The Rehab Plan

Today I had a great consult with my former personal trainer, Ben. It’s nice to work with someone who knows me, what I’ve been capable of in the past, etc. I gave him the scoop on the past few months, even brought my MRI so he could visualize how serious the herniation is. I told him I wanted to rehab my legs, get my left leg firing as fast as my right leg and get more core work ideas. He was awesome. He totally understands what I want, what I need and how to get me there, safely. He noted the same things that the doctor’s said I’ll have to be cognizant of related to body mechanics, posture, etc. (i.e. I need to avoid forward flexion), which suggested to me he really knows his stuff!

Ben outlined an exciting rehab plan, and I’ll begin seeing him 2x/wk for an hour at a time - My birthday present to myself. The rehab plan will have four components:

1. Strengthening my legs ‘til they’re back to their Herculean power :0)
2. Training my slightly slower left leg how to respond in time with my right leg
3. Spiffing up my cardio now that I’m off of running
4. Helping the left leg sciatic tightness with special assisted stretches, using the foam roller, etc.

Of course, Ben concurs about the advice to not run, and suggested I could run in the swimming pool to get the cardio burst without the pressure on my back. I’m ready to die of boredom on the elliptical. And though I’ve always disliked Spinning, I’m going to give it another whirl, cause of the cardio boost it can offer – they say Spin is the closest cardio explosion next to running. So, I’m totally stoked and plan to be back in fabulous condition by spring – and by that I mean true WI spring, not spring as identified on the calendar!

Legs

My level of weakness was shocking today, as I got back to a leg work-out after a 3 month hiatus. For example, I used to lift 80-90 pounds on the leg extension machine, 3 sets of 12. This morning after 1 set at 37.5 pounds my legs were quivering, and to be safe, I decreased the weight to 25 pounds for the remaining 2 sets. Instead of doing 6 sets of 35 walking lunges, I did 1 set. You get the picture, right? All the elliptical has been doing for my legs is keeping them remotely toned and moving. This is truly pathetic, BUT I know my legs will pump back up quickly and it'll be fun watching them get more strong and more cut week by week.

I have reconnected with my former personal trainer, Ben. He trained me 3 years ago in preparation for our 100 mile trek around Mt. Rainier. Now I'm looking to meet with Ben just a handful of times to get support with getting my legs in shape, to maybe learn some new moves I can use with my limitations, and perhaps he can help my left leg start firing faster. That leg is just a wee bit delayed in it's response.

Also, I can't let the advice to not run sit, and am thinking about going to the same orthopede Joe's seeing for a second opinion. This orthopede is a runner, and may offer me more hope. I guess I'm looking for the green light to run. If a second opinion also advises me not to run, I'll consider it, but may not follow it. I can hear some of you groan out there, but here's the thing. While I don't enjoy running for the sake of running, I really love racing - hanging with a group of like-minded people on an early Saturday morning, limbering up, then challenging yourself physically and mentally during the race, and of course, I love the competition factor. So, we'll see. It ain't totally over yet!!!

No Surgery!!!!!

As I traveled to see Dr. Kurpad today, I felt rather confident that I wouldn’t need surgery at this time. When I was placed in exam room #8 (my favorite/lucky number) I felt superstitiously certain I was right. Dr. Kurpad confirmed that there’s no cause for surgery at this time. Surgery could become necessary in the future if:
1. My pain returns.
2. I have a sudden worsening of nerve issues.
3. I feel my usual activities are too impaired/limited.
I asked a plethora of activity related questions and was given the okay to start weight lifting with my legs again! (I plan to start tomorrow) I am also cleared to do squats (one consulting chiro a few weeks back told me I should never squat again). I can Spin. I can Zumba, but should avoid jumping or doing moves that torque my upper body too much. I can resume yoga & Pilates, but should be mindful of form; keeping a neutral spine at all times. Most importantly, I can backpack! So, the Grand Tetons, here I come! Running is the one sticking point. He “advises” against running, but confessed to me that his own MRI looks just like mine and admits to running a couple times per week on a treadmill. If I run, I really should avoid concrete. I guess Napa was my first and last half marathon, but I can live with that. I’m grateful I have that experience on my life list.

