According to google, the term quarantine comes from the Italian quaranta, meaning forty. This was the number of days ships were required to be isolated before passengers could go ashore during the Black Death epidemic.
Today is the four week mark since my back injury on the mountain bike. I haven't been in quarantine the entire 28 days but in the last 5 days, I've only left the house twice for trips to the hospital. I'm starting to improve thanks to the quarantine and prednisone pack, and today I am feeling a little stir-crazy. I take that as a good sign compared to the horrible pain that kicked in strong a week ago.
Injury Timeline:
7/28: I had a major back spasm during an afterwork mountain bike that led to a quick escape.
7/29-30: Ice, rest, and a couple spins on the road bike to try and heal.
7/31: Massage
8/1-9: Tour of Utah - The massage had done wonders and being involved with the Tour of Utah took priority. I still had pain, but nothing sharp. I iced as much as possible and the many hours on the move were helping. It was also obvious that the excitement of each day at the Tour had a positive impact on my health. By the end of the Tour, I was still tentative to do anything major on the bike but I was considering it.
8/10: I went back to work mode with an all day trip that included airplanes, rental cars, and conference rooms. Within an hour of landing in Seattle, the back pain was back and intense. I chalked it up to the high heels, which are now boxed up for donation.
8/11: Started pain meds
8/12: Dr Appt
8/13: X-Ray shows I might have spondylolysis (or as I explain it "My L5 Scotty Dog has a broken neck") likely from years of basketball which has flared and is aggravating my back muscles.
8/14: Stopped pain meds, feeling a little better but hated mental side-effects
8/15: Bike Ride - not horrible, but not pleasant
8/16: Started prednisone pack, another bike ride (worse) and a swim (so-so)
8/17: Back to work and back to pain. Coincidence or just the pain meds wearing off?
8/18-20: Work trip to Cincinnati. By the time flight lands Tuesday night, I don't think I've been in so much pain. Then it gets worse through the next 2 days and at times I was sure I'd be stuck in the hotel with all the Shriner Convention people for at least a week. I didn't have pain meds with me, so made due with Tylenol and somehow got home Thursday without screaming out-loud in a crowd. Started back on pain meds once home.
8/21: Dr Appt - Now that I have tingling down my left leg, it's time to figure out what else is going on other than (or related to) the possible spondylolysis. MRI appt, pain meds, and more prednisone.
8/22-24: Back Quarantine - Time to heal. No sitting, limited standing, and didn't leave the house. Just a lot of time on my back while waiting for the stronger pain meds and stronger prednisone pack to kick in. Also lots of tv, reading, and internet/blogging thanks to the USA Pro Challenge. The pain finally started to abate Sunday afternoon and I was able to stop taking the pain meds after that evening. Monday, I spent a few hour stints on my feet working from home and clearing my head.
8/25: MRI. More time working, more clarity. Still improving!
Now I wait. The MRI should tell us something. Either the stronger prednisone and quarantine is doing the trick or I may need an injection to relieve the pain and tingling. I'm feeling like I should be able to go for a walk or maybe spend some time in the pool tomorrow, but that means I'll have to drive again, which even with the lumbar brace isn't pleasant. I did take action at work and cancelled my work trips with no plane trips planned for 4 weeks.
I have a new appreciation for people with back injuries or anything that requires quarantine. I get depressed thinking about spending 40 days or more like I have the last 5. I have had back pain in the past, but this round of pain has been debilitating. I've also lived through all of Terry's back issues, including this year's surgery. I sympathized but not as much as I should have, it's a tough place to be physically and mentally. I also know things could be much worse, so I'll take the positives from each day and work toward getting back on my feet and on the bike.
Today is the four week mark since my back injury on the mountain bike. I haven't been in quarantine the entire 28 days but in the last 5 days, I've only left the house twice for trips to the hospital. I'm starting to improve thanks to the quarantine and prednisone pack, and today I am feeling a little stir-crazy. I take that as a good sign compared to the horrible pain that kicked in strong a week ago.
Injury Timeline:
7/28: I had a major back spasm during an afterwork mountain bike that led to a quick escape.
7/29-30: Ice, rest, and a couple spins on the road bike to try and heal.
7/31: Massage
8/1-9: Tour of Utah - The massage had done wonders and being involved with the Tour of Utah took priority. I still had pain, but nothing sharp. I iced as much as possible and the many hours on the move were helping. It was also obvious that the excitement of each day at the Tour had a positive impact on my health. By the end of the Tour, I was still tentative to do anything major on the bike but I was considering it.
8/10: I went back to work mode with an all day trip that included airplanes, rental cars, and conference rooms. Within an hour of landing in Seattle, the back pain was back and intense. I chalked it up to the high heels, which are now boxed up for donation.
8/11: Started pain meds
8/12: Dr Appt
8/13: X-Ray shows I might have spondylolysis (or as I explain it "My L5 Scotty Dog has a broken neck") likely from years of basketball which has flared and is aggravating my back muscles.
8/14: Stopped pain meds, feeling a little better but hated mental side-effects
8/15: Bike Ride - not horrible, but not pleasant
8/16: Started prednisone pack, another bike ride (worse) and a swim (so-so)
8/17: Back to work and back to pain. Coincidence or just the pain meds wearing off?
8/18-20: Work trip to Cincinnati. By the time flight lands Tuesday night, I don't think I've been in so much pain. Then it gets worse through the next 2 days and at times I was sure I'd be stuck in the hotel with all the Shriner Convention people for at least a week. I didn't have pain meds with me, so made due with Tylenol and somehow got home Thursday without screaming out-loud in a crowd. Started back on pain meds once home.
8/21: Dr Appt - Now that I have tingling down my left leg, it's time to figure out what else is going on other than (or related to) the possible spondylolysis. MRI appt, pain meds, and more prednisone.
8/22-24: Back Quarantine - Time to heal. No sitting, limited standing, and didn't leave the house. Just a lot of time on my back while waiting for the stronger pain meds and stronger prednisone pack to kick in. Also lots of tv, reading, and internet/blogging thanks to the USA Pro Challenge. The pain finally started to abate Sunday afternoon and I was able to stop taking the pain meds after that evening. Monday, I spent a few hour stints on my feet working from home and clearing my head.
8/25: MRI. More time working, more clarity. Still improving!
Now I wait. The MRI should tell us something. Either the stronger prednisone and quarantine is doing the trick or I may need an injection to relieve the pain and tingling. I'm feeling like I should be able to go for a walk or maybe spend some time in the pool tomorrow, but that means I'll have to drive again, which even with the lumbar brace isn't pleasant. I did take action at work and cancelled my work trips with no plane trips planned for 4 weeks.
I have a new appreciation for people with back injuries or anything that requires quarantine. I get depressed thinking about spending 40 days or more like I have the last 5. I have had back pain in the past, but this round of pain has been debilitating. I've also lived through all of Terry's back issues, including this year's surgery. I sympathized but not as much as I should have, it's a tough place to be physically and mentally. I also know things could be much worse, so I'll take the positives from each day and work toward getting back on my feet and on the bike.
 |
| Back Quarantine Setup - my spot for the last 5 days |
Comments
Post a Comment