Better News and an Unobtainable Solution
Well, better news for me: not a slipped disk. Instead, a badly sprained lower back muscle is inflamed, and expanded to the point of pinching the sciatica nerve. Still excruciating pain; but with a chance of making that muscle relax and stop pinching the nerve.
This learned after a visit to the local Med360 center, which is just around the corner from my house. No calling up to make an appointment, no waiting around at all: diagnosis while-you-wait; no blood tests, no xrays, no referrals to osteopaths or surgeons who just want to put you under the knife. Inflamation-reducing drug administered at once, and prescription for analgysic (hydrocontone) faxed to the Walgreens I always go to, also just around the corner. Then to the other side of the center, to the physical therapist, to begin therapy the same day.
Bad news: been reading up on lower back pain, and it seems in general to take a very long time to get the healing done. Like at least a month. A month of pain. Something to look forward to.
Intense pain. Inflammation. Muscle stress. Hmm…now what one thing would help to alleviate–or at least palliate, these systems?
Answer: medical cannabis. Yes, marijuana would be just the thing for this set of symptoms.
A reasonable solution? Yes. An available solution? No way…at least, not in the great state of South Carolina.