I Want To Leave

Published on March 12, 2007 By MasonM In Blogging

I've been planning on leaving back out on the road from this truck stop this morning. Now I'm not so sure I'll be able to do it. My back is better than it was but is still hurting quite a bit and I'm not sure I could stand to sit in the driver's seat for any length of time. The truck also needs fuel and I am wondering if I would even be able to walk around the truck well enough to fill the tanks. This sucks.

I have enough vicoden and flexeril to last today and that's it. I may just stay here today, take the pills, and let the back rest one more day before leaving out tomorrow. It probably won't make the boss happy and definitely won't make my wallet happy, but I'm not sure I really have any other choice right now. I feel that if I climb into that driver's seat right now I'm just going to end up stopped someplace else possibly unable to even get out of the truck again.

I'm not sure how much difference one more day will make, but the rest and drugs have helped a little each day so far. Maybe one more day will make some difference. I don't know. I do know that my back doesn't feel like I need to be driving yet.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Mar 12, 2007

It is good that it is better. And you know your back better than anyone. Good luck.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

It is good that it is better. And you know your back better than anyone. Good luck.

Thanks. I'm really torn between getting my butt back to work and letting the back rest another day. I feel that if I jump back into the truck too soon I'll just wind up right back where I started.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

Take the rest, and more if you need it, Mason. If you aggravate your condition you could find yourself laid up for months. I hope your employer's Workman's Comp insurance is paid up, since this injury did occur on the job.

Thanks. I've just called them and let them know I was taking another day to let my back heal a little more. Yeah, this is all being covered on Comp.

I have enough meds left for today and then they'll be gone. I can't legally drive while taking them anyway so I may as well take them today and hopefully things won't be so bad tomorrow.

Tova7

on Mar 12, 2007

I'm sorry you are still in pain Mason, and being away from home can't be helping.

I agree with Whip. Better to take it easy now for a few days, than really be down and out later.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

I'm sorry you are still in pain Mason, and being away from home can't be helping.

I agree with Whip. Better to take it easy now for a few days, than really be down and out later.

Thanks. I think taking another day is the right choice.

foreverserenity

on Mar 12, 2007

I'm glad you're taking another day. That could make a world of difference! Feel better M!

foreverserenity

on Mar 12, 2007

I'm glad you're taking another day. That could make a world of difference! Feel better M!

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

I'm glad you're taking another day. That could make a world of difference! Feel better M!

Thanks, I'm hoping it will.

InBloom

on Mar 12, 2007

Get some really good rest today...and if you need to, for the next few days. Hopefully, it will make all the difference and you'll be up and about soon.

DrDonald

on Mar 12, 2007

Hope things continue to improve at least a bit, so you can get back home.
I get studies emailed to me automatically by the Canadian Medical Association.
Here's an interesting one I got today.

Herbs effective in low back pain

Clinical question
Are herbal medicines more effective than placebo in treating adults with low back pain?

Bottom line
If these authors have included all the relevant studies, it appears that there is modest evidence that herbal remedies (oral Harpagophytum procumbens [devil's claw] and Salix alba [white willow bark], as well as topical Capsicum frutescens [cayenne]) alleviate acute episodes of chronic nonspecific low back pain in adults. In general, the reporting of the trials included in this systematic review was poor. Finally, this body of literature is prone to bias in favor of publishing positive results. (LOE = 1a-)

Reference
Gagnier JJ, van Tulder MW, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain: a Cochrane review. Spine 2007;32:82-92.

Study design: Systematic review

Funding: Government

Allocation: N/A

Setting: Outpatient (any)

Synopsis
The authors of this Cochrane review searched multiple databases for randomized trials comparing ingested or topical (but not smoked) herbal medicines with placebo or other therapies in the treatment of adults with low back pain. The authors report a limited search for unpublished trials by contacting individuals with expertise in herbal remedies and low back pain. Two authors independently assessed articles for inclusion and extracted the data. Additionally, 2 authors independently assessed the methodologic quality of the included studies. Finally, they also rated the overall strength of evidence. Strong evidence was defined as consistent findings among multiple high-quality studies, and moderate evidence required consistent findings among low-quality studies or one high-quality study. The authors used a consensus process to reconcile discrepancies. They identified 10 trials (1567 patients) that were generally of limited quality. They found 3 studies demonstrating strong evidence that 50 mg devil's claw per day was more effective than place bo. One trial found it to be equivalent to 12.5 mg rofecoxib (Vioxx) per day. The authors found modest evidence that white willow bark (120 mg to 240 mg daily) provided short-term pain relief, comparable with 12.5 mg rofecoxib. Three low-quality trials found topical capsaicin (cayenne) was better than placebo and equivalent to a homeopathic remedy. The authors don't report enough data to calculate numbers needed to treat or to harm.

DrDonald

on Mar 12, 2007

Link
link to study abstract for above.

TheSnowbear

on Mar 12, 2007

IMHO... I agree.. glad you took the day off, hope tomorrow is better.. bear hugs.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

Get some really good rest today...and if you need to, for the next few days. Hopefully, it will make all the difference and you'll be up and about soon.

Thanks. I'm hoping the extra day will pay off but at this point I'm wondering as I'm still in a helluva lot of pain.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

Hope things continue to improve at least a bit, so you can get back home.

I get studies emailed to me automatically by the Canadian Medical Association.

Here's an interesting one I got today.

Herbs effective in low back pain

Clinical question

Are herbal medicines more effective than placebo in treating adults with low back pain?

Bottom line

If these authors have included all the relevant studies, it appears that there is modest evidence that herbal remedies (oral Harpagophytum procumbens [devil's claw] and Salix alba [white willow bark], as well as topical Capsicum frutescens [cayenne]) alleviate acute episodes of chronic nonspecific low back pain in adults. In general, the reporting of the trials included in this systematic review was poor. Finally, this body of literature is prone to bias in favor of publishing positive results. (LOE = 1a-)

Reference

Gagnier JJ, van Tulder MW, Berman B, Bombardier C. Herbal medicine for low back pain: a Cochrane review. Spine 2007;32:82-92.

Study design: Systematic review

Funding: Government

Allocation: N/A

Setting: Outpatient (any)

Synopsis

The authors of this Cochrane review searched multiple databases for randomized trials comparing ingested or topical (but not smoked) herbal medicines with placebo or other therapies in the treatment of adults with low back pain. The authors report a limited search for unpublished trials by contacting individuals with expertise in herbal remedies and low back pain. Two authors independently assessed articles for inclusion and extracted the data. Additionally, 2 authors independently assessed the methodologic quality of the included studies. Finally, they also rated the overall strength of evidence. Strong evidence was defined as consistent findings among multiple high-quality studies, and moderate evidence required consistent findings among low-quality studies or one high-quality study. The authors used a consensus process to reconcile discrepancies. They identified 10 trials (1567 patients) that were generally of limited quality. They found 3 studies demonstrating strong evidence that 50 mg devil's claw per day was more effective than place bo. One trial found it to be equivalent to 12.5 mg rofecoxib (Vioxx) per day. The authors found modest evidence that white willow bark (120 mg to 240 mg daily) provided short-term pain relief, comparable with 12.5 mg rofecoxib. Three low-quality trials found topical capsaicin (cayenne) was better than placebo and equivalent to a homeopathic remedy. The authors don't report enough data to calculate numbers needed to treat or to harm.

Thanks. Interesting read.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

IMHO... I agree.. glad you took the day off, hope tomorrow is better.. bear hugs.

Thanks. It is what it is.

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