Day 4 of a Hurt Back

Today's Day 4 of my back hurting. I had a sudden pinched nerve on Monday morning. Or at least I think it's a pinched nerve. My doctor says she'd need an MRI to be sure but claims that insurance won't authorize it until I try other stuff for a few weeks first. 🙄 "Other stuff" means keep taking medication (a muscle relaxant and a painkiller, both prescription strength) and begin PT after a week or so. I don't recall if I had to jump through proverbial hoops while literally barely able to move last time I had an injury like this, years ago. 😠

So, how are things? Well, like I remarked just a moment ago, I'm barely able to move. I can stand and walk, but I'm unsteady and get tired quickly. Sitting for more than about 20 minutes every several hours gets painful. Lying down is the most comfortable position— but how much of my day can I really spend lying down? Fortunately I'm working remotely and don't have a lot of meetings this week, so people can't see me (or ask why my camera is turned off) while I'm working from a prone position on the floor of my office. But even so, I'm achy. Those prescription pills are the only things keeping my misery at 4/10.