Back in Action

Last week I did something stupid—the kind of stupid thing you immediately know that as you are doing it, it is going to hurt, bad. The only question is, for how long? Without thinking, I bent down to pick up something very heavy, but—despite hearing Mr. Cordel, my old gym teacher, reminding me to “bend my knees,” which he would be proud to know I remembered to do—after lifting 45 pounds, something immediately felt bad. Cut to the chase, I pulled two muscles in my back. For the next several days rolling over in bed, getting in and out of the car, and putting on my socks and shoes became a painful ordeal.

I have several ice packs in my freezer, one has long been the favorite because it is large, flat and velvety soft on one side. A few months ago, said ice pack developed a split on its seam, and unfortunately, Old Trusty was pitched without any thought of getting a replacement because, let’s face it, no one ever needs an ice pack until they need an ice pack.

A few days later feeling only a tad better, I ventured out to The Land of Stores (a 30 minute drive crossing state lines) and stopped at the first place I came to—CVS. While they had a decent selection of ice packs to peruse they were all unfortunately on the lowest shelves of the store. So on my hands and knees I go (OK, I was actually reduced to sitting on the floor of CVS if you must know). My goal was to quickly scan my options and get home.

I’m not sure, but I’d guess at least 15 minutes went by, and I wasn’t really any closer to getting a new ice pack. What should have been a fairly simple task was long and drawn out because I had take each one out of its packaging to really see if it would be large enough, soft enough and flexible enough. It was then I stumbled on CVS Peas Hot or Cold Therapy Pack. It came in several specific-use options (knee, shoulders, back), but I opted to pass on the Lower Back version. At $25-plus, it seemed the belt the ice pack came with was doubling the price of the one I ultimately went with—a 10-by-6 option for $10. Truth be told, I really could not visualize if that was big enough for one’s back.

To finish out this story, during the week I used it, Peas seemed to work well enough—although reviews I have since read online about splitting seems had me worried about its longevity. So I went online in search of Old Trusty No. 2 and actually found it. Formally, it goes by Thera-Med Back Pad. This 12-by-12 cold pack is an exact replica of my previous one, right down to the soft velvety backing. Two weeks and two sessions with a therapist, ice and a muscle relaxer or two, and I can now happily get socks and shoes on without wincing, but I can’t tell you what a relief it is knowing that my favorite cold pack is back on call should I need it.