I spent the last week in an all too familiar and hated position: a herniated (or slipped) disc. My symptoms involved pain in the sides of my neck. It was manageable for the most part, until the pain became so bad I couldn't focus or move my head without searing pain. Monday was at its worse, and my girlfriend had to venture out to buy a new neck brace for me.
I wore that for almost two days straight, though I couldn't sleep with it on that first night. Along with the pain came nausea and some dizziness; something was pressing on my vagus nerve, but anti-nausea meds helped a ton, as did pain killers. Ibuprofen for inflammation, coupled with cold compresses. That second day with the neck brace, I managed half a day without wearing it, before eventually giving in and going to bed around eight or nine PM. Normally it's eleven for me, but I couldn't think of anything but pain and misery, bluh!
Sleep was the only escape.
And it really paid off! Slept a solid eight hours and woke up feeling relieved and a little sweaty from the brace. I felt mostly fine that morning, but went to urgent care when I felt that familiar weight in my elbow and weakness in my left leg. The doctor there confirmed my suspicions; a bulge around my C4-5. Last time this happened after lifting weights, but it was more severe and affected my entire right arm. Fun...
I'm not sure what caused it this time, but likely weights or a standing ab workout I've been doing. I am still very early in the recovery phase, so I won't be doing my typical workout for awhile. Today, I've got some shoulder weakness, but my neck is mostly pain free. It's a little stiff, but manageable. I may do some light yoga to help later.
There also some great tai chi workouts I found on youtube that will help with back pain. Not that my back hurts; it just feels a little tight. Walking and (stationary) cycling helps, too.
I'm just happy I can finally focus long enough to actually write. I haven't done much of that at all this week; the brain fog made it damn near impossible. This morning, I wrote a solid 400 before doing my morning workout, compared to yesterday, where I struggled just to reach a similar count. And considering I don't have a backlog for my main web series, this is a good thing. Hoping to have a chapter drafted by Sunday night!
Edit: I got a little ahead of myself. I am far from 100% but thought I was more in the clear. Mostly cause I have not been taking these steroids as instructed; it's a 6 day pack and while it was too late to take them that first day (when they were prescribed), I should've been taking the full doses yesterday. 6 pills staggered across a day, dropping by one until only a single remained.
Had some real pain again a little after I fixed my schedule! Will be doing 5 days now since I took the 6th dose yesterday. I took it mostly easy this afternoon and finished up with some anime. Gonna chill in bed for the rest of the day and hope tomorrow looks better. We're going to the arcade!