The LJ Overmind Triumphant

[kevin_standlee]

After poking and prodding me, testing my reflexes, and examining just where the numbness was, my doctor says that I appear to have injured my L4 disk. My reflexes are good, and the injury may be relatively minor. There are treatments such as steroids and surgery if nothing improves, but for now the instructions are to lay off of heavy lifting and other things that might exacerbate the injury. Continuing to lose weight won't hurt, either, as it will reduce strain. These things sometimes clear up on their own. We'll re-assess the situation at my next quarterly exam or if the condition worsens.

This does mean that other people are going to have to lug that darned mimeograph out of the back of my van once I reach the loading dock at Denvention Three, for I cannot risk lifting it.

Comments

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

You know, if I hadn't missed your post a few days ago, I'd have said a herniated L4.

Guess why?

Yep, I get it too.

I injured my back on Delos last year (dunno how) and it is gradually improving.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad it's nothing more serious or pathological, as serious as this could be.

Follow doctors orders. Heck, if you have a good relationship with him, ask him to write you a note saying you can't lift mimeographs and flash it around the loading dock!

[thirdworld.livejournal.com]

Timing is a bit off. Hopefully you will be okay for your duties at Worldcon, but you must promise yourself to err on the side of Kevin, not Worldcon.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's the driving -- my trip-planning software currently projects just over 2,700 miles of it -- that's got me concerned.

What I can't quite figure out is what I did to injure it in the first place. It's not moving the mimeograph into my van, for my back had been paining me for a few days prior to that. I simply remember waking up one morning with a hurt back. I've done that a couple of times before, sleeping in the wrong position, so I figured it would go away after a few days, but it did not.

[renegade500.livejournal.com]

I have recurring lumbar issues and seriously I once injured my back making the bed, once just stepping out of the shower. Driving is going to be rough, because the relative inactivity can exacerbate the problem.

This might add more time to your drive, but I would really recommend stopping every couple of hours and getting out and walking about. The walking about will help your back heal.

I'm sorry you're going through this, I (sympathetically) feel your pain!

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

We stop pretty regularly anyway. In fact, partially to counteract that I can't get Microsoft MapPoint to assume a sufficiently slow travel speed, I have built in to my trip planning a ten minute stop every hour, although we don't generally stop quite that often. Unlike my "iron bladder" father, I simply must stop pretty often, due to taking a diuretic against high blood pressure.

PS

[renegade500.livejournal.com]

PS: along with losing weight which you're doing, doing exercises specifically targeted at strengthening the abdominal muscles will help prevent a recurrance. I'm sure the doctor told you that, but a voice of experience (I can tell when I've gotten slack and I'll start to get little twinges in my back, a good reminder to get back on track).

[crookedfeet.livejournal.com]

Well, i'm glad you got a diagnosis. One other thing-I don't know how much caffeine you consume, but cutting back might also help if you drink a fair amount.