Concerning the loss of sensation in the back of my leg and foot, he says that may or may not be permanent. It’s too hard to predict. Time will tell. I can live with it. And now that I know the slight improvements and declines my foot experiences aren’t reflective of a bigger problem at work, I won’t be as hypervigilant with monitoring it.

I also feel more confident about surgery in the future if need be. Dr. Kurpad has had many successful outcomes with people as active as me. He told me about triathletes, fitness instructors, etc. whom he has operated on and who are fully returned to their athletic prowess. If I have surgery, I’d have a better chance at running again. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, and he said most people wonder why they waited so long. But again, avoiding surgery is even better. I will know myself and my needs down the line, and should I need surgery, I have one of the best neurosurgeons in the country in my Rolodex. As far as I’m concerned this is the best early birthday gift ever.

I’m hogging the spotlight, but let me share that Joe was seen at a great sports medicine clinic today (here’s the link if you wanna check them out) http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/services/smi/index.asp and given an answer about his recurring painful/swollen ankle. When Joe runs, he pronates and has an unstable ankle, which has created bursitis of the ankle. Orthotics may be his answer. He will see a sports med orthopedist now, get orthotics, and hopefully enjoy running without pain and injury.

While I’m outta the woods for now, I will keep this blog going. You may note that in my profile to the left of this entry, I did say this blog would move on to capture other challenges I take on once my back situation found resolution. We’re at that point now, so please, stay tuned. I love to write and having an audience gives me a purpose to do so. I plan to simplify my life (and maybe yours by default) by decreasing my postings to 1-2x/wk. The next challenge I’m identifying is getting my lower body back in shape in time to climb mountains in May when Joe & I visit my sister, Barb, in the Wilderness she calls home.

Take A Look At A Herniated Disc!

In light of my appointment with Dr. Kurpad tomorrow, I thought y’all might like to see pictures of a herniated disc, and have a refresher on what it is. I have 2 bulging discs at L2 and L5 and 1 herniated disc at L4. My MRI picture looks considerably worse than these two, right Joe?! My disc is filling my entire spinal column.

Our spine is made of 24 moveable bones called vertebrae. The lumbar (lower back) section of the spine bears most of the weight of the body. There are 5 lumbar vertebrae numbered L1 to L5. The vertebrae are separated by cushiony discs, which act as shock absorbers preventing the vertebrae from rubbing together. The outer ring of the disc is called the annulus. It has fibrous bands that attach between the bodies of each vertebra. Each disc has a gel-filled center called the nucleus. A herniated disc is a condition that occurs when the gel-like center of a disc ruptures through a weak area in the tough outer wall, similar to the filling being squeezed out of a jelly doughnut (see the diagram). Low back or leg pain may result when the disc material touches or compresses a nearby spinal nerve. Herniated discs are most common in people in their 30s and 40s. In my case, the disc is likely sitting on my nerve.

Different terms may be used to describe a herniated disc. A bulging disc (protrusion) occurs when the disc annulus remains intact, but forms an outpouching that can press against the nerves. A true herniated disc (also called a ruptured or slipped disc) occurs when the disc annulus cracks or ruptures, allowing the gel-filled center to squeeze out. Sometimes the herniation is so severe that a free fragment occurs, meaning a piece has broken completely free from the disc and is in the spinal canal.

UPDATES & Animal Tidbits

UPDATE:

So here's the good news - my foot has quieted back down to a level 3-4. I'm chalking this up to the massage I had Friday. Since losing my fabulous therapist, Jerailyn, I joined Massage Envy. As a member I get an hour massage for $39, which is a great deal. Like Goldi Locks, I had to try on many different massage therapist there before I landed upon Victoria. I've been seeing Victoria since my discs herniated and have felt safe and confident in her hands. The last time I saw her I had a period of improvement too, so now my wheels are turning once more. I'm thinking, instead of paying $110/week for acupuncture, which I do not feel is helping anymore, why not get a 2nd massage each month? This would only be an extra $39/mos as opposed to the $440 I was spending on acupuncture.

