Baymule’s Journal

[fuzzi]

My neighbor Charles came over yesterday morning to help clean out the open shed that will be MAX’s 3 sided barn. The great part about that is he could use almost all the lumber for things he needs. I had 2 exterior mobile home doors, one with a screen door that he’s going to measure to see if it will fit his door. If not, his chicken coop will have a nice double door to it. LOL We tore lumber out, I secured 2 “floating” support posts that didn’t even touch the ground with T-posts. Yeah, I’m not joking, in the middle front of the open part is a landscape timber that was a little too short, so the previous owner nailed a short 2x6 to the bottom and nailed the other end to a 4x4 post that was set in the ground. It had about a 3 foot gap. I covered the gap with a piece of scrap plywood to keep Max from trying to walk through it. Same thing on the front outside end, floating landscape timber nailed to the 4x4 post set in the ground. There were 2 sections of floor, made with 2x6s maybe 4 or 5 feet long, nailed together and just set on top of landscape timbers. All nails are ring shank 4” nails. Just try pulling those out. We loaded the back of my truck, made 3 trips to Charles and Holly’s house. His driveway is angled, the road is narrow with ditches on both sides. No room to swing in coming from my house. So I drove past it to a split in the road that goes to a gate. I could pull in there and back out. Then I could go up their driveway and back up where Charles wanted it unloaded.

We even took the two gates down off one of the posts at the roping chute, a4’ and a 16’ gate. We leaned them up against the outside back wall of Max’s new barn. He was delighted to have building materials for various projects, I was delighted to have it cleaned up and gone.

Except…….. dumbest thing ever…… while backing my truck out of the split in the road to turn around, I pulled a muscle in my back. I knew I was hurt. After we finished, sent son a text telling him I hurt my back, was down and needed help feeding. I called new neighbor from Switzerland and told her the unhappy news. She came right over bringing food that I can just heat up. She is recovering from back surgery herself.

I tried sitting in my recliner with a heating pad, but the pain got worse. I went to bed to lay down. I texted son and told him to take me to ER. He called right back and came over. Catherine fixed lamb bottles, she fed Tinkerbelle and Mabelline, son fed the other 3. They fed sheep and Max. I got up and went to my car, crying with pain. I. Don’t. Cry.

25 minute ride to hospital, I writhed in agony. In waiting room, I sat in wheelchair, chair, stood up, wiggled, squirmed, tears rolling down my face. Son went back to front desk and I heard him say, “When my Mother says she’s hurting, she is HURTING!” Finally it was my turn and the lady checking me in quickly took information and got me in a room. A guy came in, took vitals and blood, leaving a port in my arm. Nurse came in, gave me all kinds of pain medications and I was out. I slept 45 minutes, they examined me, nothing broken, severe pulled muscle. I woke up, son went to get prescriptions then came back and got me. I took a muscle relaxer and hydrocodone. Stopped at Sonic on way home, I got chicken bites and a drink. Got home, threw up and went to bed.

I’ll be down for several weeks. I’m gonna go nuts.

It’s now 3:13 AM. Just ate a couple pieces of bread, gonna take a muscle relaxer, hope I don’t throw up and try to go back to sleep.

I am SO sorry to hear about your back, what rotten luck. Good that you have some support, there.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

OH no.... So sorry. Hope you heal fast!

 

[SageHill]

OH NO! OWWWW - and we all know it's gotta be really bad for you to be taking those pain meds. The muscle relaxers will probably help heal faster. DH did something ages ago and got the relaxers to help - takes the tension out so it doesn't get continually agrivated.
Praying you heal fast.

 

[Margali]

Ouch! Yesterday must be the day for back injuries!

 

[fuzzi]

Okay @Baymule , I'm going to offer suggestions, from personal experience (Ron, me) and from my 11 years working for chiropractors.

1. Rest as much as you can, but keep moving, carefully
2. Use ice, yes, ICE alternating with heat, starting and ending with cold
3. DO NOT USE HEAT FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES at a time, let the area either cool down or apply ice for 20 minutes
4. Do very slow, gradual, gentle stretches as you can, NEVER so it hurts, and NEVER "bounce!
5. Judicious application of DMSO over clean skin may help, it helps my neck spasms
6. 

 

[RR Homestead]

I'm so sorry to read this. I'll be praying for pain relief and a speedy recovery.

 

[rachels.haven]

Why is it always the dumbest things that get us? And at the dumbest times. I'm so sorry. Get well soon. I hope your family and friends take good care of you.

 

[Mini Horses]

How ya feeling today??

 

[Ridgetop]

In the middle of progress - DISASTER!

For you to ask to go to the ER you must have been practically dead. Thank goodness that Layne is still in town for another couple weeks to help you. Do't do anything except get better. Don't try to pick up anything or bend over. Let the meds do their work and recover. Maybe in a week or so with the muscle relaxers, pain pills, heating pad and ice packs you will be able to get outside, sit in a chair and direct operations.

 

[Baymule]

I have found out that oatmeal and crackers stay down when I take the pills and I don't throw up. It is a beautiful sunny day and all I'm doing is looking out the window. My son is a big man, watching him cradle those bottle lambs to give them their bottles is touching.

My neighbor Charles just brought me food and put it in the refrigerator, that Holly made for me. I am so blessed.

I'm biting the muscle relaxer and hydrocodone in half, can't take whole ones, I throw up. If I don't take them, it hurts. I've been in the recliner most of the morning, so that's an improvement. I'll behave myself because I don't want to reinjure myself and make this last longer.