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View Full Version : An Unexpected Way To Catch Up On Sleep...



SiouzQ.
3-8-13, 11:08am
I am ordered off work until Tuesday because I slipped on some ice yesterday during my break (stupid me, yes, I was smoking at the smoker's picnic table) and landed so hard on my back that I saw the proverbial stars...the smoker's table is out in the back parking lot up a little incline that has gotten severely icy over the winter. We have all been trying to be very cautious in negotiating our way up and down this tiny hill; I was picking my way down in order to get back into the store and right as I thought I was home free down the last little bit, suddenly BOOM! down I went, feet flying out from under me and landed flat on my back with my arms wrenched backwards in a misguided effort to save myself.

This was witnessed by one of the store assistant team leaders - he managed to help me up without going down himself. I tried to laugh and shake it off, and went back in to resume my work on my shift but within an hour it was apparent that yes, I really did hurt myself and I was sent to an urgent care facility. Nothing is broken but the severe muscle strain and wrenching and the point of impact on my right hip is pretty bad. I was sent home with some strong Ibuprofin and muscle relaxers and ordered to rest for the next few days.

What a wake-up call, in a way. The last few weeks has been pretty hard on me with the sleep issues and all; ironically, yesterday when I went in for the 6am shift I finally felt pretty good and fairly well-rested and ready to get to work! It's just one of those things that happens (well, it wouldn't have happened if I had stuck to my no-smoking program, like I've been trying to all these weeks), but what's done is done.

I'll move on and in the meantime, I CAN catch up on all of that much-needed sleep and be better than I was. At least I didn't break anything. One bothersome point is that the accident didn't happen on WF property (as I have been told) and is not covered under worker's comp. I will be unpaid for these 5 days I am off because I am electing to not use any of the paid time off I have acrued because I want to save it for my vacation this summer. But thanks to my frugal ways, large emergency fund, and having a roommate again, this little time-off blip won't seriously hurt my finances at all. I am going to try to make the most of it somehow, even though this morning it feels like I fell off a 30 foot cliff landing flat on my back and can hardly move! But it is a little better than yesterday, in that I can at least pick up my right leg when I shuffle myself around the house. Lifting my arms is another matter, though :( I think it is time for a nice hot bath, some more pain killers, and then a nice lie down. I have been trying to get up periodically so as not to stiffen up too badly.

In the scope of what others are dealing with, this is pretty minor and manageable!

domestic goddess
3-8-13, 11:42am
SiouzQ, I am so sorry to hear this! What a bad thing to have happen! But I am glad you are able to see the silver lining in all of this. But I would urge you to stick to a mostly "sleep at night" schedule, with naps during the day. If you get too off track, you could find yourself right back where you were, sleep-wise. Don't ask me how I know!
Rest and keep warm, because cold muscles will make it all more painful to move or do anything. That comes from experience, too.

redfox
3-8-13, 12:26pm
Hugs! And, I'd encourage you to investigate the on the job injury claim a bit deeper, with the state, not the employer.

SiouzQ.
3-8-13, 3:16pm
It's funny, for the past few weeks all I wanted was some time off and respite from my grinding schedule, and now that I have it, I am already antsy, and it's only been one day of rest! It is so sunny and warmish out right now the mental me wants to take advantage of it and go for a nice long walk. Then when I go to move I am painfully reminded to take it easy! I am doing a few things, albeit slowly and stiffly, around the house so I don't turn into a total lump by the end of the day...I think it is prudent to keep moving, even slowly and carefully, to prevent the locking up. Then I will lie down when exhausted.

Tussiemussies
3-8-13, 5:00pm
SiouzQ, sorry to hear about what happened to you. It sounds like you are in somewhat of a lot of pain. Have you considered seeing a chiropractor? Some things were probably moved around in your back, hip, shoulders and elbows and they can bring them all back into alignment....just as long as you go to a good one!

I hope that you feel much better soon!!! Christine

razz
3-8-13, 5:15pm
Hope that you feel better soon.

CathyA
3-8-13, 5:29pm
For some reason, I read that you had slipped on some ice cream! Silly me.
Get some good movies to watch, and books to read. If you don't take it easy, you'll be mad at yourself when you have to go back to work!
I hope your pain resolves quickly. Heating pads can be wonderful.
Take good care of yourself!

SteveinMN
3-8-13, 6:09pm
Get better soon!

Blackdog Lin
3-8-13, 8:44pm
Oh Siouz, so sorry you are going through this. I think you are right in getting out of bed and doing at least a minimal amount of moving in spite of the pain. DH is disabled with his bad back, and when it goes out the pain wants to keep him in bed flat on his back. But we both know that if he stays in bed too long, he, like you said, "stiffens up" badly. It's better (for him at least) to make himself get out of bed and move and stretch muscles, working through the pain, within limits.

Sending good thoughts your way for a full recovery.....

SiouzQ.
3-8-13, 11:41pm
Thanks for all your well wishes today - it's funny, around mid-to-late afternoon I was feeling pretty chipper and moving about, and thinking that I would be almost good-to-go by tomorrow. Fast forward to a few hours later and boy, I am feeling it BIG TIME again...I guess the Motrin and muscle relaxer wore off.
Time for bed now...I hope to at least get out of the house tomorrow and do something (within reason). I don't like being limited at all!