Yesterday my daughter & OH spent much of the day sorting out our garage, which was in desperate need of de-cluttering & re-organising. They did a terrific job, 2 loads taken to the tip, some stuff disposed of on Freecycle, garage is now well organised, I can find things which I forgot I owned and a great job was done .... that's the good news.
The not so good news, literally as he was coming in the back door as they'd finished, he bent to pick something up and move it .... and did his back in! We think it's probably muscular but he's uncomfortable when staying still but in pain when trying to move. At present there's only one chair in the house he can sit in (because the others are all too low to get in & out of) and he's using a broom-handle to help him move around. Taking painkillers, ice/heat applied to the area (lower back) and trying not to stay in the same position for too long as it all seems to seize up.
Needless to say, he couldn't drive his usual Monday morning trip to work (100 miles) as he could barely get out of bed & go to the bathroom, at least he can still use a laptop & a phone so he's going to have to work from home this week.
Beginning to wish that he hadn't bothered - the price for a tidy garage may be too high
Happy and sad to hear this Jax. A good clear out makes you feel good but my heart goes out to your OH. I remember when OH and YD went to center parcs for the week, I was really looking forward to some time to myself and had planned myself a lovely week. Just after they left, thought I'd just get the housework done first before I started indulging and I twisted my back while I was hoovering. That was my week down the swanny!
How is your OH using a broom to help?
Its great how people can work from home these days when they can't make it to the office. Must be nice having him there this week, if not you can set him up in the nice tidy garage
There is a lot to be said for being part of a group, and the support and friendship that is gained from this.
Now there's a thought B! He is using the broom handle (I've unscrewed the brush from the bottom) to haul himself up out of the chair and keep himself steady as he tries to move about.
Hoovering is definitely a dangerous sport and should be embarked on with great caution!
Oh Jax, poor man Is hubs talking ibuprofen? He can alternative them with paracetamol. E.g. every two hours. They are both different meds. Check with the pharmacy if you're not sure. Do you think it might be sciatica? Lower back pain radiating down the leg? He needs to try and keep moving. All this sorting things out is definitely dangerous! It sounds as though hoovering is not much better. I hope he gets better soon. Sending hugs.
Trisha
You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. C. S. Lewis
Hi Trisha, yes - he's alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain. I think something was tweaked when he lifted & twisted something fairly heavy and a muscle has gone into spasm. He keeps having a little walk around but it's getting in & out of the chair which is most difficult. He looks like Rafiki from the Lion King with this broom handle in his hand! Thanks for your good wishes.
Mr Jax recovered sufficiently to return to the office this week - much to the relief of both of us. I think it's given him a bit of a scare though, you know how men can be - they think they're indestructible and when they discover they aren't, it takes them by surprise.
Sorry to hear that hubby was struck down with this. It can often be the slightest thing that sets off a bad back and he will have to be careful what he does for a while. The trouble is you forget, so remind him not to try and be Kratos !
My job is very effective at giving people bad backs. So, I exercise my back every day, thus I rarely get back aches, and I almost never get back pains.
If he is prone to back pains, he ought to be looking at prevention techniques.
My job is very effective at giving people bad backs. So, I exercise my back every day, thus I rarely get back aches, and I almost never get back pains.
If he is prone to back pains, he ought to be looking at prevention techniques.
I'm very curious 6herry - what do you do? MH suffers from joint ache brought on by the change in the weather but now that we drink my artemisia annua tea (home grown) every night this problem is slowly but surely going away. The Chinese have been using this herb for ages.
Hi Lin, Is this the one otherwise known as sweet wormwood? You grow this yourself? Can you explain how much you use to make your tea and is it just the one cup every night:)
There is a lot to be said for being part of a group, and the support and friendship that is gained from this.
First put both hands behind your back and push, like you see gardeners do when they have been digging.
Lie on your back and bring your feet towards your bottom. Then lower both knees sideways to the floor. Do both sides 5 times each.
Still on your back, grip your thighs with your hands and try to put your forehead between your thighs. Do this quickish 10 times.
Finally on your back, try to stretch your legs out as long as they will go. Likewise with your neck. Once you are at max stretch put your arms up and over the back of your head so you are as long as possible. Hold this for 10 seconds, then repeat all four exercises.
When you have finished, go onto your knees and try to make the smallest ball out of yourself that you can, that straightens all the muscles back out.
This lot should only take a few minutes so is easy to do.
If you get any pain at any point back off a little and do the lesser exercise. None of this should coz pain.