My back and leg seem to be getting better—but this weekend reminded me I’m not quite there yet.

On Saturday, I actually managed to run some errands. Things were going surprisingly well, and for a little while, I felt almost normal. That is, until I stepped off a sidewalk the wrong way and lost my footing. I didn’t fall, thankfully, but the sudden jolt brought the pain rushing back with a vengeance.

I had one last store to visit, and since sitting in my car usually helps, I thought I could manage. Big mistake. By the time I finished shopping, the pain was so bad I nearly threw up—and judging by the way the cashier looked at me, I must have been white as a sheet. When I got home, I only unloaded what needed refrigeration, then collapsed on the couch and took my pain meds.

The rest of Saturday and all of Sunday were spent recovering from what should have been a simple errand run.

This morning, I’m calling physical therapy as soon as their office opens. I need to get started healing the root of the problem, not just managing the pain. Until then, this week will be focused on continued recovery, gentle movement, and hopefully no more sidewalk surprises.

Fingers crossed I’ll be back to work next Monday.

Wishing everyone a good week ahead—stay safe out there, and watch your step!

The news from the MRI wasn’t what I’d hoped—but it also wasn’t the worst-case scenario I’d braced myself for. The results showed that my liver is far from healthy, though, thankfully, not beyond hope. It seems I drew a losing ticket in the genetic lottery more than anything else; there’s no obvious cause rooted in lifestyle. In fact, the radiologist noted I show hidden signs of liver disease, but no outward ones. No jaundice. No swelling. No visible markers at all.

That’s not nothing. And considering I’d already made a lot of lifestyle changes before this diagnosis ever came into the picture, there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic that things may not progress—at least not quickly, and hopefully, not at all. I’m asymptomatic now. 🤞 And with any luck (and a continued commitment to healthy habits), I’ll stay that way.

As far as lifestyle changes go, the only major shift I really have to make is to completely give up alcohol. That won’t be hard. I’ve never been much of a drinker—an occasional margarita or glass of wine at most. And honestly, over the past ten years, even those moments have been rare.

Now, turning to my back—which has been the more urgent issue, pain-wise—the x-ray results haven’t come back yet, so I don’t have any answers on that front. My doctor and I are currently in the trial-and-error phase of finding a balance between pain management and actually being able to function like a human being. The higher dosage of medication yesterday knocked the pain out… and me along with it. I was barely able to stay awake, let alone do anything useful. We’re adjusting things again today and hoping for a better balance.

If we can get it right, I should be able to return to work. That is, assuming I can walk far enough and stand or sit long enough without the kind of pain that makes you question your entire spinal column’s existence.

In the meantime, my doctor has put in orders for physical therapy and an MRI of my lumbar spine and has referred me to a spinal specialist. I already have an appointment—but it’s not until October 14. I’m on their cancellation list, though, and I’m crossing all fingers and toes that something opens up sooner. No word yet on when PT or the lumbar MRI will happen, but I do hope I get to see my usual physical therapist. She knows my body and we get along very well. It’s nice to know that the staff at my doctor’s clinic—which includes the PT clinic—have remarked to my doctor how pleasant it is every time I come in. They genuinely look forward to seeing me, though I know they wish it was only for routine stuff and not more urgent medical needs.

That’s the state of things for now. If I don’t overdo it, I can function fairly well. But the moment I push too far—bend too much, stand too long, walk too far—it’s excruciating.

I know this blog hasn’t looked quite like itself lately. I miss writing poetry posts and art history features just as much as you might miss reading them. But for now, all I can manage are health updates—and I appreciate you bearing with me while I get through this stretch. I hope we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming soon.

Until then, be well—and take care of your backs, livers, and everything in between.

There won’t be a poem on the blog today. While I am feeling a bit better this morning, the change in my medication has left me far too drowsy to write a proper post. I’m also still waiting to hear back from my doctors about the latest tests.

Yesterday was an ordeal—just getting around involved far too much walking, and it took a toll on me. Hopefully, I’ll have more energy (and fewer side effects) soon.

Thank you for your patience and kindness.

