NOT AN AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING

          The new year didn’t begin very auspiciously. On December 31^st, I went to bed feeling just fine. During the night, my back began to hurt. When I got up, it hurt a lot, so I iced it, then used a heating pad. That helped some, but not a great deal.

Now, I’ve never had lower back problems…EVER. And, I was looking forward to 2023 being a GREAT year without any serious health or body problems. I’ve tried to figure out what I did on that last day of the year to cause this very uncomfortable pain and, initially, came up with absolutely no specific thing I did to cause my back to spasm like that.

Okay, earlier in the week I lifted the very heavy microwave off the counter, wheeled it out to my car and lifted it inside. Then, I lifted the new microwave, also very heavy, and placed it on the counter. I used my legs, was very careful, and didn’t seem to have any problems for the several days after.

Fortunately, I have some Oxy the doctor gave me some time ago. I cannot remember now why she prescribed it, but apparently whatever the problem was, it didn’t require much in the way of pain medication. I took three over the course of new year’s day, continued to use ice and heat and this morning it feels ever so much better.

And, perhaps the oxy loosened up some brain cells because I finally figured out what I did to hurt my back. I lifted Kuma so we could be on the scale together and see how much he weighs…32 pounds. Well, I think that 32 pounds is what caused my back to hurt since most of the pain was on the side where I held him as we stood on the scale.

Today, I haven’t taken any oxy and am in the process of finishing what I started yesterday. Christmas has been removed and the process of cleaning and rearranging the living room is underway. Unfortunately, the furniture, rug, plants, etc., are all HEAVY. I’ve a feeling I’ll be visiting the freezer, plugging in the heating pad and perhaps taking another oxy or two. I’m not even sure I’ll finish what I’ve started, but that’s okay.  My first priority is me, myself and I. We need to take care of each other. Everything else is and must be secondary.