Bad back/shoulder

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have lower back issues (which spreads pain out to my whole body most days) so I feel for you sooo sooo much!! I see a chiropractor and also have recently started getting cortisone shots for the pain every 3 months. I have been bedridden for 2-3 weeks 3x in the past 5 years and it is the most unbearable pain I have ever had to deal with. Since working from home, it has actually helped and now I can take it easy when I feel my back going out whereas when I worked out of the home I felt like I needed to go to work and still do my duties 100% or risk being fired or being "that lazy coworker!!" I once dragged my ass to work everyday, cried getting in and out of my car, dragged my butt around work doing what I needed to do (I was in healthcare at the time and was caring for disabled adults) because my evaluation was coming up. My evaluation came and my boss told me that I could have taken the 2 weeks off and it would have been fine....umm you could have told me that when you saw me in pain you butthole!! Thankfully, I worked with a great shift who picked up a lot of the slack

Here are some things I do or would suggest...(my crew is 18 months to 2.5)

*I bought a coffee table from IKEA to use as a kitchen/art table and their critter chairs (I think thats the name). All the children can get themselves on and off the chairs

*I change diapers on a change pad on the bed (my spare bedroom is also the naproom/diaper change room) as all the children can climb up themselves and I don't have to lift them. If you don't have a bed or have kids who can't climb that yet, I would change them on the floor if you find that easier than lifting them up.

*Playpens suck but thankfully it's only once a day. If it's a really bad back day I will call my fiance down to put them into bed for me. You could also use a stool maybe and get them to climb on that and then you aren't lifting them as far?

*I don't carry any kids on the stairs. I walk behind them going up and in front of them going down. They all learn to climb the stairs fairly quickly here. This makes outside time a little more bearable. If it's a bad back day and my fiance isn't around to help than we stay in. None of the parents have an issue with this. They would rather me do this than throw my back out and not have daycare while I'm healing!

*The kids that ride in the wagon or stroller can all climb into it themselves or with a little bit of assistance for me.

*In the summer, I push them on the swing for 5-10 minutes at a time and than take a break.

*I take aleve in the morning and try to drink a lot of water. I use a heating pad or ice pack when needed.

I hope you start to feel better soon but in the meantime, take it easy!! Your back does not heal quickly if you over do it as I have sadly learned!