Please Call For An Ambulance

from JoeUser Forums
When I got up this morning the back was worse than ever. I could hardly move at all. It took me a long time to just get my pants on. It also took me about a half an hour to just get inside the truck stop. I sat on a stool at the counter for some coffee.

I was hoping that moving around a bit might ease things up. Boy was I wrong! While sitting there drinking my coffee my back seized up tighter than ever. It brought tears to my eyes. I was totally unable to get off the stool. I wimped out and motioned for the waitress and asked for her to call an ambulance for me.

Naturally the manager came rushing over to find out what was happening and he instructed the waitress to go ahead and call 911. A few minutes later a couple of cops showed up to ask questions, get my ID information, and all that jazz. They stayed with me until the ambulance arrived.

I was given an injection of pain killer in the ambulance which didn't help in the slightest. Once in the hospital they shot me up with several drugs that got me high as a kite but didn't really affect the pain much at all. I was x-rayed and all that. The doc concluded that it was indeed a lower back sprain just as I had indicated when I was brought in.

He wrote me some scripts for Flexeril, Vicondin, and Motrin. I didn't bother filling the Motrin as I have an ample supply of ibuprofen already.

I had to take a cab to the pharmacy, wait for the scripts to be filled, and then ride back to the truck stop. The cab ride was $55. Ouch.

I was instructed to take it easy and not try to drive until Monday at the earliest. I rented a room here at the hotel in the truck stop and will remain here taking drugs and taking it easy in the hope that by Monday the back will be in good enough shape to drive on to WI.

I am still seriously stoned at the moment.
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3,778 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

OMG Mason!

Glad you got something for pain and the muscle relaxant as well,  hope you're feeling better in a few days!!

((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sorry for the back, but enjoy the rest. At least you can catch up on the knitting.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm sure you know to keep trying to move now and again. Nothing worse for the spasms, as you know, than complete bed rest.
Glad you sought out and received some help.
It is not wimpy, but rather an honourable thing we do, when we look after ourselves. Good luck!
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

OMG Mason!


Glad you got something for pain and the muscle relaxant as well,  hope you're feeling better in a few days!!


((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))




Thanks. Hopefully the meds will get the muscles relaxed sooner or later. I don't want to stay stuck here for any longer than necessary.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Sorry for the back, but enjoy the rest. At least you can catch up on the knitting.


Thanks. Once the pain finally eases up I may actually get some rest. Right now knitting isn't even an option but I hope that changes soon.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm sure you know to keep trying to move now and again. Nothing worse for the spasms, as you know, than complete bed rest.

Glad you sought out and received some help.

It is not wimpy, but rather an honourable thing we do, when we look after ourselves. Good luck!


Thanks Doc. I'm alternating between laying down and moving around as best as I am able. I can't do either for very long without bringing on more intense spasms.

I have never liked giving in to pain and it's normal for me to stubbornly fight it for as long as possible. But when ya get to the point ya can't move it's pretty much over.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
It seems very strange to me that I have been constipated since the injury considering my normal IBS situation. Unpleasant subject, I know. But I have finally had my first bowel movement since I injured my back and as strange as it sounds it seems to have actually eased the pain in my back a little. Very strange.

Ah well, maybe the pain just stems from the fact that I'm full of shit.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
it seems to have actually eased the pain in my back a little. Very strange.


Nah! Your poop is not pressing on your sacroiliac (sp).
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Your poop is not pressing on your sacroiliac

I have no idea. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.  
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mason,

I think you did the right thing calling for help. Sometimes it is a hard thing to do when we men, for the most part, consider ourselves ten foot tall and bullet proof. But there are times when you just got to give in. Writing about it might help others do the right thing for themselves. Good on you.

Ah well, maybe the pain just stems from the fact that I'm full of shit.


Aint we all...
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I hope you recuperate quickly. It doesn't sound like fun.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
gosh, Mason...sorry you had to go through that. Hope you are feeling better.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Writing about it might help others do the right thing for themselves. Good on you.


Very insightful!
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
strange as it sounds it seems to have actually eased the pain in my back a little. Very strange.


Not strange at all, least not in my books! I get that too and I wonder if if it's due to having bad backs?
I happen to have enlarged bowels ( which I don't understand at all) and wonder if that could play a part in the relief of pain when I go?

I've heard the same thing from someone else too that going relieves their spine pain so.....something to it I think.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mason... take it easy & realize that by taking care of yourself, you are enabeling yourself to last longer. Stopping and taking care of spams now,, is better than off the road for 2-3 weeks.

Watch some tv, nap, knit, relax.. slow, slow easy stretches... and quit thinking of yourself as wimping out. If a woman had that you would yell at her for not taking care of herself.. realize.. & I know this is hard.. but... YOU ARE HUMAN.. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that.. but.. it had to be said...

