I have been pretty much moving around without pain for some time but the back has been
aching like heck.

The doctor said that it was normal. I am still healing but the injury is mainly okay. What is
causing the aching is the weakened state of the muscles due to the damage from the
injury.

With that, he said to keep up the exercises and I'll be fine. He then wrote me an "open
appointment" for a year, which means that if there is any problems, just call in and come
in. I hope I won't need to use that appointment.

Then, today I went to the physiotherapist. He put me through the positions. Bend
forward, bend backwards, sideways, and all that. I was okay but I told him that there was
this ache in the back, where I was overusing the muscle. So he rubbed the heck out of
that muscle and it felt better immediately.

Maybe when after 10 more working days, when I'm done for the year, I'll go see a
masseuse or something to get that muscle rubbed out.

Mostly, I'm officially "healed". 8)

And it's a great load off my back (literally).

Now to get to strengthening those muscles. I may even overcome my adversion for
swimming and start swimming regularly. That's the advice of both the doctor and the
physiotherapist.

It's great to not have to see the doctor and physiotherapists again. I like them, they've
been great and caring to me, especially the physiotherapists and the nursing staff there.

I may send them a hamper of goodies to thank them.