Saturday, October 01, 2022

Spasms, CBD, and a Long Night

Well, folks! Wasn’t that a night? I am referring to Thursday night, after that wonderful back attack.

My daughter had given me CBD gummies a week or two ago, but I hadn’t tried them yet. Supposedly, they help us to relax and feel less pain.

I let the back-pain meds that  had taken during the day —Tylenol — clear out of my system, and I chewed on a gummy before I went to bed. I think it worked a little, for I did go to sleep for about two hours. My usual Trazodone tends to get me 5-6 hours of sleep, but the CDB stopped working pretty quickly. I did take another gummy in the middle of the long night after I had been up for awhile, but as far as I could tell that one didn’t affect me at all. 

So, it was, indeed, a long night. Lacey didn’t mind as she got a couple of extra feedings of kibble as I sat at the computer although I did spend most of the time bundled up in my chair  

I had to keep covered because it was cold. Outside temperatures were 3C/37F early on, and then they went down another degree or three. Indoors, was a balmy 18C/64F, but that went down a little too.

I layered up with a hoodie sweatshirt over my pj top and then a hoodie sweater over top of the sweatshirt. I was also under a blanket for most of the time.

You see, we are in the midst of the great Canadian game — How long are you willing to freeze your ahems off before you activate the furnace. Activating the furnace is so final. It’s giving in, and so we like to defer as long as possible. Meanwhile, we do hope for some warmer weather before it gets really cold. Fortunately, it doesn't always this cold this early. 

Now, about the spasms.

Thankfully, we had Tylenol (for back pain) in the medicine cabinet, so I was able to start on those right away. How much it truly helped, I cannot tell, but I guess it helped mentally anyway. Neither could I discern the CBD accomplishing anything, but I think it would possibly work on more constant pain. With these spasms, it mostly hurts only when I move.

Still, I have had worse attacks. I can get up and down more easily than after some attacks. I think the last attack was 4-5 years go, and my ex-SiL, actually brought over a walker to help me pull myself up and hobble around.

Sue has been willing to stoop in my stead when needed, like when it is time to feed the cat. But the daft cat needs to follow a procedure, so we’ve been faking it. I will carry the plate to the feeding area while Sue comes the other way. At the last minute, I hand the plate to Sue who puts it on the floor, and Lacey seems to accept that. What a hoot! It does make us giggle.

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Update 

It’s Saturday afternoon, so I am well into my third day. Day two was a big improvement over the first day, but I am disappointed today. There has been no improvement over yesterday and possibly some regression. I think I may be even a little little stiffer and sorer than yesterday. Optimum fall colour is just about upon us, and here I sit. 

20 comments:

Barbara Rogers said...

Sitting and lying is just what you must do to heal, which isn't much fun. I've taken some kind of muscle spasm relaxant that a doc gave me when my back went into spasm. It definitely knocked me out. Glad you got at least some pain relief.

Celia said...

Ah, the annual "furnace or no." We are not quite there yet. Much further south. Take it easy, does the chill make you stiffer. I'm so sorry to hear your back is hurting. The meds my doc gave me for my back knocked me out too, so I stick to the over the counter stuff also.

Kay said...

Oh gosh... I'm so sorry for the pain you're suffering through. My friend has similar back problems and used to go for shiatsu massage which she said helped, but the woman retired. I was going to tell her about your CBD gummies, but if it's not super effective, I guess there's no point. Another friend said she used Voltaren, but even that wasn't fabulous.

DJan said...

I am really glad to hear you are in recovery mode. Those CBD gummies aren't all that good for serious pain started late, but if it were me, I would have asked someone for a ride to my acupuncturist, who would get me back to normal much faster. I'm so sorry you had to go through this, though. :-(

Should Fish More said...

I sympathize, AC. I've been plagued with the same issues for months and months. A good night for me is 5 hours total sleep. I don't like the cbd effects, and while I do take trazadone also, 150mg, I'm not sure it does anything, but have been advised to not stop cold turkey...I've been taking it for 4 years. Hope you can find a solution and help.

MARY G said...

Give in! Turn on the furnace and get some heat in the house. Your back will relax some. I have won the fight here. Honest! It helps me to have a warm house.

AWmom said...

Hi love your blog although I am just a reader .I very seldom comment. My husband and i have back and knee issues.we use lidocaine patches by perscription or bio freeze patches non perscription or bio freeze spray.we tried the cbd gummies but they didn’t work for us either. Hope you feel better soon.

Margaret said...

It sounds like you're trying lots of solutions and trying to rest your back. That long night though...it sounds miserable. Alison was a competitive gymnast and when they would hurt their backs (very frequently), it was ice, then heat. Ice to reduce inflammation and then heat to help it heal. But I'm not sure about back spasms versus back strain.

Red said...

This is real bummer. I hope things improve rapidly.

Boud said...

Sorry to hear you're in pain no fun at all. I hope it lifts soon.

Joanne Noragon said...


this is no fun. I have no advice except sleep (ha). I hope it improves.

DrumMajor said...

Call the doc and get some Flexeril. Helps the back relax and the spasms stop so you can heal. Maybe some stronger pain med too. If you don't help your back, you'll soon need a specialized veterinary psychiatrist for the cat. You and Sue will have to attend those sessions to learn how to be untrained from the cats requirements....just teasing. Linda in Kansas

Ed said...

When my mom was dying from cancer, she obtained some CBD gummies illegally from a source who frequently went to a state where they could be legally bought. She claimed they worked though from my perspective, they didn't last very long if they indeed helped. I always thought it was more of a placebo effect than anything medicinal. But as long as they worked in her mind, I was happy to help her obtain more just for her to be comfortable as long as possible.

Jeanie said...

Sounds like we are in the same temp zones at night. We're going with fireplace, space heaters and electric blankets. At least the days are temperate. I don't want my electric bill this month.

I hope by now your back is a bit (a lot bit) better. My day 2 of pneumonia was much improved and it has felt downhill since. I think backs might be more resilient. I hope so.

Christina said...

I hope you find something that helps with your spasms. I am also holding off putting the heating on but may give in soon

Vicki Lane said...

All so familiar. I'm sitting in our underheated house with a heating pad on my back which has been acting up. We did have a fire in the fireplace last night.

I hope your back gets better soon.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

The temps have cooled here as well, thankfully, as this summer was unusually hot and long lasting here in NH. I was not sorry to see it end right when a new month arrived. We do not have a choice in when the heat comes on as the apartment management makes that decision. This week, the AC was shut down and heating will be turned on within 2 weeks. This delay is as both use the same system. As for ourselves, we will most likely forestall turning the heat on until it becomes absolutely necessary.

Back pain is nasty. Hope you will have some relief soon.

William Kendall said...

It's the building supervisor who decides when the heat comes on in my place.

Jenn Jilks said...

Gosh. I was sent some CBD water to try a way back. I didn't find it did anything. I'm taking my oil, and that gets me through most nights. So sorry about your back.
JB has a deteriorating back, and cannot bend. That's why I do garbage, and lift stuff for him all the time. One ha to adapt.

Karen said...

I've been taking the same combo of medications for my fibromyalgia issues surrounding sleep. The CBD has been a real game changer for me. The person who councelled me said to take them consistantly for a few days to get the beneficial result. One can't take it once and expect a result.