But I’m good at slouching!

The back pain that started on Monday wasn’t going away. I normally sleep on my side and at one point last night, I tried rolling from left to right and couldn’t. Well, I suppose I could have tried harder, but excruciating pain is not my preferred reason for waking up in the morning. Thus, I had to roll on the front using my elbows and knees instead of just rolling over on my back. Also thus, I paid a visit to my friendly neighborhood chiropractor this afternoon.

The problem is that my L4 vertebra (way down at the base of my lower back) and pelvis sometimes get out of alignment. That also means that at random times, I’ll feel pain on the right side of my right shin. Good stuff. The doc gave me an adjustment, then declared, “You’re all fixed!” Part of doctor’s orders: ice my back and only sit in hard chairs, nothing soft because soft encourages slouching. Unfortunately, I slouch naturally.

I’ve been doing it for many, many years. I blame it on being tall because everything is “down there”. When I was taking the midterm in class on Monday (also when my back was getting noticeably uncomfortable), I had to hunch over the table to write my answers. When I ate dinner this afternoon, I bent over the table so I wouldn’t spill soup all over my shirt. When I pee, well, that’s just being courteous—I want to make sure I’m aiming into the toilet bowl.

But my point is that I’m using to having my back bowed, stretched out, resting against something. I spent an hour or two using a hard chair before I started to get sore from the lack of support. Screw doctor’s orders: I went downstairs to lie back down on my bed. I’ve been resting here for a while and I’m starting to feel better. I should wait for another hour or two to ice my back again, though I could probably eat a little something and take some Advil to help relax the muscles as well. Regardless, until society finds a way to move stuff higher instead of keeping it all “down there”, screw doctor’s orders: I’m stuck slouching.