HOW SPENDING NINE HOURS AT THE AIRPORT LEFT ME WITH BACK PAIN

A 6am flight, a 9 hours delay and the severe back pain I never saw coming,

Our flight to Ghana was scheduled for 6AM, and with a flight time for just 1 hour and 45 minutes, we had everything planned out. Arrive, check in, grab breakfast and explore a few places before the day got too far long. Simple right? 

Well, little did we know that the airline had a completely different plan for us. Just a few minutes before boarding, an announcement came through: our flight had been delayed by a few hours. At first we didn’t think much of it, delay’s happen. We assumed it wouldn’t be too long before we were on our way. So, we settled in and went to get some snacks. However, just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, another announcement came.

A further five-hour delay. That was when the atmosphere changed. The silence in the waiting area was suddenly broken by murmurs, complaints, and frustrated conversations. People began expressing their displeasure, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. Some had business meetings to attend, others had conferences to get to, and everyone had somewhere they were supposed to be. A few passengers even began exploring other options, including booking alternative flights. Clearly, this was no longer a minor inconvenience.

Meanwhile, I was dealing with a problem of my own. I had been sitting for what felt like forever, and the cold was becoming unbearable. To make matters worse, I was wearing a sleeveless gown, so the cold got to my body. In my mind, we would be in and out of the airport in no time, so I hadn't bothered to dress for a long wait at the airport. 

Then, I began noticing a dull ache in my lower back. At first, I brushed it off. I didn’t pay much attention to it, assuming it was nothing serious. Little did I know that this seemingly minor discomfort was only the beginning of another ordeal. What was supposed to be a quick trip to Ghana was slowly tuning into an exhausting experience, and the flight hadn’t taken off yet.

While all this was going on, we had a difficult decision to make: should we keep waiting and hope our flight would eventually take off, or cut our losses and book another flight? At this point, our faith in the original flight taking off was practically nonexistent. We were already at the airport, surrounded by our luggage, and had lost hours waiting for an airline that seemed determined to ruin our plans.

After weighing our options, we decided to book another flight scheduled for 4:30PM with a different airline. It meant spending more money that we had planned, but at that point, getting to Ghana was the priority. Thankfully, this flight eventually took off, and we were finally on our way to Ghana!

Imagine planning your day around an early morning arrival, only to spend most of it dealing with flight delays, uncertainty, extra expenses, and exhaustion. By the time we arrived, we were completely drained from the airport drama.

When we finally got to the hotel, that was when I realized just how bad m back pain had become. I could barely bend, let alone squat. The discomfort that I had initially brushed aside at the airport had become impossible to ignore. I took my bath, hoping that a good night’s rest would help me eel better by morning. Surely, after all that stress, a little rest was all my body needed, right?

Wrong! The following morning, my back pain was even worse. Instead of waking up refreshed and ready to explore Ghana, I could barely get through basic activities. I managed to take my bath, but that was about as much as I could do. I spent practically the entire day in bed, taking medication and trying to manage the pain. Just like that, another day of our trip was gone.

No exploring, no sightseeing, no stepping out to enjoy Ghana as we had planned. I was stuck in the hotel room while the trip I had looked forward to was happening around me. It was frustrating, to say the least. By the next day, I knew I couldn’t keep lying in bed all day. I needed to get up, move around gently, and see how I felt. So, I decided to take a little walk. And while I was out, I took these beautiful pictures. 

How do you like this colorful two piece outfit?

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