Your core is important
I take many things for granted. This past weekend, I learned that one of those things is mobility.
I was lying in bed on Saturday night and reached for my nasal spray on my nightstand when I had that awful jolt of pain in my lower back. I immediately knew that something wasn’t right, but I went to bed hoping that pain would go away. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Sleep was difficult and uncomfortable; waking up the next morning and trying to move about was even worse.
This incident really emphasized how important taking care of my core is. The core muscles are essential in keeping up with many of our daily routines. And more often than not, we don’t realize how precious something is until it’s gone.
I felt very unhappy when I wasn’t able to do what I wanted no matter how simple the task seemed, like sitting down comfortably or standing up. It was also difficult to rely on Ryan to get me things, drive me around and help me up, but he was very gracious about it, and for that, I’m truly grateful. He pointed out that this experience probably gave me an insight on what some older adults go through as they age. Although it was a rather grim topic, I definitely see his point and the value in being more compassionate toward others after this ordeal.
I continue to feel better each day, but I know that I need to be careful so as not to injure my back again. I’m fortunate that this injury wasn’t too serious and that I found relief through rest, over-the-counter treatments and light walking. I’m going to commit to doing more core exercises on a regular basis as part of my overall goal to have a healthier lifestyle.