A quick note about the sleep tip from yesterday….
So last night I was deluged with emails (ok- I got eight about the sleep tip from yesterday, and then four more about the study linking smoking to back pain.)
I know that in the early 21st century, there are lots of people who simply are not getting sufficient sleep, and I also know that there are myriad reasons why folks aren’t getting enough sleep. I also know that there are plenty of folks who smoke, and that most of them have all kinds of reasons (excuses) why they still smoke. When I make a suggestion like the one about sleep, or I cite a study about something- I AM NOT BEING ACCUSATORY!
When I set up my website & blog, I set out to provide the best information on back pain that I can in an effort to improve the quality of life of people who have back pain. When I find an article which I think provides useful, helpful knowledge- I’m going to pass it along. One of the emails I got was from someone who I know personally, who was convinced that I posted the smoking article in order to make a dig at them. I received an email from a mother of 2 who related the following;
“I have 2 small children and work full time. I leave the house at 7AM to get my children to child care and I usually don’t get home until after 7PM, when I prepare dinner for my husband, clean the house, pay bills, or do whatever else I need to do which can’t get done during the day. I have back pain pretty much every day. I’ve been told to get regular exercise, lose weight (all) of the things doctors are supposed to be telling me to do in an effort to lose weight. Now you are telling me I need to get sleep? I feel lost. You seem to have all the answers- what should I do?”
Anyone who knows me, knows that I take pretty much everything personally- so you can imagine how I must have felt when I read this. But, anyone who knows me ALSO knows that I never tell anyone that I have all the answers.
If I post something that is counter to your experience, beliefs, or capabilities- please do not take it as a personal affront. I really want to see this site develop as a forum, as a dialogue -between us, in an effort to better understand the nature of back and neck pain, and then learn productive ways to get relief, and keep it from coming back.
To the woman I quote above- I don’t have all of the answers. What I hope is that you will stick around here long enough to find some of the gems posted here by me and some of my colleagues- and that they will help you to find relief. Not everything I post here will apply to everybody- but some of it will eventually apply to you.
Hope to hear from you soon!
-Andy
Pelican in Haulover Park.
