In Focus

I hate having back issues. I’ve had an issue in my upper back for a few years. It started as a sudden, sharp shooting pain that would not go away without a trip to the hospital. The treatment was steroids and muscle relaxers. It works, but I don’t want to live on more medications if it can be helped.

Recently the pain didn’t come and go, it was just constant. And some days are more painful than others. Now that hospitals are opening back up I was finally able to get in to try and get some help.

I had my very first MRI. I had no idea the scan took so long. Sitting still for 40 minutes as my arms went numb was an interesting experience. Now they want to do another one. I just hope it’s the last.

They have also started me on physical therapy and that has already helped immensely. Who knew a few stretches and some ultrasound treatments could help that much. So far my pain has been very minimal.

I was shocked when the physical therapist asked me how long my collar bone had been dislocated. I had no idea it was. It’s never hurt and I’ve never noticed anything out of the ordinary. He noticed the right side stuck out more than the left. There is not much they can do about it anyway.

Not knowing where this back issue began, we figured it could be from the rollover accident I was in many years ago. I was the passenger in a truck when we hit black ice and rolled into the ditch somewhere in Nebraska. I want to say it was about 10 years ago. After that happened, the chiropractor was my best friend. My back was pretty messed up. My hips and shoulders were not aligned and I dislocated some vertebra. That was a terrible few months. I thought they got me all fixed up...maybe...maybe not.

I just hope if and when they figure out what the real issue is I won’t have to have surgery. I’d much rather continue with physical therapy.