Back Injury: Day 30

Today is Day 30 of the sudden back injury I suffered last month. 30 days means I'm supposed to be all better, right? I mean, that's how long the prescription medications are given for. 😜

I'm actually doing fairly well. The back pain isn't gone-gone but it's... mostly gone? I quit taking the prescription painkiller 10 days ago even as I resumed hiking (moderately, not strenuously). Other than a few minor pain flares I could treat with OTC pills I've been fine.

I started tapering off the prescription muscle relaxant by dropping to half the recommended dose Friday. I figure it's better to taper down to a half dose for several days and then quit, rather than quit cold-turkey. Since then I've felt back pain twice.... Once was Saturday, when I flew to the East Coast. Sitting in coach for several hours will do a number on anyone's back. The second time was yesterday, when we visited a museum. (I'll post about that soon. UPDATE: Visiting the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum.) Walking around on poured concrete floors for several hours is tough on the back.

All in all, today is the last day of my nominal prescription, and that's the plan I'm going to follow. After I post this I will take the last (half) dose I intend to take.

Now I just gotta remember to do core-strengthening exercises every day.

2 Days 'til Thanksgiving and Already I'm Stuffed

It's not even Thanksgiving yet— it's two days away still— and already I feel like I've done nothing but eat all week. Flying out east to visit friends and relatives we haven't seen for at least 2 years, in some cases 3 or more, has meant lots of celebratory meals. I overate delicious food at lunch and dinner Saturday lunch, took it somewhat easy Sunday lunch but was stuffed after dinner, then took it easy Monday lunch but was stuffed after an excellent dinner. Today I was surprisingly stuffed after what I thought was a modest lunch, and feel stuffed again tonight after what I thought was another normal-sized meal. And I still have to get through tomorrow with enough room in my stomach to survive Thanksgiving Day. I'd say "ugh" but the good food and good company are hard to regret.