The back is not pleased

One of the latest things with me has been a newfound hate I have for my old injured back.  Back when I was 21 I lifted something far heavier than I should have and far too quickly because my boss was being an absolute cunt.  I felt a little twinge in my lower back which later turned into stupid pain.  Typical nerve damage.  I was actually surprised to find out quite a few people I know have the same problem.

Any way the pain is brutal and it screwed me for years.  Only 5 years ago I found a simple back exercise that would counter all pain so I wouldnt feel it again.  Problem is I need to do it once every couple weeks to keep it good.  Sadly people get lazy.  No pain, no problem.  I'd go for months without doing it and suddenly be all OMG the pain is there again, like this should be a surprise.

Normally the pain has always focused on the lower back, which made simple things like leaning slightly over the sink while brushing teeth, picking something off the floor, or even getting out of bed an absolute nightmare for a few weeks till my exercises did their thing.  This time it did something completely new.  The back pain was there again.  But I could feel the nerve that got screwed deciding to do something new.

You know when you pinch that nerve that in the back of your shoulder blade or neck, and you just cant turn your head without crying?  I got that in my lower back.  But it decided to move more to my hip which was totally new.  This caused a knock on effect.  My legs from my thighs to my calfs, were SCREAMING in pain.  Like I'd walked for 2 days straight and then had them set on fire.  I'd never experienced anything like this before.  Standing was very painful.  Sitting was more horrible.  But lying down?  Impossible.  I couldnt even sleep because of the pain.  And my pain threshold is stupidly high which says something.

After about 3 days of this and 2-3 hours of sleep at best, I decided to take some painkillers.  This is something I never do.  Not even if my head is exploding with the mother of all headaches.  I've probably taken some once in the last 5 years.  I wasnt expecting anything since they're just standard.  But much to my surprise after about 20min the pain went away.  It would only last half the day so twice a day I was taking them.  I guess since I never take them their strength is full power for me.  Unlike my mum who eats them every day at the smallest pain she gets. 

I did this for about 3-4 days which really helped.  For the past 2 days I've taken none.  The pain is still there, but its much less now, so my exercises seem to be shifting into gear finally.  I can still feel the issue which makes me worry that the nerve is still fucked off and could be triggered into being stupid again if I do the slightest wrong thing.  One of the strangest things though was losing my flexibility.  The day before my body died, I could easily do the splits.  Martial arts history blahblahblah.  Now I cant even lean over slightly with my legs straight.  Its like all my muscles have clenched up and refuse to do anything.  I'll wait another week and give myself more time to heal before I try and test out my flexibility again and see if its come back.  It pisses me off because it takes months of daily stretches and I'll rage if all that effort has been wasted.  At least I'm not feeling completely suicidal anymore.  That pain was something you could only read in legends.