When Low Back Pain Shows Up and Reorders Your Life

Many times, ill health does not ask your permission

How It all began

About 3 weeks ago, I was bending over, helping my nieces sort out their laundry, and developed lower back pain. I had not experienced this kind of pain in a very long time. I had spent a significant time touting the absence of pain in my life in relation to my daily intake of anti-inflammatory foods.

So this one took me completely by surprise. It was also very inconvenient. I just started my vacation and had a long way to go then viola. I received this providential gift.

I still had lots of people and places to visit, but with the pain, I started dreading the commute of traveling from one destination to another.

Living with the pain

I also could not study. Yes, this was a trip for bonding, but I also hoped to chip in more study time. Depending on how much ground I covered, I could write my board exams after the vacation. Well, with the pain, I couldn’t study effectively. Prolonged sitting aggravates low back pain.

I hadn’t stopped my green veggies and colored fruits. I just ate more frequently. I still exercised, but not as much as I previously used to. The result: increased belly fat. Abdominal fat puts extra weight on the spine.

Yes, I am a physician, but I have some aversion to medication. I only use medicines when I have no choice. So, I lived with the inconvenience. I knew wrong posturing had a lot to do with it and tried to find a way around that.

Somewhere along the way, I started using hot water bottles and massages. It kinda helped, but the pain never quite disappeared. By the end of my vacation, I had some respite, but my joy was short-lived.

I have a habit of rummaging through my storage. One day, I was doing just that and the pain returned in full force. I started to curse and swear. This time around, I visited the family physician.

I requested imaging which he declined, saying that most times, muscular strains caused this sort of pain. These strains wouldn’t show up on X-rays. If he obliged me, I would end up with useless radiation in my body. I agreed to just take meds. We also agreed to revisit imaging only if the pain was still present in a month.

My life became kinda hellish. I couldn’t sleep except on my stomach. Of course, I could not bend. If I laughed or coughed or sneezed, my back would ache. The worst of it all was I could not study effectively. It was as if my back said: “take a break.” I did not need that break, but then, to study for long hours, I needed to sit my ass down. There was no ass to sit down with.

Just before this whole saga, I recently began doing long hours at the library. Those sessions were good. Unfortunately, the library had no standing tables. Besides, my exam is almost 5 hours long. I am not sure if they have any accommodation for people with low back pain.

My life now

I did not take time off work. The option of staying home in limited positions was not appealing. It would only aggravate the pain. I preferred going to the office cos I knew I could alternate between sitting, standing, squatting, and walking.

My study sessions now average an hour to two with frequent interruptions. That’s the best I can do with this providential gift I have received. My life’s now no bending, no spine twists, no heavy lifting, less sitting, more squatting, and more walks. I had to opt for taxis cos their commutes are much shorter than the buses. As a bonus, I have fallen in love with the office chair. That’s one seat that can cradle my ass without asking for much in return.

Thanks to Jason Edmunds.