(Don't talk about) Back Pain

This week has been a 'bad week' for my back. Not debilitating, but definitely uncomfortable. This marks Year 6 for my degenerative disc disease problems. If you know anybody who does spine replacements, send them my way. :) Anyway - I thought I'd share a poem I wrote about my back pain. Enjoy.

Back Pain

The first rule about back pain is
you don't talk about back pain 
because it is always listening.
The mention may awaken the monster
to rear its unfortunate head.

Shhh... but if you must discuss

the back pain, minimize the fuss. 

Don’t cuss about the glowing stick 

weakening the aging body

in a manner that can be sickening.

The list of back pain words is

lengthy; grinding, twisting, aching.

There is relief in naming 

the myriad of sensations:

describing it is healing.

My pain log includes phrases

like: 'had trouble walking today,"

"could not do anymore" plus 

"i overdid it cleaning the house, 

& lifting milk at the store."

Nerves are constantly compressed.

Electricity creeps down the legs.

Physical therapy routines 

develop core strength which is 

basically all you need in your 40's.

Inflammation arrives and retreats,

when treated; but the bone passages

will increasingly narrow and press,

compromising the fortress,

sharply predicting an uncertain future.