Well, yesterday was mostly a wasted day, I am very sad to say. I woke up with minor back pain and it progressed into full-blown spasming. I have had it several times in my life, but it seems to be getting more common. The last time was in December. I'm sort of familiar with it now and I know there is one solution: take serious medication and go to bed. But I still try to fight it. I walk, I breathe, I put heat on it, I put ice packs on it. I take it easy, but try to go about my daily life, at least I did early in the day. I also try to figure out why, so that I can avoid it in the future. Who knows why? Maybe I was stressed the day before, going to two interviews. But there wasn't anything particular that I did (like chopping wood, which Ray did and his back was not good for a few days).

Ray picked up the invitations and gave them to my Dad to bring to me. I stuffed a few envelopes and put on some stamps, but couldn't do much of that. I didn't even try addressing them. I couldn't cook or do laundry or run the vacuum. I took muscle relaxants and Aleve twice, but held off on the hydrocodone. I got a massage appointment for 5, the soonest Kim had one.

I went to the Fellowship to the volunteer meeting for our poverty simulation at 4. It's really fun and interesting. I left for my appointment and the massage felt great. But when I tried to get up, I practically couldn't move. It hurt much worse. The massage therapist was really sorry. In the past, I thought it had helped to get a massage. Ray called and said, let's meet at Taqueria La Parilla. I said that's a great idea. I thought my back might be okay. But after sitting at the table for two minutes, I said, "I have to go home." So he ordered us some food to go (which was delicious). I went home and took the hydrocodone, ate shrimp fajitas, and went to bed.

This morning my low back is very sore, but it is not spasming, so that's good. Here's hoping!