Four hours in the Emergency Room

Wednesday evening, I sat down in my chair, ate my supper, and then realized that my back was suddenly suffering spasms of pain. After a couple of hours, I was forced to ask my poor husband to drive up to Big Rapids to help me. He took me to the ER (Mecosta Hospital), where I was promptly and courteously attended to. The nurses, doctor, technicians, personnel, were all great.

They did several x-rays, a urinalysis, a blood test, an EKG, and found nothing unusual. So they gave me muscle relaxants and a shot in the hip of a strong painkiller, as well as a prescription for more of the same. I've only taken one of each since getting home, btw. Don't need to add drug dependency to my list of sins!

About all I can figure out is that I had something like a charley horse in my back. My back is still sore, as is my neck, for some reason. But I can get around now. During the worst of it, I could not walk, I could barely breathe, no position offered comfort. Every movement added a spasm.

My husband spent the night with me, and oddly, we slept just fine on the double bed. I was so drugged that I slept on my back all night and did not move. If he moved, I wasn't aware of it. Then I canceled my Thursday classes and he drove me back to Kentwood. I had to leave my car there, so he'll have to drive me back to Big Rapids tomorrow.

I'm not ready to lift weights yet, but I do feel much, much better. I just hope it doesn't ever happen again!