I'm Thinking I Have A Problem

Published on March 12, 2007 By MasonM In Blogging

This morning I told the boss that I was going to get back on the road tomorrow morning, I am now thinking that was a mistake. My back is still hurting like hell but I am walking a bit better than I was a few days ago. I'm not sure that I am going to be able to sit in the driver's seat long enough to drive any real mileage.

I guess I'll just make a series of short hops. I might be able to manage that. I hope.

As much as I want to get out of here I am seriously not looking forward to trying to drive my rig tomorrow. It's going to hurt like hell. There's no way around that fact. I sneezed a little while ago and am still trying to get over the amazingly intense surge of pain I felt as a result. I basically curled up in a ball when I sneezed. It wasn't intentional, it was purely reflex as a result of the intense pain it caused. How the hell am I going to drive tomorrow?

I can't not drive as I already told the boss that I would. I never go back on my word. That's just who I am. But tomorrow is seriously going to suck.

Comments

TheSnowbear

on Mar 12, 2007

Mason... I hate to say this.. but I really think you have done something more serious than you believe. A minor strain/sprain should be showing significant change by now... *Gently Bear hugs.....* You might seriouslly consider a Dr.

MasonM

on Mar 12, 2007

It has improved a lot. I'm sure it's just severe muscle strain and the doctor agreed with that. Not minor, but not something that won't eventually heal. I'll leave out tomorrow one way or the other and follow up with another doctor when I get to WI. Really, other than drugs to ease the pain there really isn't a lot to be done but allow the muscles to heal themselves from the damage.

dynamaso

on Mar 12, 2007

Here's hoping it all goes well and that the meds keep you going. I'm sure your back will come good but, as I know, the pain can be excruciating. Travel safe, mate.

Spc Nobody Special

on Mar 12, 2007

I never go back on my word.

Big difference in going back on your word and talking to your boss again later about not hurting yourself because you were honestly mistaken. Take yer time. Better than hurting it again and losing a lot more time and pain to heal. Better for your boss too.

InBloom

on Mar 13, 2007

Gosh, don't feel bad about not being able to get back on the road again if you don't feel better. I am sure your boss will understand.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

Here's hoping it all goes well and that the meds keep you going. I'm sure your back will come good but, as I know, the pain can be excruciating. Travel safe, mate.

Thanks. I'm having some coffee and slowly getting my things together so I can leave. All the meds are gone now except for Motrin which will have to do for now.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

I never go back on my word.

That's true enough. As much as it hurts I really want to try to get going this morning. If I can make it up to WI I'll follow up with another doctor when I get there. If I can't make it at least I gave it an honest effort.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

Gosh, don't feel bad about not being able to get back on the road again if you don't feel better. I am sure your boss will understand.

I'm sure he would understand. I need to make an effort as much for my own sake as his.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

Or ending up with a permanent and painful disability.

True enough.

ER doctors are not the end-all be-all, Mason. Just because an ER doctor told you it was only a sprain doesn't make it so. You should be seen by an orthopedist, pronto, and refuse to do anything to further jeopardize your health until you get a clean bill of health from someone who specializes in this sort of injury.

I agree and I will follow up on it when I reach WI or find that I am unable to do so. I have to try though.

Pardon my french, but fuck being a hardass. It's an ignorant stance to take in this position, and a dangerous one as well. How attentive can you be to the road if every movement is causing agony? How wise is it to risk your own health just to prove (to who, yourself? your boss? us?) what a hardass you are, hmm?

Nah, not trying to be a hardass. Well, ok, I do have a stubborn streak. But if I find that I can't make it then so be it, at least I tried.

~slaps him, and goes into wife/mother/sister mode--

Call your boss, tell him you are heading home, directly and sans truck. If he hopes to avoid a worker's comp claim, he will arrange for a cab to take you to the airport, your airfare home, and transportation to your front door from the airport. He will send another driver to pick up your truck, and he'll see to it that you can pull a small salary on advance until you either feel better or formally file a claim.

Nah, I won't leave his truck or this load sitting in some truck stop. Not for this. I am reasonably certain that it's a muscle sprain and it'll eventually pass, but I will follow up on it with another doctor as soon as I can.

How much of a tough-guy you gonna be in you end up walking like a crab for the rest of your life, Mason? You might want to think about that.

That is all. (except to say that if i didn't care about ya, i wouldn't have been so blunt.)

I appreciate it. All I can do is make an effort. If I find that I just can't do it then so be it, at least I tried.

Dr Guy

on Mar 13, 2007

I know you are going to try. I hope you make some progress. And it does not hurt too bad.

Good luck.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

I know you are going to try. I hope you make some progress. And it does not hurt too bad.

Good luck.

Thanks. I'm getting myself together to get started. The first challenge will be fueling the truck.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

~checks in to see how he's holding up.

?

Thanks for checking. I made it across OH and most of IN. Am 15 miles from the IN/IL line. I've had enough for today. My back actually held up better than I thought it would, but really starting hurting a lot the last 20 or 30 miles so I'm calling it a day here.

Of course now I can hardly walk. More like a baby step shuffle

I'll make delivery tomorrow afternoon and then head for the yard. I'm going to try to get in to see a doctor Thursday morning for some more muscle relaxers and a follow up. I've been trying to get a hold of the boss all day and either he's been really busy today or he doesn't want to talk to me for some reason. I'm sure he's just been busy. I'm hoping he'll call me back when things settle down around 4:30 so I can have him set things up for the doctor's office.

Dr Guy

on Mar 13, 2007

Good to see you made progress! Good luck tomorrow.

MasonM

on Mar 13, 2007

Good to see you made progress! Good luck tomorrow.

Thanks, I'm going to have to get an early start in the morning but hopefully it'll go ok.

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