Sunday, January 23, 2011

Out of My Rear Window 1/23/11

It's snowing a fine, fine snow, and it's bitter cold.  The weather gadget that I have on my computer says 9 degrees F, but my back steps thermometer says it's 4 degrees F.  There is not a creature stirring outside.  Tonight, the temperatures will go down to the negative digits.

These pictures out of the front window show the conditions a bit better.

I have to go out and shovel in a while.  I need to get the bird feeding area cleaned out so that the poor little creatures can come and get food, if they venture out of whatever warm haven they are in right now.

Normally, I would be quite eager to get out there, cold or not.  But, a few days ago, I bent over and felt something go in my back.  It hurt like blue blazes for a day or so, but what's got me a bit concerned right now is that the pain has moved down to my right leg.  It really hurts to walk, and shoveling is going to be interesting, to say the least.  Fingers crossed that it goes away quickly and doesn't turn out to be sciatica.

Edited about an hour later to add that I just looked out of my window to see this.  I have the greatest neighbor.  And, he doesn't even know that my leg is bothering me.

13 comments:

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

You have my sympathies, Louise. I do love snow, but as we get older, shoveling the stuff gets more and more complicated (I tore my rotator cuff while shoveling and will never be the same). I hope your back injury heals promptly.

TexWisGirl said...

Oh Hurray for your snow rescuer! My hubby struggles with sciatica so I feel your pain... Hope that's not it.

I know your birdies, squirrels, ducks, etc. are all waiting for your feed! Stay warm and safe!

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear that you are hurting. It sounds like you pinched the sciatic nerve - been there, done that and it's no fun! I finally went to a chiropractor (and I had little faith in them) and he set me straight in short order.
Hooray for great neighbors!

Sharon said...

Sorry about your back! I hope the pain eases soon and it's nothing more serious.

What a wonderful neighbor! Did he clear out to the squirrel tree?

Rest that back now!

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

ah louise, i hate to hear you are in pain. i know the searing pain from when my back would give me fits...but now i have no pain. i go to my chiropractor every other week and probably do not need to go that often but i don't want to be out of alignment as it only causes trouble in the end. i just fell in the ice an hour ago...darn! i use my oils that help tremendously! kudos to your nice person who cleared the snow.

Janet said...

What a lovely neighbor ! hope your back is soon on the mend

IsobelleGoLightly said...

Yay for the neighbor! That's really nice of him! Hope you feel better sooon!

Vicki Lane said...

Good for your neighbor! Your poor back -- hate to say it but it sounds like when I had a ruptured disk some years ago.

My Mind's Eye said...

Hi Louise I LOVE YOUR NEW background....just beautiful.

We had a very cold night no snow, just cold. Our daughter and son in law live on the coast of NC they had 5" of snow yesterday. 100% totally out of the norm for them. Waiting on picutres.

What a wonderful neighbor you have....you must bake him some brownies or buy them LOL!!!

I have been dealing with a bad back this week too and I don't know what I did. It is a lot better today.

I filled up my feeders today too. The little guys were quite impatient.

Oh horse story I work at NC State University.
Friday I was walking back from an on campus errand. Lo and be hold our mounted police were out....WHAT MAGNIFICENT horses....one of the is a type of draft that starts with a P. I was walking beside them talking to the police...I declare both horses were at least 2 feet above me and I'm 5'3". I felt like I was walking with royalty...every so often the draft cut his eyes at me....I love their noses. In the past when the police are walking them they have allowed me to pet them....
Hugs Madi and Cecilia

Jim said...

Hi Louise, hope that snowy weather doesn't come our way!
I had sciatica problems a couple years ago....first time and hopefully the last! The pain as you know is not good. I went to a chiropractor and after three sessions, it was gone.......knocking wood as I said that. It may help you too. Hope the pain has subsided a bit or that you found that position that helps. Take care.

KB said...

Isn't it wonderful to have a person do something nice like that for you, especially when you really need it and they didn't know it?

It really is the deep winter now, isn't it? I find it interesting that we always enter the coldest time of year as the days get noticeably longer. At least that extra daylight helps a lot.

As someone who has gone through almost every back problem imaginable, I'll just drop a quick thought. Usually, docs start by treating "referred pain" down a leg or arm (caused by the spine) with anti-inflammatories and they fix the problem in about 90% of cases. So, it might be worth a trip to the doc with a plan of getting some conservative treatment (anti-inflammatories) to see if it works. It can be like magic (I have a supply of very strong ones at home for my flareups and they work wonders).

That's my 2 cents but feel free to toss those 2 cents out the window! I just thought that I'd share my experience.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to have neighbours like that! I do hope your pain is gone by now ... that's a terrible thing to have!

barefootheart said...

What a great neighbour. Sorry about your back/leg. Hope you're feeling better.