Bear hugs gently....
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

it seems to have actually eased the pain in my back a little. Very strange.


Nah! Your poop is not pressing on your sacroiliac (sp).


Could be, who knows? The relief didn't last long as the pain is quite on the job.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top

Your poop is not pressing on your sacroiliac

I have no idea. Some mysteries are better left unsolved.  


Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top

Mason,



I think you did the right thing calling for help. Sometimes it is a hard thing to do when we men, for the most part, consider ourselves ten foot tall and bullet proof. But there are times when you just got to give in. Writing about it might help others do the right thing for themselves. Good on you.



Ah well, maybe the pain just stems from the fact that I'm full of shit.




Aint we all...


Yeah, I really hate wimping out and asking for help but sometimes the choices become limited. The ambulance ride had a big touch of humor to it as the ambulance guy was trying to stick an IV in me and kept bending those goofy plastic needles they use. He finally found a way to get it in a vein in my left hand and commented about how I was a tough SOB. Most of the veins in my arm have a fair amount of muscle that drives them too deep to easily stick.

Several times when they had to move me they complained about the fact that I'm a big guy and kept asking me to not punch them as they were hurting me. I'll admit the idea of punching them in face did occur to me a couple of times when they hurt me really bad but I was a good boy and didn't hit anyone.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

I hope you recuperate quickly. It doesn't sound like fun.


Thanks. It's been a very painful few days.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top

gosh, Mason...sorry you had to go through that. Hope you are feeling better.


Thanks. I'll live.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top

strange as it sounds it seems to have actually eased the pain in my back a little. Very strange.


Not strange at all, least not in my books! I get that too and I wonder if if it's due to having bad backs?
I happen to have enlarged bowels ( which I don't understand at all) and wonder if that could play a part in the relief of pain when I go?

I've heard the same thing from someone else too that going relieves their spine pain so.....something to it I think.


Seemed pretty strange to me, but the relief was very short lived.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top

Mason... take it easy & realize that by taking care of yourself, you are enabeling yourself to last longer. Stopping and taking care of spams now,, is better than off the road for 2-3 weeks.



Watch some tv, nap, knit, relax.. slow, slow easy stretches... and quit thinking of yourself as wimping out. If a woman had that you would yell at her for not taking care of herself.. realize.. & I know this is hard.. but... YOU ARE HUMAN.. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you that.. but.. it had to be said...



Bear hugs gently....


Thanks. Yeah, you're right I do have a different standard for men and women and most especially myself. I really, really hate asking for help of any kind. It just rubs me the wrong way. That's just who I am. It really bugs me to have to ask anyone for help.

But I am thankful for the drugs as I know they'll eventually relieve the pain.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ok, so now I got to ask. Remember when you were small? And your mother said she hoped you would have 10 children just like you?

And so you cheated her. You had none. BUT! did she not also curse you with the pain she had bearing you?

Your mother's karma!
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top

Ok, so now I got to ask. Remember when you were small? And your mother said she hoped you would have 10 children just like you?

And so you cheated her. You had none. BUT! did she not also curse you with the pain she had bearing you?

Your mother's karma!


Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top

Im glad to know you're at least ensconced in a warm and comfy hotel, near additional help if you need it. These things can take a while to heal, Mason, perhaps you need to tell your dispatcher that you won't be able to accept any tarped loads for at least a few weeks, to give your back a chance to heal. Otherwise, I can see you re-injuring it pretty quickly.

Thanks. Yeah I'll have to baby the back for a while I'm sure.



One caveat about the Vicodin, if you enjoyed that poop you took yesterday, and wish to take another one today and tomorrow, take a good deal of fiber with those pain pills or they'll bung you up, bad. The codeine in them slows the digestive system, and that, combined with a lack of exercise, can leave you pretty miserable in regards to moving your bowels. Have some shredded wheat, or prune juice, or a couple of fiber tablets with plenty of water and you can usually avoid this unpleasant side effect.


Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I recall how the oxycontin had the same effect.



And if you're ever in the Richmond area and need an emergency supply, (i know how ungenerous docs can be with the pain meds) drop me an email and I'll make you a (substantial) gift.


I appreciate it and will keep that in mind.



Take care of yourself, my truck-drivin' bro--and I mean that wholeheartedly. Don't be a hardass or this simple strain could turn into a lifelong problem. Give it proper time to heal before you head back out on the road. Any chance of being flown home so you can take it easy for a couple of weeks?


Thanks. I do tend to try and just tough things out but as bad as this hurts I'm going to just be wimpy about it and let it heal. I really can't afford to take a couple of weeks off right now, maybe towards the end of the month. I'm sure once I get to the yard I'll spend a few more days in a hotel room. I have to follow up with our doctor there anyway.