Hanging on by a thread

So, this weekend was awesome for morale at our house. My parents came up for a visit and I LOVE when my parents visit. They hang out and we talk and laugh and eat and talk and laugh and eat. It's comforting and comfortable and honestly, one of the best feelings in the world. They are my people...I see me in them and them in me and it's just a deep breath.

I thought this wonderful visit would bode well for the upcoming week...alas I was utterly wrong.

Yesterday was my fourth session of physical therapy. We did the machines, the elliptical, pelvic realignment, and my personal favorite TRACTION. For any of you who have heard this word thrown around haphazardly in medical type dramas, soap operas, and films - let me enlighten you as to what this describes. I am specifically referring to spinal traction.

"Spinal traction is a treatment option that is based on the
application of a longitudinal force to the axis of the spinal
column. In other words, parts of the spinal column are
'pulled' in opposite directions in order to stabilize or change
the position of damaged aspects of the spine."

In my case, they lay me on a table, strap my trunk into what can only be described as a medical, industrial type corset, strap my arms down, put my legs up on a stool, strap the stool to a device which will pull my legs away from my trunk, and press the "on" button. During the next 20 minutes I will be pulled like taffy for a minute or two and then given brief 30 second intervals of respite. I hate this part of physical therapy. I always leave in more pain then when I came in...and it doesn't seem to be working. I told this to my therapist...and we're gonna give it a few more rounds before we completely right it off.

WARNING: incoming small mental breakdown (Screaming in my head: Are you kidding me?! Are you kidding me? Really!? We're going to give it a few more times? I don't see you being strapped down like a crazy person and pulled on like a bone by a rabid dog! Let's completely disregard the fact that I felt great after my first physical therapy session and that I had almost a complete loss of symptoms...when we didn't use traction. But I guess the fact that my body revolts and I can barely walk afterwards, and I'm popping loritab and muscle relaxers like they're candy is just all in my head - this traction thing is REALLY where it's at.)

Well, after my pulling session, I made my way home (slowly) where I spent the remainder of the evening lying on the floor in the only comfortable position I could find grading papers, watching TV, and doing my at home PT - interrupted by brief moments of painful movement when I wanted to be useful...but, was immediately ordered to sit back down as it usually results in me making more work for sweet husband.

Today I sign into my medical savings account - and I've been reimbursed twice and my insurance has still to make the claims to my doctor....A bad back is bad enough...but, having to make sure others do their job correctly is ridiculous.