Pain!

I don't think I've ever been in as much pain as I was yesterday. When I got up yesterday morning I couldn't get up. Seriously. It took me over an hour to inch myself off the bed. I felt like Randy in A Christmas Story, "I can't get up!" It was early so I called in to work, saying I wouldn't be in. I was racked with back pain and spasms. It was ungodly. I brushed my teeth and tried to get dressed, so I could be ready to go to my doctor as soon as he could see me. I was just in my bra and panties when as excruciating spasm overtook me, the top part of my left leg became tingly and I collapsed on my bed. This time I really couldn't get up. I couldn't move and I was still in pain lying still. Fortunately, the phone was on my bed. I called my doctor's office-my doctor is out sick. The doc covering him wouldn't be able to see me until late afternoon, so they told me to go to the emergency room. Great, but here I was in my underwear in my room unable to move with a dog who'll attack anyone but my parents if they try to come in the house. I was in so much pain I was crying. I calmed down and called my folks and asked them to come up to take care of the animals. Thank God they were home...and able to come. They told me to wait there and they'd help me dress. Of course, they live over an hour away-so it took a while. Barrett lay down next to me, trying to keep me warm-I couldn't even get under the covers. Eventually, he got up and I got frustrated. I wanted clothes on! It took me about an hour and a half, but I did it. I was dressed-although I still had my sleep socks on and no shoes-when my folks arrived. My dad then drove me to the emergency room. I had another fear realized that day. My mother would see the state of my house-including the upstairs, without me preparing for her. Fortunately, she's so worried about me she hasn't said anything...yet.

The hospital got me into triage super quick, but then it was over an hour and a half of excruciating pain before I got to the back, then more time to be seen, then finally get some pain meds. I was on some drip to get me hydrated, then an IV of some pain killer that begins with a T and morphine. I also took a pill of flexeral- a muscle relaxant. I like the morphine. It felt like I drank 2 bottles of Andre champagne. However, it didn't take the pain away. I was taken for x-rays and everything came back clean. I got more morphine and was able to come home with prescriptions for flexeral and vicodin.

I'm still in a lot of pain-but it's not the screaming kind (yes, I was screaming in agony yesterday). I can't stay in one position long (I had to stop several times and get up and move around while composing this post.) and it's very hard to get comfortable-sitting, lying, or standing. What's worse is the burning tingling in my left leg. I guess the back muscles pinched a nerve and it hasn't relaxed enough yet. It could be a couple of days. I count the hours until I can take my next pill!

So far 2009 isn't better than 2008. Let's hope it gets better soon!