Animal Tidbits:

#1. Last night we had the pleasure of seeing both a great horned owl and a red fox in our yard. The owl was perched on a utility pole, fanning it's feathers and hunching down during the frequent wind gusts. We watched it's head swivel 180°, bobbing for it's prey, and then with a massive shadowed wingspan, it was gone. The fox is just cute as heck - we've been seeing her with some frequency - dashing in and out of our bushes, around trees and through other yards.

#2. That damn Dio has established a new weekend routine much to our chagrin. If we do not participate he will scream for hours straight. It goes like this. Around 4-5a.m. he begins screaming at us. This means he wants to have fresh water from the bathroom faucet, and after that, we must place him in the linen closet where he will sleep 'til 1-2p.m. Such a life!

Rested

Good evening. It's been a nice snowy day for those of us in SE Wisconsin. As promised in my previous blog, I slept in this morning and did so in a big way. Logged close to 12 hours of sleep and open-eyed rest, before getting up to enjoy a Saturday snowstorm that I didn't have to be in. So much better watching the snow accumulate when I don't have to don boots or drive in it! The sleep and massage proved to be a beneficial combination. My foot is down to a 5 or so today.

Mmmmm Massage!

Today was massage day. I love massage day. I get a massage monthly as a form of preventive health care. Loosen up those muscles before they start pulling my body outta alignment, and all that jazz. My foot is most annoying today – real fuzzy and tingly in my 4th toe. I’d rate my foot at an 8 today. I’m trying not to feel disappointed that the improvements in my foot for the past several weeks has ceased. The first noticeable, though short lived, improvement I had in my foot was on January 23rd – the day following my last massage. So, maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow morning in a ditto situation! And even if I don’t, I’ll be happy just to sleep in. This week has been extra tiring for some reason – maybe my body is working overtime to stave off the nasty cold Joe has.

Faith vs. Hope

I want to share the musings of a client that gave me pause to think. This client was seriously ill for many years. There were manic police chases across county lines, there were several near fatal suicide attempts, and there was the loss of independence. This client has now been stable for 2+ years and has been able to use his/her mind to find idiosyncratic ways to manage negative thoughts and to be content in the moment and with any outcome. His/her latest revelation is this:

If you hope for an outcome (i.e. I hope I don’t need back surgery) that means there is room for doubt. You’re hoping for the best, but acknowledge it may not happen. With faith (and this isn’t connected to God or religion per se) there is no doubt, and you trust the outcome will be as it should be. (i.e. I will or wont have back surgery, and either outcome is okay cause that’s how it’s meant to be because we do not know the bigger picture). These thoughts have greatly helped my client excoriate feelings of angst, disappointment, depression, etc., and to be less attached to an outcome. The Buddhists say when we want a certain outcome we are grasping; our happiness and sense of well-being is attached to that outcome and this causes us to suffer. If you can detach from the outcome you will suffer less. I think this ties in beautifully with my client’s perspective. Both are perspectives I’d like to embrace, and am sure could make your lives easier too :)

Gratefulness

Today’s blog is inspired by my Uncle Jim and his father, my grandpa, who died before I was born. Jim was cheering me on when he wrote, “I always remember what my Dad (your grandfather) would say: ‘I thought I had it bad because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet!’” I love this quote because it illustrates that there is always something to be grateful for. One of my positive traits that get me through this trying time is that I always count my blessings; I’m always looking for the silver lining. Always. Being grateful allows you to focus on the positive, and being positive leads to a more peaceful existence. While my foot remains pricklier at a 7-8, I am grateful for the following:

I’m grateful my foot isn’t back to a 10.
I’m grateful I am not in pain.
I’m grateful I can do the amount of exercising I can do right now.
I’m grateful I am adjusting to walking on a tingly foot, and am limping less.
I’m grateful to have Joe, as well as supportive and encouraging family & friends.
I’m grateful I have good health insurance.
I’m grateful I have the money to pay for what insurance doesn’t cover.
I’m grateful to have a job to pay for my insurance.
I’m grateful I have one of the top neurosurgeons on my case.
I’m grateful I have gone this long without surgery.
I’m grateful to have my mind that allows me to sort through all of this hoopla.
I’m grateful I only have herniated discs, and not a life threatening disease.
I’m grateful to be alive.
(And, I'm grateful that my Facebook profile was blocked to my client!)

