OUCH, MY BACK

I was struggling to get my bags out of the back seat of my car when my son Alex opened our front door and called out, “Are you okay?”

“I threw my back out.” I called back having a hard time reaching my purse that was on the floor of the car.

“Hold on!” He called, turning around to put on his shoes. “I’ll come help you.”

I tried to take a deep breath but when I did my lower back began to spasm. I leaned against the car waiting for Alex.

He jogged out of the house. “How’d you do that?” He asked as he took the bags out of my hands.

“I stood up.” I said as I gingerly walked up the front steps. Walking into the house I didn’t even bother to take off my coat as I tried to lower myself onto the couch.

“I don’t understand.” Alex said dropping my bags on the chair. “What do you mean, you stood up?”

“Exactly that.” I’d finally gotten myself sitting on the couch, closing my eyes, wishing my pain would go away. “I was sitting on my chair at work and when I stood up…” I tried to take in a deep breath but the spasm in my back got worse. I pointed to my back. “This happened.”

“Let me get the heating pad for you.” He said as he went to the linen closet.

“That’s a great idea.” I said trying to find a comfortable position.

“What’s a great idea?” My husband Steven asked as he came into the room.

“Mom threw her back out.” Alex called from the linen closet as he looked for the heating pad. “Found it!” He called as he came back in the living room.

Steven sat down next to me. “Do you want me to give you a back massage?”

“I’m not sure.” I said as I tried to adjust how I was sitting to ease the pain.

“Why don’t you try some heat before Dad works on your back?” Alex suggested as he plugged in the heating pad.

“That’s a good idea.” Steven agreed. “But I don’t think the heating pad is going to work with your coat still on.”

“You’re right.” I began to unzip my coat but another spasm struck. “For the love of…” I leaned back against the cushion shaking my head. “I can’t believe I’m thinking about my Mom right now.”

Steven looked confused. “Why?”

“I just remember her walking around the house saying ‘My back is slaying me!’ all the time as she held her back and headed for the couch.” I looked over at Steven. “Who uses the word slaying?” Steven shook his head.

“I used to think she was just saying that to get out of making dinner.” I went to try again to get out of my coat. When I finally did Alex put the heating pad behind me.

“Well, why don’t you use the heating pad for a little while and then I’ll give you a nice massage.”

“That sounds great.” I leaned back against the heat. “Thanks you two.”

“No problem.” Steven said as he got up and went into the kitchen. “I’ll grab the menus from the drawer. We’ll order out.” He called.

“That would be perfect.” I called back.

I looked over at Alex. “I’m not doing this to get out of cooking you know.”

Alex looked confused. “I never said you did.”

I sighed. “I know. I guess I’m just feeling guilty about thinking that’s what my Mom was doing.”

Alex kissed the top of my head. “Don’t worry. We believe you.”