jadedmusings | Expect some posts soon...

I haven't been posting this week due to not sleeping well due to some back pain and bad dreams. In addition to the lower back pain, it seems I am starting to show symptoms of sciatica. It really shouldn't be a surprise to me given that both of my parents have had it, and my father's history of back problems probably dates back to when he was my age, or not too much older than I am. I know I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't suffering from back trouble.

Despite all this, the pain I've experienced hasn't been intolerable. In fact, I count myself lucky that I've yet to feel the need to take anything for pain. My headaches are far, far worse than this so far, but I can tell there is potential for it to get worse. I have moments where I'm sitting down that I have to stand up and let my legs stretch out when I get some horrible pains going down the back of my left leg and into my hip (which is odd since it's usually my right hip that gives me trouble), and if I'm lying down I only experience some mild hip pain that I've had since I gave birth to the kiddo. Mostly my problem is that my lower back is incredibly stiff and tight. Walking can help me, but the problem is that it has been cold (for South Carolina, that is), and the cold not only aggravates the aches, it also means I can't really walk outside comfortably.

Honestly, it's not unusual for me to experience some aches and pains during the winter. I know that once things warm up, I'll be doing better and will also be able to get around more. I'm doing little bits of stretching here and there, mostly bending over sloooooowly at the waist because it does feel good, if a little sore, to stretch out my lower back. Additionally, one thing that would help is if I could quit sleeping on my stomach. For some reason, the last couple of weeks I've been winding up on my stomach during the night, and sleeping through that even though I hate sleeping on my stomach. It really puts pressure on my lower back when I do that and I have no idea how to stop myself from doing it. Weirdness.

Okay, and that's all the sitting in this chair I can handle right now. I'm going to go do some reading in bed and watch some old episodes of M*A*S*H until I need to head to the bank and possibly the post office (if I remember to grab the things I need to mail). When I post later today, I might have news of the feline variety along with some pictures.