Discombobulated

That's how I feel. Discombobulated with what to do next with my "rehab". Today I had my first chiro appt. in 2 weeks, and the doctor recommends we continue with every 2 weeks unless I get way worse. She and I agree that it is likely the chiropractic work is responsible for the improvements my foot experienced, as my foot seemed to worsen during the past 2 weeks with only acupuncture. At $110/week outta my own pocket, it's time to re-evaluate the acupuncture. I totally believe in it, but I think my condition may not be fixable with this treatment modality. I will see what Dr. Kurpad says about my condition, outlook and options next week before I make any new decisions on where I want to head next with my treatment.

On an unrelated note, I'm feeling like a dumb dumb chicken little. I recently joined Facebook, and never considered the idea that one of my client's would look me up and find me. It has happened. I'm hoping my settings are such that he could not view info in my profile. Now I have to have Joe check Facebook for me and see how much of my page is viewable to anyone. There's nothing ultra personal on the Facebook site, but still, my client's don't need to see personal pictures of Joe & me, or know my political leanings, personal interests, etc. Live and learn, I guess!

Also a shout out to my mom who spent the past 2 nights in the hospital with a GI bleed after no hospitalizations for 30+ years. The source of the bleed was found and taken care of. She'll be out Spinning and yoga-ing soon :)

My Foot

My foot continues to hold between a 5-8. It’s been at this higher level for nearly a week, and I find it frustrating after having a good spell with my foot hovering around a level 3-4. The increased numbness and prickliness is felt most strongly in my 3rd and 4th toes, and the area surrounding the bones on the bottom of my feet that extend from those toes. My heel and Achilles also feel the numbness more. These areas represent the impingement of my sciatic nerve at the S1 level (that’s the first vertebra in the sacrum after the lumbar vertebrae), which makes sense since the worst of my 3 herniation’ is at the L5-S1 vertebra.

The rest of me is status quo: Back of thigh with unchanging numbness. Back and hip are pain-free. Dr. Li put extra needles in to work the foot. Normally I get a needle between my big toe and the second toe, but this time, she put needles between every toe (it didn’t hurt). If you look hard in this picture you can see the little holes left behind! I haven’t done anything different with my daily regime, so perhaps the increased numbness in my foot indicates the weekly chiropractic treatments were working. You may recall I’ve been reduced to 1 appointment every 2 weeks. I see the chiro tomorrow, will share my changes and see what she recommends.

Acceptance

The last time I wrote about running, I was missing it and feeling sad that I couldn't be out there training for future races. Today was to be the start of my half marathon training for the Wisconsin "Cheezy" Half Marathon in Kenosha along the lake on 5/2/09.

Denise began training for this race several weeks ago, and is well underway, though dealing with hormonal issues that leave her exhausted. Joe began his training a couple weeks ago, and it was going well until the old ankle and hip soreness returned. Heather's been on hold with her running due to a tight lower back, but should (hopefully) be back at it soon - Run Heather Run! Jodie (no pun intended here) has been "delayed" in her running pursuits by a chaotic life of late, but will no doubt get back to the trail in spring. And then there's Fred. Fred is a machine. He's helped raise tons 'o money for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. He's running their Half Marathons every 6 months - Napa, then Miami and back to Napa this July - while managing his Crohn's.

I mention these folks cause I see their paths have not been easy lately either. I no longer feel frustration, sadness or yearning for the races I wanted to do the first half of this year. I've accepted that I'm where I'm at right now. I will run again, but for now I'm going to enjoy the time off.

