Well, darn, last Saturday I moved a washing machine and and then did heavy weed whacking in the woods, managing to aggravate a bulging disc in my lumbar spine.
Awful pain in the back and sciatica down the leg, paralyzing pain.
Clearly I needed a reminder of what pain is like. (And it is frightening to think what it might be like if the pain was chronic.)
I spent Sunday moving as little as possible, with no improvement. Heating pads provided relief, as long as I didn't move.
This morning I remembered a little book: "Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie. On my bookshelf, and used successfully for injuries past. Duh.
I did the basic "back bend" exercise and things began to improve. Two hours and several exercises later, I'm able to do most daily movements and the pain is relenting.
McKenzie was a physical therapist who wrote several little books about self-treatment exercises for knee, neck, shoulder, hip and back pain. These are not radical treatments. They are now part of most physical therapists healing repertoire.
I mention them because for many of us occasional self-injuries are part of our lives, and these books have really helped me. Years ago I would have been in pain for a week or more.
Muscle and joint pain is a common part of aging.
Whatever our methods, we need to have some healing exercises that we know can help.
And remember them when needed!