Old wounds die hard. Last call.

Nothing like an old injury creeping back up and reminding you that yes, you are indeed mortal.

I’ve had lower back problems for the better part of 30 years. Thank NOT lifting with your knees, lifting things you shouldn’t lift, and working on cement floors for most of your adult life. In 2016 it all came to a head when I had a herniated disc which became a drop foot and then eventually extreme pain. At the end of March that year I had a discectomy, which is when they go in and cut off the portion of the disc that’s herniated and is crushing the spinal nerve. That was successful in that the numbness went away, as did the pain.

I haven’t had to have any back surgeries since, but that doesn’t mean the back pain completely goes away.

Along with the herniated disc I have what is called spinal stenosis. When the ortho doc mentioned that I went into freakout mode, thinking that meant my spine was hardening and crumbling inside my body. Turns out, it’s basically arthritis of the spine due to years of use…and at that time it was 43 years of use. Most working class folks have some degree of it, just depends on your years of service in the blue collar brigade.

So every once in a while my lower back screams and tells me to take a beat. I’m not quite sure what it was I did over the weekend(mowing, picking up a bag of groceries wrong, turned too quickly), but by Sunday afternoon my lower back had that familiar “pinch” feeling, like it did before everything went downhill over ten years ago. There are stretches I do to help, as well as the ice/hot/ice routine. Tiger balm is also a big help. It hurt most of Sunday afternoon and clear through Monday.

Yesterday after work I came straight home, walked Celeste for a decent amount of time, then headed back home and crashed for the evening. I changed, grabbed a comfortable blanket, and Celeste and I vegged out in the recliner watching movies. My wife had plans to go to Fort Wayne to the Clyde Club Room with some work friends and enjoy some open mic entertainment, but before she left she gooped me up with some Tiger Balm and then was on her way. The Tiger Balm helped a lot, as did just being quiet and getting lost in a movie or two. And having Celeste laying on me in the chair was like having a living, breathing weighted blanket on me.

I think I’m also fighting a virus of some sort. I’ve had a low grade fever the last couple of days. My BP has been elevated from its usual 100s over 70s into the 130s over 80s. I’m checking it daily(like I have since I got out of the hospital.) I’ve been a little achier than usual, and my nose has been running, so I’m sure the elevated BP is from my body working overtime to not get full blown sick.

I’ve felt so good over the last few months that feeling crappy feels, well, even crappier. I don’t take good health for granted anymore. I didn’t think I did prior to all of this, but until I started feeling really bad at the beginning of the year I didn’t know what feeling bad truly was. Being hobbled by an pinched back nerve and body pains from a virus have reminded me to not take feeling good for granted. I’ve felt much worse than this, believe me. But damn I do love feeling good.

Which brings me to the conclusion that I’m done with drinking my favorite beers. I didn’t drink for three months after everything that went down with my BP, and I didn’t miss it. I do enjoy a nice beer buzz while watching a horror movie or two, but the older I get the harder it is to not feel crappy afterwards. I think I’m just at the age where I had my fun with the hops, but it’s time to move on. I can enjoy myself just as much without the added calories, fluid weight, and haze the next day. Plus, at $17 for 4 pints that’s money I could spend of ginger ale, tart cherry juice, and some maki rolls.

Anyways, that’s where I’m at on a Tuesday morning. Feeling better than yesterday, and the day before that. The screaming back is now just a slight whisper, working towards silence. And hopefully this bug decides to move on soon. I’ve got some fancy duds to buy this weekend for a wedding on the 17th. My old work buddy’s oldest daughter is getting married, so that will be fun.

Over. But not out.