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope this day finds all of you well. Joe gave me this really cool pair of earrings with matching necklace featuring a runner. Always thoughtful and clever with his gifts! (picture of us taken with the aide of the Gorilla Pod camera holder I gave Joe). We grabbed a great lunch at Tandoor (thanks Jane & John!) and are prepared to settle down for our first expericne with our newly installed flat screen TV. Woohoo!

West vs. East

I'm having trouble investing fully in what my Western doctors tell me vs. my Eastern doctor. I feel that I must fully embrace one practice or the other because what they advise are often at odds, and doing both sets of recommendations is not producing a lot of results. What the hell am I talking about? Well, for example, my Western doctors have sanctioned my current exercise regime, in fact, they advised and encouraged it. Now that my foot has worsened to a 7-8, my acupuncturist feels I'm doing to much and advises me to get off the elliptical and do no more than a 1 mile walk each day. Are you kidding me??? Which way is more likely to yield results? Dr. Li indicated my rash was caused by toxins coming out of my nerves as a positive result of treatment. After hydrocortisone and Benadryl failed to give me relief, she gave me an herbal Chinese unguent, and the rash is dissipating. When I saw the Western dermatologist today he said I have a mild eczema and prescribed a steroidal cream. I researched eczema a bit and it seems it usually begins in childhood and recurs through life - that's not my case, so who's right? I lean towards the Eastern explanation and treatment on this one. So, East vs. West is driving me nuts, and soon, I may have to commit to one or the other.

Acupuncture Revisited

I wrote about acupuncture a couple weeks ago and confessed that I was drowning in dread before each appointment –sometimes the needles hurt, it was hot, it was boring lying there for 30 minutes, etc. Shortly after that posting, my dread took a 180, and now I look forward to my appointments. The needles rarely hurt, the room is not as unbearably hot and I actually nap for the 30 minutes I lie there. Best of all is talking with Dr. Li as she puts the needles in (By the way, each needle is packaged as a sterile, single use needle). I’m learning more about her - her culture, her life here. She’s a smart and funny woman whom I’ve developed a nice camaraderie with. My next appointment is tomorrow – still going twice per week.

The past 2 days my foot has been worse at a 6-7. Only god (and maybe Dr. Kurpad) knows why!

Time To See Dr. Kurpad Again

My follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon, Dr. Kurpad, has been set for 2/24. At that appointment I’ll report on what I’ve been doing, and how I am doing. He will advise on whether he feels surgery is necessary, if we need more time to monitor things or if it's not needed. If surgery is not needed, or he wants to enter a second wait-n-see period, I’ll have a list of questions for him, including:
1. Is it true that nerve problems lasting longer than 3-6 months can become permanent?
2. Does the slight improvement in my foot reflect progress, or am I grasping at straws?
3. When can I weight lift with my legs again? Are squats forever out of the question?
4. Do I need to initially work with a physical therapist or personal trainer to safely use weights on my legs?
5. Can I continue to backpack? If so, is it advisable for me to wear a back support belt?
6. If I don’t need surgery now, am I likely to need it later?

If any of you have question suggestions for me, let me know, so my list can grow!

A Skunk, A Black-out & A New TV

I’m on the road for the gym by 4:30a.m. and am often privy to wildlife sightings in that predawn hour. This morning, a block from home, I watched a skunk scuttle up the remnants of a shrinking snowbank. It was cute as heck with it’s black and white rump switching from side to side.

I’d just gotten on the elliptical at the gym for my hour of cardio and reading when the lights went out. The lights were out for the next 55 minutes, which made it the longest, dullest hour ever. No reading, no music, no TV. Nothing to distract from the tediousness of ellipse after ellipse. Many people felt clever asking “how much harder do we have to work-out to get the lights to come back on?”

Joe and I are moving up in the world. Our new Samsung 32-Inch 720p LCD Flat Screened HDTV arrived today. This means our 17 year old Sanyo 25” analog TV will be retired. I’m eager to see if I notice a difference between the two.

