My back hurts…

Caregivers are at great risk for back injuries due to not using proper body mechanics in moving family members correctly.

Actually, it’s my side.  I tried a patient lift, but it didn’t work with Lynn’s wheelchair.  I know the one that I would like to get–it’s a modified version of what we used in the hospital–but it’s over $3000 because it’s not provided by our insurance company.  So I lift Lynn myself.  He now weighs 215 lbs.  That’s a lot to lift.  I’m no small person either. I weigh about 180 lbs, which is probably part of the problem.  If I were in shape and lost about 50 lbs., I would have more energy and more flexibility, however; as my doctor explained, losing weight is difficult when you’re under a lot of stress.  My body thinks it needs to store fat so that I’ll have the necessary energy to fight off what’s causing the stress.

I also admit I have no will power right now.  To think about counting calories or watching portions is just more than I can face.  I eat to keep up the energy, and I grab what’s easy.  I try to keep sweets out of the house, but I snack on nuts and bars and whatever I can find that I can eat while I work. I’ve looked at weight loss ads, but I’m afraid of that plus I have a lot of sensitivities to foods of it’s just too much to think about right now.

I know I also need to exercise.  I sometimes get in a few  minutes of stretching to help my muscle spasms but to even carve out 30 minutes means either reducing sleep time or work time and if I reduce work time, I have to take vacation time and I need to store that up in case he gets sick and goes into the hospital again. What a roller coaster!

I worry though about these spasms I’m having so often from lifting.  I know one day I’ll probably pull something that won’t go back and then what will we do?  I’ll have no one to take care of either of us. Then what?  I have long-term care insurance to cover me, but Lynn already had MS when I had the opportunity to get it, so he wasn’t qualified.  Just one more thing to leave in God’s hands because I can’t worry about it right now.

For now, it’s 11:00 p.m.  I finished working at 10:30 and put a pre-made meal from a friend in the oven for dinner.  Thank the good Lord (and Amelia) for those meals.  I don’t know what I would do without them.  I’ve had some Advil and Lynn’s in his powerchair attached to his peddler for the night. Think I’ll go have something to eat…

4 thoughts on “My back hurts…”

  1. You might want to try periodically checking ‘craigslist’? It’s like mining for used durable medical equipment. Once I saw a Hoyer power lift which I know retails for $5,000 being sold for $600. Bottom line is that in many cases family just wants to get rid of stuff. Of course no guarantee anything will be out there but it can be worth your while to look.
    I can tell you for a fact that when I finally joined a gym, Planet Fitness for $10 month, a year ago that I who like you lived with back pain for decades have had my first pain free year of MS caregiving in almost 22 years.
    Caregivingly Yours, Patrick

  2. God bless your every fiber. Our love and prayers are with you.
    God bless you and keep you
    The Lord make His face to shine upon you
    And be gracious unto you
    The Lord lift up His countenance upon you
    And give you His peace.
    Teressa & Donald

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