Back at Work
Monday of this week (21st August 2006) I returned to work after being off since 3rd August 2006 because of a back injury at work. I was on a ladder lifting a box from the top shelf and moving it to the shelf below that so that I could reach more easily from ground level to fill the shelf. To move it to the shelf below the top shelf, I had to turn, while holding the box, left and place it down on the shelf. As I turned I felt a rather sharp pain in my lower back.
I continued to work.
The pain was there but I thought it would settle down.
The next day proved to be some what of a challenge just to get out of bed let alone get showered, dried and dressed. The pain was very intense and had moved to the front as well as my lower back. Some how I managed to do all that and get myself to work. By about 1100 I had some difficulty walking as the pain got worse but I saw the day out.
Thinking that Wednesday was bad, Thursday was X 100 on Wednesday.
I thought I would not be able to get out of bed because of the excoriating pain.
I did sort of fall out of bed and got myself on my feet to very slowly walk to the telephone and call work to tell them I would not be coming in and was going into the hospital. The whole while crying.
Mum was away on holiday visiting a long time dear friend in Queensland and was not coming back until Monday so I drove myself to the hospital. I drove mum's car because it is automatic. I had no hope change gears in my car! It took me three hours to get showered, dried, dressed and to the emergency department at Casey Hospital. Crying almost uncontrollably because of the pain. I walked slowly and gingerly through the door with the help of two very kind ladies who allowed me to lean on them.
I could not sit so once "processed" by the Triage Nurse, I was helped by another nurse to a bed but the walk was so slow and painful that I bite down hard on my teeth as I sat in the wheel chair and was wheeled to a bed. I thought things could not possibly be more difficult or more painful but getting on the bed and trying to turn to get as comfortable as I possibly could, was way up there on the scale of pain.
The doctor came and examined me, asking all sorts of questions.
The nurse came shortly after and was getting ready to insert a needle for the pain killer but I told her I would pass out and so I was declared needle phobic. Pain killers were delivered by way of a cocktail of 6 tables which took about 20 minutes to work. Morphine based, they made me feel reasonably good given what I was like just 20 odd minutes before.
The Physiotherapist was the next to visit. He showed me how to get on and off the bed with the least amount of pain. How to sit on the toilet and how to turn on the bed. He also gave me two exercises which would help the pain and strengthen my back.
I have to send a huge thank you to all the wonderful nurses and doctors who tended to me at Casey Hospital. They are the nicest medical folk I have had to deal with.
The next day I saw my doctor who gave me more pain killers and anti inflammatries and a referral to a Physiotherapist closer to home. I saw the Physiotherapist the following week on two occasions. She gave me an additional three exercises and wanted to see me twice in the coming week.
Things seem to improve reasonably well.
This afternoon I saw the Physiotherapist and she is really pleased with my progress.
I have to say that, possibly for the first time ever in my life, I did as I was told by my GP, the medical people at Casey Hospital and by the Physiotherapists.
Signing off for today.
