I have had a stiff neck for over a week.
Last Sunday at the end of singing time, my neck had a little kink in it (felt like I needed to pop my neck). It got worse as I went home, but it wasn't extremely hurtful.
Then Monday it hurt enough that I iced/heated my neck and didn't do much. Tuesday it hurt enough that I was fully aware that my neck was kinked. I couldn't turn my head w/0 turning my body. Thankfully I had the kids home & they were all helpful (enough to get a few loads of laundry done & the dishes done).
Wednesday I could start to turn my neck, so I was glad I was on the mend. I did a couple loads of laundry & cleaned a bit. Thursday I felt better, so I did more cleaning & went visiting teaching all afternoon.
Friday was a good day (thankfully) because Keith (Grandpa) bought a whole bunch of strawberries--very cheap--because they were starting to spoil. So we did 5 batches of jam on Friday. After 1 1/2 batches, everyone pitched in and helped, so it wasn't as bad. My neck had started to hurt and I wasn't sure I would have been able to finish the jam.
Too bad I was too exhausted to make bread to go with the fresh jam!!!
My neck felt okay when I wasn't doing anything, except using ice/heat & either laying down or reclining. But movement made it hurt again.
Saturday was a cleaning day--I thought I had beat the kink out of my neck. I really cleaned the kitchen, finished laundry, and scrubbed the microwave & table. I also went to the church for a few hours to clean out the music closet. Every week I say that I know I have ________, but I'm not sure where it is!! So I de-junked & organized some of it. (I still have a couple of hours left, but needed page protectors for the rest).
I rode my bike to & from the church. When I was almost home, the down pour started again. We have had rain on & off for almost 2 weeks.
I baked pizza for dinner, and got the kids in & out of their baths. I had made blue rice crispy treats for singing time. A couple of weeks ago, Sr. Primary had a rebellious streak & didn't want to sing. And I know they can, so I told them I would have a treat for them if they would sing for the next 2 weeks. All the kids were in bed except for Ben (& Ethan) when----BAM!!! The kink was back in my neck & it hurt 20 times worse than before. I was almost in tears.
I wasn't doing anything, just sitting. And then I had a long, long, sleepless night. I couldn't find a comfortable position--laying or sitting. And Benjamin decided that he didn't want to sleep. So I think I got about 2 hours of sleep.
And Sunday morning was just as painful. I was in tears a few times, but had 2 new father's day songs to teach, and no idea who I could call last minute to sub. for singing time. Plus--my little Emmalee had her 1st Primary talk. So I toughed it out, and found 1 position that I didn't hurt as much in--I looked silly because I have to have my hand on the temple of my head.
I hate taking medicine when I am nursing, but hurt enough that I took 2 Tylenol right after I nursed him.
Everyone could tell something was wrong, because of how I was holding myself. I stayed in the mothers lounge/foyer during sacrament meeting. And during singing time, I told the children they needed to sing my "blues" away--and if they sang them away, then they could eat the "blues" away at the end of church. I also had a singing chart where the bees fly to the top of the flowers if they are singing extremely well.
They did sing really well, so they ate the blue rice crispy treats. And Emmalee was soooooo cute with her talk. I had told her that she needed to talk in her normal voice when I whispered to her, and she did. She had no problem at all telling everyone how she can help make her family happy.
By the time we got home, I was exhausted from holding myself in a "not-so-painful-pose" and I think when you are fighting pain, you get exhausted. So I jut went bed with my heating pad. I couldn't find a comfortable position for a while, but finally fell asleep for about 2 1/2 hours.
Rusty came in and rubbed my neck, and told me that he needed me to get better quickly, because "the house if falling apart". I felt good for about 1 hour after my nap, but then since I was up and moving, I started to really hurt again. So I went back to bed from 5:30 to almost 8:30. That was the best sleep I got!
My pain last week was about a 2 or 3, and Sunday it was definitely 8 to 9.5. I did get a little bit of sleep last night from about 2 until 4, and 5 to 6. Then I got up, gathered the papers for Cub Scout Day Camp (I am Cub master). Callum got dressed & ate a quick breakfast & then I drove him to the church. Thankfully my Wolf leader had planned on being the main leader & another parent was also driving. I had planned on driving there & staying just for 1 hour or so since I have Benjamin & I knew he wouldn't be cooperative for the whole day. So I just made sure that all the Cubs were there, had their paperwork & handed off all the leader paperwork to my Wolf leader.
I called for a chiropractor appointment when I got home at 8. But just got the answering machine. I have been taking the Tylenol around the clock now for the pain, and it helps for about 2 1/2 hours. I can't function with this kink in my neck & nothing seems to make it go away.
I just got a call back from the chiropractor & have an appointment later this afternoon. I also have an appointment with the special ed. teacher about Callum's evaluations from all his therapists today at 1. I needed to see her anyways because I need to update his medical information & need copies of all those evaluations & such.
So I hope by tomorrow I am on the mend--my house really needs me!!! And it might be nice to not have frozen food or grilled cheese sandwiches again.
