I like having the extra daylight in the evenings but boy do I hate giving up that ONE precious hour of sleep! I get a hour older and didn't even do anything wrong.
I piddled around on the computer when I got home from work, did some dishes and threw some clothes into the washer and took out the trash. Cooked a frozen pizza and changed the clocks because I had to be at work at 10:30 AM. Last time I looked at the clock it was 4:15. My back was still hurting but I fell asleep before five. Got to work early believe it or not.
My back starting hurting about thirty minutes into my shift. It's a dull ache but a constant one. It's been hurting since Friday and by the time noon (really one) rolled around it was slow at work (I suppose because of the time change) and I asked if I could go the the drug store across the street and see if they had a back brace? I left and got into my car once again gripping the steering wheel so I wouldn't scream out loud. The drug store had absolutely nothing. Since of course I haven't been to see a doctor I didn't know if I needed a "Hot" patch or a "Cold" patch. They had no back braces so I looked for an ACE bandage thinking I could just wrap THAT around my back. When I put my hands on my middle back and push in real hard it feels wonderfully normal and pain free, but I guess they have discontinued ACE bandages because I couldn't find even one.
I went back to work and made me an ice pack... kinda helped but I think it may have been wishful thinking. Either it was really slow or my bosses just got tired of the grimace I couldn't keep off of my face and cut me around 1:15. My little co worker, "Frenchy" suggested that I go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy a back brace. Stupid me...hadn't even thought about THAT!
I went straight to Lowe's and asked the woman behind the service desk where back braces were located? She referred to an index card in her pocket and said "Aisle 65." I walked the length of the store to find out there were in fact 24 aisles. On my way back I stopped some dude with an apron on and asked him where aisle 65 was and he took me straight to an aisle clearly marked "B."
Whatever!
The guy asked me what size I needed and I said "A Zero please, unless you have one smaller." He gave the smallest one they had that looked like it would fit two of me but since it was only $14 bucks and there was only one left I took it.
I went home and Massey helped me with it. I told her it had to go underneath my work shirt because number one I am a woman and we are vain and number two nothing screams "Ole Lady" like a back brace over the outside of a shirt. It had shoulder straps that once adjusted to the shortest position still sagged off my little shoulders but with the huge Velcro tab on the actual brace I could pull it tight across my abdomen. Massey pulled the straps down to fit and safety pinned them. She admired her handiwork and said "Look! It pushes your boobies up."
I took the brace off and laid flat on my back for the entire break between my shift on the heating pad. When it was time to go back I shuffled into my Kevlar vest pulling it as tight as it could go and went back to work. PRAISE JESUS, it worked!
No spasms and although I felt worn out from three days of constant pain my back felt okay. I was getting worried that it wasn't back pain at all but something else. My boss (who is ten years older than me) commented that it only takes one wrong turn or move to throw your back out of whack and usually takes at least six weeks to heal..."Thanks for the positive thought!"
I was just grateful that I finally felt normal. I also realized that working six days a week for 33 years holding ten pounds of dishes on the same serving arm day after day after day will most certainly take a toll and throw your back and alignment out of sync. I was just so happy that no one could see my hideous contraption.
So I lost an hour's sleep...lost at least two hours from my lunch shift by leaving early but have learned that I have a new BFFL.
I wish they made back braces in "Mini Me" sizes but thankfully as usual it all worked out. I may never take it off again, and besides...Massey says it makes my boobies look bigger!
Working another double shift tomorrow...putting on my Kevlar and doing it all again!
Til next time "Padded COTTON"
No comments:
Post a Comment