Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of talk online about Eric Jones and his back injury, and it reminded me of my own struggles with back pain a few years back. So, I thought I’d share my experience and what I did to get back on my feet, literally.
It all started with a really dumb move. I was trying to lift a heavy box – I mean, really heavy – and I felt this sharp, searing pain in my lower back. I knew right away something was wrong. I went down like a sack of potatoes, and couldn’t even stand up straight.
The first few days were rough. I spent most of my time lying in bed, popping pain relievers like they were candy. I could barely move without this awful, shooting pain going down my leg. It was miserable.
My Road to Recovery
After a week of no improvement, I finally dragged myself to a doctor. Got some X-rays done, and it turned out I had a slipped disc. No fun at all. The doctor recommended physical therapy, so I started going twice a week.
Honestly, the first few PT sessions were brutal. It felt like they were torturing me. Simple stretches and exercises felt impossible, and I was always sore afterward. But, I stuck with it. Slowly, very slowly, things started to improve.
- Weeks 1-4: Basic stretches, mostly just trying to get some movement back in my spine. Lots of ice packs and heat therapy at home.
- Weeks 5-8: Started incorporating some core strengthening exercises. Things like planks and bridges (with modified versions, of course). Still lots of pain, but manageable.
- Weeks 9-12: I could see improvement, no doubt about that. I was able to do more in therapy, and the pain was less frequent and less intense. We started focusing on more functional movements, like bending and lifting (with very light weights).
It was a long, slow process, but I finally started to feel like myself again. It took months, but I eventually got back to about 90% of where I was before the injury. I still have to be careful, especially when lifting things, but I’m so much better than I was.
I guess my biggest takeaway is to listen to your body. Don’t try to be a hero and lift something that’s clearly too heavy. And if you do hurt your back, don’t wait too long to get it checked out. The sooner you start treatment, the better.
And always, I will take care of myself. I will pay more attention to my body.
