Deirdre Geraghty

Having spent most of the night in the armchair l am thinking of the next six hours. I am expecting a delivery and my friend S is coming as well.

Life is difficult in pain.

Waiting for the painkillers to kick in. I know I am going on about it but for the moment it’s taken over.

My back and the rest of my torso had more pain – a different pain and I knew it wasn’t right. I spent the day in the hospital Emergency Department. I had been diagnosed with bruised muscles twice by different doctors and told just to wait and prescribed painkillers. Well the hospital sent me for X-rays. Turned out I have been suffering for three weeks with a Compression fracture of the spine and all the other pain caused by that. They sent me home with liquid morphine to be taken as well as the Co-dydramol and Naproxen already prescribed. Today has been a little easier

Tonight I phoned 111. I haven’t been able to lie down anymore due to pain. I waited for a doctor to phone me back. A very nice doctor rang and she was very helpful with stronger painkillers than I have dared to do and said 6-8 weeks.

I’m really shocked that I should be left in so much pain. I used up my codeine levels and l don’t want to get addicted and it’s no better than paracetamol so I’m back on that instead. I have a few days left of Naproxen so I don’t know how l will cope without it. I am constantly rubbing in the fisiocrem which is wonderful but only lasts a minute or two if that. And C, my hairdresser massaged it in on Monday and coming to repeat the exercise this morning. I can’t wait – but will have to.

I’m still in a lot of pain but a tiny little bit better. Things happening this morning including deliveries.

I felt a little better today and managed to get a few things done especially my Xmas cards. I send Season’s Greetings’ cards and like to send one even though it might be my only contact during the year. I think I overdid it and in some considerable pain at the moment.

I’m in a little improvement mode. I have changed my approach. I have stopped the codeine and gone back to paracetamol and Naproxen. A tiny glass of red wine to sip when the pain is intense and alternating hot and cold on my back for a few minutes each for a total of thirty minutes two or three times a day including a minute or so between the changes for resting the situation. I am hopeful at the moment.

I’m in such pain and nothing seems to help for long. There must be something that helps but I don’t know what.