Please, Make It Stop

 For several days now I've been dealing with a muscle spasm in my back--not too bad during the day but utterly hellish at night. I've had these spasms now and again for years--usually as a result of standing in the kitchen to prepare a big holiday meal--or from sitting at the sewing machine or quilting frame too long. Or, drat it, from bending over to work on a watercolor.

Usually if I take a strong pain pill and go to bed, I wake up the next morning with the spasm resolved. But this one hasn't gone away so, in desperation (and because I was out of pain meds) I got an emergency appointment in Mars Hill.

The doctor (another kid) made some suggestions--PT, topical pain relief--and kindly wrote a script for more pain meds. For years I've managed this back condition with caution and very few pills -- the fact that my last prescription in April was for 10 pills and I've only just now run out convinced him that I didn't seem to be an addict.

After picking up the pills (and getting a flu shot,) I made a quick pass through the grocery store and now I'm home, sitting with a heating pad and a mug of hot tea while John makes dinner. I really want this to clear up--I haven't had an untroubled night's sleep in almost a week.

Of course, this is nothing to the troubles of many others--my friend Sandy is especially in my thoughts. She's been dealing with terrible back issues for over a year now.

Which kinda puts things in perspective.

Onward!

UPDATE: As of Friday morning. I took one pill at 3 pm yesterday and the pain went away. I had a very good night's sleep and woke with no pain. Have taken no more pills but they are there if I need them. Hoorah!