Geek Habitat

The muscles in my lower back and neck are in agony today. It actually started on Tuesday morning when I woke up with a “crick” (cramp) in my neck. My neck muscles remained knotted through PT on Wednesday, but they didn’t prevent me from doing any of my exercises or walking; in fact, as soon as I got on the elliptical trainer, I forgot about the issue entirely. Today, however, I have the continuing neck cramp and a serious lower back cramp, causing me to wrap my mid-section in a 6″ wide ACE bandage just so I can walk and drive. The pressure of the bandage against my lower back seems to allow for a little extra movement, though turns and crouching to reach the floor are still “flinch-worthy.”

I had blamed the initial neck cramp on sleeping in an awkward position for too long, but with it lasting 2 days I am at a loss. I’d hoped the pain would ease up, not increase in surface area by spreading to my lower back! I suppose all the PT, and perhaps my walking, are aggravating my upper body muscle groups, and “this too shall pass” in time. I might have expected this kind of neck and back pain after my “extreme gardening” on Saturday, or the reintroduction of my rowing machine into my workouts, but neither of those were recent enough to explain the pain. And while Wednesday’s PT session was a workout, I was never in pain — my biggest complaint was some tightness and achiness radiating around my post-op knee.

If I feel exactly as I do right now when I wake up tomorrow morning, I’m going to have to consider cancelling my PT session. I’d hate to do that after 17 absence-free sessions, particularly since my next PT wouldn’t be until Monday. Hopefully, the back spasms dissipate soon… Walking with back pain isn’t ideal for a post-op knee, I’ve discovered — it messes up one’s gait — so my right (God-given) and left (post-op) knees are both hollering more than usual today, as well.