On Saturday, February 13th, 2010 I was on my way home from my parents house. Mark and I took separate cars because the kids had stayed the night there and we left them the van. I talked Mark into taking the boys while Emily would stay and help me vacuum a much need van out. I stopped at Ann & Rainbow’s Terrible Herbst’s car wash.
The car was starting to look new as the vacuum sucked up the last vacation’s mess. My back was starting to tighten up and ache. You know the way it does when you are bent over for a long period of time loading & organizing the car with luggage for a long trip.
I was more than half way down and was just going to push through it. Then I could sit in the car as it went through the automatic carwash and as we drove home.
With my left foot up on the mud step, I reached in the back with the hose to vacuum under the back seat when I felt a stab of pain in my low back on the right side. The pain was so bad I couldn’t move. I began to cry. Emily, my 9yr old daughter, asked what was wrong. I told her I couldn’t move.
It took everything, to get in the car. No matter what, I didn’t want to be standing outside where others would wonder or worry want was going on. I pulled and scooted and crawled my way into the back captain seat. I don’t know how I did it. I couldn’t lift my left leg even a ⅛ inch off the ground; no matter how hard I tried. I ended up lifting that leg in with my hands.
I tried to relax and feel better on my own but I soon relented and told Emily to get my cell, which was in the driver’s door handle/pocket. We needed to call dad and tell him he needed to come pick us up. I was so worried about calling him while crying because I didn’t want him to think I had been in a car accident. The car was fine. Emily was fine. I wasn’t. I knew something was wrong.
He was already home, 20min away, and I was concerned that he would think I was being a wimp and would be put out by driving all the way back. I knew when he got home we would just want to stay. I worried for nothing. I should have known better. He is the best.
He did sound a little frustrated but quickly came. We sat for a few minutes trying to figure out what to do. I knew I needed to see a chiropractor. We called Bill Leavitt, Mark’s old bishop. He didn’t answer. We called Josh Purcell, who’s in our ward. He didn’t answer (they had gone to Utah). We called Dr. Profant, who was who I saw growing up. He didn’t answer. We finally got smart and remembered the Mark’s mom works for a chiropractor’s office. We call her, she called one of the doctors. He couldn’t meet us for about 2hrs so we went home.
There were only a couple of positions I could sit comfortably on the way home. Arg. Once home, I had to put all my weight on Mark just to walk into the house. I couldn’t stand up straight. I was hunched to the front and to the right. My right hip felt soo much higher than it should be. I couldn’t lean forward or backward more than a ¼ inch. It was so horrible. However, like an true girl I still wanted my hair and makeup done before I saw someone new. I felt horrible but didn’t have to look horrible as well. Since I couldn’t walk up the stairs, Mark was kind enough (relenting to my girlish and some what foolish & unnecessary “needs”) to bring me my curling iron and make-up down stairs.
It was finally time to see the chiropractor. We met the doctor, Linda and my parents at the chiropractor’s office. My parents took the kids to get something to eat, while Linda filled out my paperwork and Mark helped me. I couldn’t have done it without them! Thanks! I love you guys so much!
Side note: Funny enough of all weeks this had to happen this week. Our family was suppose to speak in church the next day. Mark talked about postponing it but I refused. We were suppose to talk a few weeks before but our family got sick and they got another family to fill in. I was not going to copout on this one, the day before. I brought my Crocs along with me to church. After sitting on the stand I changed from my chunky heels to comfy flat black Crocs. I’m sure the bishopric had a good laugh but no one else new. I think the talks went well. I was so proud of our kids. They did so well! Even Ryan wrote his own talk. It was the first time for all of them to give talks in church. (Emily & Trey have borne their testimony but have not given actual talks).
You thought giving talks were bad enough? Nope. I had a scout training meeting on Tuesday which I had to teach to all the stake scout leaders. Haha It went well. I stood most of the time and just leaned on the podium. I probably looked like a dork. My presidency helped so much. They set up everything for me. It was soo hard not to do anything! Thank you girls so much! You’re the best!
I think I had something else this week but don’t remember right now. It was just a crazy week. Ironic.
Well, long story short… That one visit helped so much. I continued to go to Dr. Leavitt’s everyday for about two weeks. I didn’t dare to drive, so my fabulous mom took me every time for the first week and a half. I love you Mom! One time it was so bad Mark called Leavitt and we went to visit him at his house. Thankfully, Mark is like his son so I feel comfortable enough to call and ask for something like that.
Visits slowly decreased… I was soon going only 3 days a week, then 2 days and now am at only 1 day a week. During those visits an x-ray was ordered. Everything looked great. Dr Leavitt said that though an MRI could show more he really didn’t think anything was very wrong. Insurance wise you need to have six weeks of conservative care (ie. Chiro) before an MRI could be ordered. At the end of those six weeks I was better but still in a fair amount of pain. So we did an MRI.
The MRI report came back 4 or 5 days later. That was a long 4 days. The report read that I had a mild torn bulging disc. I KNEW something was wrong. Dr Leavitt informed me that this "just didn't happen." It was just the last straw of something building....I was glad to finally know for sure and of what we were dealing with. He said that it would never get better but that we could keep it from getting worse. Oh boy. Now what….
Mark & I discussed what we needed/could do to keep it from getting worse. I would continue with the chiropactor on a regular basics. I had to make sure I did my daily stretches. I had to get my extra weight off, which would take A LOT of pressure off my back. But what could I do and not do with a back injury? We needed to hire a personal trainer with a physical therapy certificate.
We found that those at Gold’s Gym did not have a PT certificate so we would have to look else where. Times like these are when social networking rocks! I posted, on my Facebook, needed referrals and got a great response. And so the journey begins….
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