Bill Sandusky, off from work on medical leave due to a bad fall that resulted in a badly strained back, shares his thoughts about his situation.
Friday, February 25, 2006, early morning (VERY early)~
Dear Journal~
Seems that my wife and some of my children have caught the journaling bug; maybe it's MY turn. After all, I HAVE been banished to the house and am unable to work right now due to a bad fall I had earlier in the week.
I am in such pain right now it isn't funny. Guess I will have to hit the pain meds before too long that Dr. Harlowe gave me yesterday--
I fell earlier in the week on the ice we had. I thought I broke something in my back: my back right now is absolutely killing me (but then, THAT is nothing new!). I have had chronic back pain for the last ten years, and it has aged me. I am only in my upper 30's, just a young man by age standards, but I feel more like a man of 90. I have had two back surgeries, but both have only been mildly successful; therefore, back pain and I are very well acquainted, and we have gotten to know each otehr very well.
I also have degenerative disk disease coupled with osteoarthritis as well as sciatica, so pain is something I am used to. I am used to hurting.
To take some of the "edginess" off my back and joints, Dr. Harlowe has me walking on a pair of forearm crutches. They DO help, but I would rather NOT use them. For one thing, I am always tripping on the durn things, or else when I put them aside, they seem to be in the way. I am a very tall man (well over 6 1/2 feet; I am 6' 9 1/2" in fact!), so my crutches are VERY long. All the more reason for them to be a big bother.
Louie (she's my beautiful wife) keeps telling me to go to the doctor, to see if they can do something to put an end to all this misery, but I guess I am too stubborn, too hardheaded to do so. Maybe I LIKE being in pain, I DON'T know; but I HAVE had two prior back surgeries, and both have only been partially successful. Now it's like I am back to square one with this fall, and I am in severe pain yet again. *OW*
Having back problems makes one think about the misery and uncertainty of their situation. When your back hurts, it sems that EVERYTHING hurts, and you feel miserable, absolutely miserable! You wish for relief, and you can only do so much before your back is screaming for mercy because it is hurting again.
In my case, it doesn't take much before my back is talking to me.
With all that I have been through on account of my back, I still think I lead a pretty charmed life. I have a woman who worships me, we have a beautiful rainbow of children that we adopted into our home, we have the loving companinoship of many pets, and we have our jobs (now I am on "paid medical leave" until I recuperate; hopefully I will be back to my job in a few weeks or so, depending on how fast I heal).
I also have a very strong faith in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I think He is the Reason why I have been so blessed. I know He will be taking care of me, and maybe this is His way of telling me that I shouldn't be working. Maybe I need to spend more time with my family.
I WAS unemployed for years, but then Wal*Mart gave me a chance, and I have now been with them for three years. (I am a "greeter": I greet the people as they come into the store, direct them if they need assistance, and bid them a farewell as they leave, thanking them for "choosing Wal*Mart, and do come back again".
At work, I sit on a stool, and if I have to go anywhere, I use my electric cart because it is easier on me. My supes know that I am disabled and walk with assistance, so they have made allowances for me to use my cart when I need to go to another area in the store. It's the same when we go to other places that require heavy-duty walking; but most other places I just use my sticks. :)
Well, I am going to TRY to get some sleep after I take one of my pills. If THAT doesn't do the trick, NOTHING will. I am taking Flexeril, and it knocks me OUT. It isn't long after I take it before I am in La-La Land, but boy, it sure does help the pain (for a LITTLE while, at lesst)! On THAT note, good night! (Or good MORNING; after all, it was a little before five when I started writing!)
Re-Release! No longer back-listed. Return to the Olde Ways. The hustle and bustle of modern day life has brought many of us to a quick fix attitude.This book is for those of you who are fed up; have looked at your life and your loved ones and realize
