deserve this I mean cmon, this has to be karma getting back at me. Keep sitting ( well laying ) there running through my mind...Perhaps its just a lesson in life to see if I can get past something bad, preparing me for something worse.

Yknow what sucks the most, I got my haircut almos 2 weeks ago, cost me a shitload and to maintain it I gotta do all this shit to it and I can't right now haha. Dammit. Im ment to sit and use about 4 different hair products, blow dry my hair and straighten the fucker. Pfffft! I say right now. Maybe thats it, I spent too much on a haircut and karma hit me back haha.

[Despare]

One step at a time...

"Wiggle your big toe."

Just keep positive, at least you get the chance to push through.

[Spallalala]

Im wiggling im wiggling. :P

[ferretchucker]

Clean thoughts, clean thoughts, clean thoughts.

[scarecrow666]

Glad your OK.Take it easy and take each day at a time.