The Broken Soldier

Got my instructions in the mail yesterday.  Looks like treatment will be about as fun as not-treatment.  Maybe that’s a blessing as, aside from what’s billed as a temporary pain increase, I won’t notice much of a difference.  Not sure my body can handle much more stress.  I’m sure 16 months of chronic pain has my SAMS/HPA about burned out.  Glucocorticoids destroy these areas.  That is, stress response kills the areas of our brains regulating stress response.  Who said God doesn’t have a sense of humor?

Limited activity.  >5 minutes of sitting, standing, and walking.  No bending or twisting at the waist.  Pain medications, though I’m probably not going to take them.  They’re meant to keep me “comfortable enough to resume basic self-care activities like eating, bathing, and walking to the bathroom.”  I had trouble doing that on 100 mcg/hr of Fentanyl.  I seriously doubt Vikes or whatever other joke of a medication will help much.  I figure smelliness is preferable to waking the Dragons of Opioid/Opiate Addiction.  Up and down the steps once a day.  No sexual intercourse for 4-6 weeks - there’s something very liberating about being completely useless to my wife.  No driving.

“Your inactivity in the last month has weakened your low back muscles and their strength must be restored prior to your return to normal activities.”  You aren’t kidding sister!  Now multiply that by 16, and you’re in the right neighborhood.  “Make your back exercise program a part of your daily routine.  Just like brushing and flossing your teeth!”  Yep, tried that.  Made things worse.  “Regular back exercise will minimize your chance of reinjury.”  Yeah.  Maybe if practically all other prognostic factors from current lit review weren’t working against me.

On the sunny side, I’m sure I’ll be able to work, that is, if ‘mattress tester’ is a real job.  I’ve put my CV on Monster.  Keep your fingers crossed.