Thanks for your thoughts, sarah. Sorry about your back spasms

Mom didn't want to go to the ER because the paramedics, when this first started, said the ER would do nothing for her. I know better as I had bad back spams once, went to the ER, got the drugs I needed, and was fine after, not that I'm saying mom will get all better. But mom is from the generation that doesn't question authority, and hey, the peach-fuzzed little twerps had uniforms on. I wasn't there at the time, or I would have schooled them.

Anyway, the good news is that the second muscle relaxer does seem to be working better, and she said she got a good night's sleep for the first time in 10 days.

To answer your question about additional treatment, she is scheduled for an injection into her spine on the 20th to reduce the inflammation, but I'm blanking on the details at the moment. She's had these before in a different spine location, and they have helped for other pains. Mom has been resistant to my suggestions of either heat or cold. Everyone in my family is weird. This should expain a lot to you.

And thanks for the thowing suggestions, echoes. I was thinking a few rounds of Bocce might be good, although that's underhand throwing, which isn't really cathartic. But it's one of the few semi-physical games I have a fighting chance of winning against a 20-year-old guy. Haven't tried it since getting PN though, so that might not be true any more.