Baby Got Back...

Ok well not that kind of back. 

I'm talking about your actual back.  Since I've been waking up feeling like an 80 year old lady every morning with back pain, I figured I'd write this post.  My official diagnosis is lateral listhesis which is a disc that has slipped out of line to the side of the spine.  In my case it's on my left side.  I have an amazing chiropractor who I may have to go see ahead of my scheduled appointment next week but I'm fascinated by the difference between medicine and chiropractic care.  When I first had these issues arise, I went to my medical doctor who told me to lie flat and not move and prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers.  Don't get me wrong I am not faulting my doctor, she's certainly helped me with other medical issues over the years but when I sought the help of my chiropractor, she adjusted me, had an MRI taken, and told me to move as much as I could even if it was just a short walk.  Guess which one worked better.  I still have issues from time to time but certainly not like before.

Did you know that according to the American Chiropractic Association that
- One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.

Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.

Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.

Just in case you suffer from some sort of back pain like I do and if you don't think Chiropractic care is for you here are some tips recommended by the ACA to reduce back pain.

Tips to Prevent Back Pain

• Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
• Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
• Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
• Warm up or stretch before exercise or other physical activities.
• Maintain proper posture.
• Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes
• Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
• Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
• Quit smoking.  Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
• Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct.

On hold......

I'm on hold as I'm writing this and thinking about all the things one can do while on hold.  With this particular company who shall remain nameless as to protect its guilt I have done the following...

1. Drove home from my zumba class, went to dinner with my best friend, ate, had dessert, drove home and was about to give up and get in the shower but they finally answered.  Total hold time: 2 hours.

I'm still on hold presently, they just thanked me for holding.  I bit my tongue to refrain from cursing at them.

2. Woke up, brushed my teeth, washed my face, made coffee, drank said coffee, put on makeup, did my hair, got dressed, ate breakfast.  Total hold time: 1 hour 30 minutes.

I'm still on hold presently.  They are playing terrible music.  Here's a thought, maybe something relaxing to listen to so I refrain from getting more irritated when you do finally get on the phone.

3.  Watched a two hour movie.  I refrained from watching anything with gratuitous violence so as not to incite further anger within myself when they finally picked up the phone.

I'm still on hold, starting to get hungry....

My suggestions for reducing hold times for this particular company...

1. Hire more people
2. Hire faster and/or nicer people
3. Don't have a busy signal for the first five hours of your day
4. Play music that you might hear in the spa and not in an elevator.
5. Hire more people.

I'm still on hold...  I'll talk to you around dinner time.