text, images, design CC copyright, Att, Non-Comm, No D, 2005-2009, With love, ...from the garden.

 
Funny but one never thinks twice about doing simple things like getting out of bed or sitting down on the toilet - until one hurts their back... All of a sudden even the simplest of tasks seems daunting!

Back pain and muscle spasms are exhausting and I'm experiencing both since injuring my back at work on Monday. I'm not certain just how the injury occurred though I do recall a chill on my back at one point after I'd taken off my sweater because I was warm from working. It's usual for me to take my sweater off and put it back on over the course of my workday so this wasn't something new. Whatever I did it has caused the muscles in my back to cramp and seize, making it difficult to walk, sit up or move about with any grace or speed! I can't reach further than a foot from my body without setting off a spasm, same happens when I attempt to sit down gently.

I'm not sure what the safety history is at the place where I work, I was thinking it may be worthwhile to investigate that. In the meantime I'm just wanting to focus on getting well again and I'm of the feeling it will be a while before I'll be capable of my usual work at "the village". Right now I can't even imagine it - it hurts my head and my back!

I'm happy to say I can get in to see my doctor this afternoon so that he can examine my back and begin a report for the purpose of the Workers' Compensation and Insurance Board. If this injury is long term it may require coverage through them, and seeing I've already injured my thumb with repetitive tasks that are damaging tendons in my right hand; I am right-handed and causing what appears to be permanent mobility restrictions. I wouldn't have considered such a job to be prone for injuries but when one adds in the space restrictions and quota requirements of the jobs in "production" it becomes more evident that there's much room for worker injury.

Yesterday my back and thumb were treated using traditional Chinese medical techniques; massage, cupping and acupuncture. Uncertain whether that will be sufficient evidence of my injury or acceptable treatment according to regulations I felt it best to see my family physician as well. I'm glad they were able to work me in! I'm unfamiliar with the procedures from here and so will just have to ride through and see where things take me.

Hopefully I'll be able to walk and sit more comfortably soon and who knows when I'll be able to lift anything? One step at a time - no hurries on this - I don't want this to be a permanent thing - if it is I'll be on disability for the next 15 years! That's nothing to look forward to but at least it's something to get by with! In other words at least I'm covered if things should not go well with treatments and healing.

I hadn't expected to see myself in this sort of position, no one does. Right now even sitting for a spell and typing is somewhat painful. I guess I'll have to keep to smaller blog entries and shorter photo or artwork sessions for the time being! I'm off to see the Doc in a couple hours, wish me luck!