Walking My Way Back: Walking to Ease Pain

Last year at this time, my Spring vacation from school, my back went out. Two days ago, again on my Spring vacation, my back went out. It's been hurting so badly that I haven't been able to even stand straight...echoes of the past.

After three Motrin last night, this morning, and again this afternoon, with no relief, I knew I had to do something else. And then I remembered.

I remembered that walking, no matter how slowly, causes the blood to flow through the pain and warm whatever hurts. I needed to ease the pain. And then I remembered something else.

My walking poles. My saviors. My sleek, blue, strong, quiet, loyal saviors.

I started so very very slowly; had anyone been watching, it might have looked odd to see this middle-aged woman walking around her back yard, dressed in her yard clothes and rubber boots, holding on to her beautiful blue walking poles-almost for dear life.

But I walked.

I visited the blueberries, the small patch of garlic we're growing, the blackberries.

And I walked.

When I got back to the house, I turned around and walked some more.

After the first 20 minutes, I could feel the warmth spreading throughout my back. The longer I walked, the warmer and better it felt.

So much better that I stayed outside for hours.

Ever so slowly, I raked a bit, cut back some berry bushes, then raked some more. We planted eight pussy willow bushes, hoping that they'll grow to their full height of 25 feet and create a privacy hedge.