Because during my long life I have been very lucky fitness wise. As an employer have been very cynical with people throwing a sickie claiming to have bad back. It’s an easy condition to fake and one that is difficult for a medic to disprove.
O.K. I know that there are thousands of people who have had their lives ruined with recurring back pain. My daughter is one who suffered a back injury when she was just 18 years old and had a water skiing accident. Now in her late 40’s she is often quite debilitated by the recurring injury. As I was driving the ski boat at the time I have a guilt trip when I see her in pain.
On New Year’s Eve I got my comeuppance. I went to my gym for my usual early morning workout and was using one of Duncan Bannatyne’s torture devices when I heard something pop in my lower back muscle. Not a lot of pain but I came off the machine thinking that I had got away without injury, just a dull ache.
I went down to the spa had a swim following by the steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi. I did remark on what I’d done to a couple of my chums who immediately jeered and told me that old age was setting in.
I thought no more about and we showered and dressed and retired to the Cafe for breakfast as is our wont. We were in the Cafe for around an hour without another thought for my back until we stood up to leave, when I was hit by a spasm that brought me to my knees.
My friends helped me home where I remained totally enfeebled with a dull back ache and regularly being hit by a violent spasm and popping strong painkillers for over three weeks. My GP prescribed the pills and bed rest. The spasms became less violent and because I hate taking medication I weaned myself off the Tramadol pills.
Nearly a month after the injury I crept back to my gym starting back by just a visit to the Spa with a bit of a swim and the Jacuzzi and a lot of banter from my mates. As I left the centre I spotted a poster telling members that a Sports Therapist was starting to treat members in a weeks time. I made note in my brain that I would be one of the Therapist’s first customers. That did it! Before the specialist started, I didn’t even know whether they were male or female, but I was cured with not even a twinge and not even a visit.
I’m now sitting here with my laptop thinking that if the Therapist had started working at the gym a week earlier I would certainly have booked a session of treatment and I would have been shouting his/her talent from the rooftops.
Instead I followed my Doctor’s instructions and recovered. I am also persuaded that if I had just rested for a month, there could have been the same result. I’m also thinking “I wonder if Lazarus of Bethany would have recovered anyway even if Jesus hadn’t stopped off to restore him?”