My sciatica still hasn’t improved much. I’ve found that if I can get into just the right position, stay still, and do a little gentle stretching, I can be somewhat pain-free for a while. But for the most part, walking remains difficult. That said, today has been a little better—just enough to give me some hope.

Yesterday, I had to make a run to CVS, and I was dreading the outing. But surprisingly, sitting in the car turned out to be quite relaxing. I always step out of my car with my left leg, but when I get up from the couch or bed, the pressure usually falls on my right leg—which is where the worst of the pain is. Because I wasn’t putting as much weight on that side, I was able to stand and walk around the store with relatively little discomfort. It seems the key is avoiding any twisting of my torso. I only wish I could replicate the ergonomics of my car seat elsewhere, but my couch is too low and my bed too high to offer the same kind of relief.

Today is going to be a long one. I have to be at the hospital by 7:15 this morning (which means I’ll be walking out the door right as this post goes live) for an MRI of my liver. While I’m there, I’m also scheduled for a lumbar x-ray to take a closer look at what’s happening with my back.

Since I had to fast for the MRI, I’ll be very glad when I can finally drink some water—and even more so when I can get something to eat afterward. Depending on how I’m feeling, I may stop by the grocery store to pick up a few things before heading home.

One thing’s for sure: I’ll be happy to walk back through the door to my apartment when the day is done.

Here’s hoping the rest of the week is gentler, more comfortable, and maybe even a little brighter. Wishing you all a peaceful Monday and a good start to the week.

This morning I have a doctor’s appointment to figure out what’s going on with my back. Over the past several days, the pain has become much worse and nearly impossible to ignore.

It started as lower right back pain, but now it spirals downward in a strange, radiating pattern — wrapping around my thigh, then shooting straight down my leg all the way to my foot. Walking is tricky at best. I can take maybe two to four steps upright before the intense pain kicks in, or I can shuffle around stooped over at almost a 90-degree angle, which oddly makes the pain more manageable.

Sitting is out of the question. After just a few minutes in a chair, the pain flares and forces me to stand. The only position that gives me any real relief is lying on my couch with my lower legs slightly elevated. When the pain is at its worst, I’ve found a couple of stretches that help — either pulling my knee up to my chest or resting my ankle and gently stretching my bent leg downward.

Even getting dressed has become a bit of a challenge. Every waistband, seam, and bit of fabric seems to press exactly where it hurts most, making clothes feel more like punishment than comfort. So you can imagine how I’m “dressed” while lying here on the couch, trying to find the most comfortable position — let’s just say modesty has taken a back seat to relief.

I’m hoping the doctor can figure out what’s causing this and how to treat it. At this point, I just want to walk upright again without feeling like someone’s driving a hot poker into my back and leg.

I’ll update you all later when I know more.

Have any of you ever experienced something like this? How did you cope while waiting for answers?

UPDATE: After three weeks of worsening right-sided lower back pain and sciatica, I followed up with my doctor this morning. The pain radiates from my lower back through my glute and spirals down my leg to the top of my foot, sometimes feeling like fire in the lower leg. It gets worse when I try to walk upright or wear anything that puts pressure on my waist. There have also been some odd sensory issues, like feeling a blanket over me when there’s nothing there. My physical exam results point to likely nerve root involvement—probably L5, maybe L3 or L4—but thankfully, no red flags like weakness or foot drop. Dexamethasone (a steroid) hasn’t made much of a difference, but oxycodone gives me a few hours of relief.

The current treatment plan includes continuing with the steroid and anti-inflammatory meds, switching to a new muscle relaxer (Flexeril), and increasing my oxycodone for better pain control. I’m also staying on gabapentin and Tylenol. My doctor has ordered X-rays of my lumbar spine, which are required before the spine specialist will see me. We discussed the possibility of combining that with my upcoming liver MRI at UVM, but unfortunately that’s not possible. The liver MRI is highly specialized to measure the extent of scarring in my liver and uses different specifications than a spinal MRI. On top of that, the hospital intends to bill insurance for two separate MRIs, not one. Most MRIs for back pain aren’t done unless the problem lasts more than six weeks, and I’m currently at week three. So for now, we’re proceeding with the X-ray and spine referral, and I have a work note excusing me through next Monday. If things don’t improve, an MRI and physical therapy may be next.