Bye Bye Flex ben

Today I used the last of my Flex Ben money for 2009! Originally, based on last year’s expenses, I had put more than enough aside. Flex Ben allocations were due 11/20/08 and my “condition” began 11/25/08. Had my situation been apparent a week earlier, I could have put more money into the Flex Ben account to cover my expenses this year. Oh well, whatcha gonna do?

UPDATES:

• My foot is consistently holding between a 3-6 prickly/numb level, down from a constant 10.
• I think, maybe, perhaps, just a wee bit, the top back of my thigh is a little less numb
• I’ve decided not to do the Spinal Decompression
• My dermatologist couldn’t see me for my rash until 2/20, so I said forget it!

Itchy!

For about a week I've had an oddly located, ferociously itchy rash. The rash is bilateral on the front, outer side and back of ankles, a small patch on the outer backside of my thighs and on the outside of my wrist bones. My acupuncturist noticed it on my left side during my treatment, and asked about it. I mentioned it's bilateral, and she said that the rash is the result of toxins/poisons coming out of my nerves, which is a sign that I'm getting better. Interesting, huh? Mega strength hydrocortisone is not helping, so I plan to see call my dermatologist, get his Western view on the rash, and hopefully get a more potent itch remedy.

A Bright Day

There are numerous reasons for why today is a bright day, so I will list them below:
1. It is Saturday.
2. It's nearly 50°, the sun is shining, and snow is melting, leaving pools of water in the streets.
3. My foot is feeling good at about a 3.
4. My hip is 100% better, so I'll just have to be mindful during my core exercises, and back off if I notice it tightening up again.

5. Dio has weighed in at his heaviest weight yet in the past year of 9.15 pounds (for those of you who don't know, Dio's low weight has been an issue this past year)
6. Joe and I had the free consultation with the Spinal Decompression chiropractor today. He was a very nice man. He spent more than an hour meeting with us, conducted tests, and gave me a free try on the decompression table. Some of the tests he performed on me were encouraging, suggesting that I'm not an immediate candidate for surgery. These tests were different range of motion exercises used to identify levels of concern with pain, nerve impingement, etc. We left feeling rather hopeful about this treatment option, but questions remained about the real difference between this (at $2000 out of pocket) and my insurance covered traction. Most of the information we'd found online about the differences between Spinal Decompression (SD) and traction were biased, as they were posted by chiropractic offices doing SD. But with an exhaustive search we did find one neutral report that advises one to be "wary". So now we're wary. I'm leaning towards sticking with my current regime, but will sleep on this and let the information settle some more before deciding for sure.

No Stone Left Unturned

I’m still trying to exhaust every possibility for recovery and have come across Spinal Decompression therapy. This is done by a trained chiropractor. There is a chiropractor (different from my usual chiro) literally 6 blocks away from our house that offers this therapy. I have a complimentary consult tomorrow morning to determine if I’m a candidate for it. Spinal Decompression has some efficacy, and is supposed to be more beneficial than traction (what I’ve been doing). The main difference is that Spinal Decompression can help the leaking material of the bulging disc to be pulled back within the confines of the disc, allowing healing to occur. For a more detailed explanation, please go to this website for the doctor I will see: http://www.waukeshaspinaldecompression.com/

The other main difference is that insurance will not pay for this $100/session fee. On average people have the best results with 20-30 sessions – that’s $2000 -$3000. This is still cheaper than surgery and in the long run, surgery is what I want to avoid.(and we can add my Uncle Jim to the list of people who don't feel I will end up needing surgery!) If I decide to try this, I will pay out of pocket by reducing my 401K contributions for a few months – heck, I’ve got 30 years to go yet!

25 Random Things About Me

Since I don't have a lot of news today (FOOT @ a 4, AND some unthawing behind my knee), I thought I'd spice things up with this list of random things you may or may not know about me (inspired by Heather's Facebook tag). Send me some of your facts!

1. I plan to become a personal trainer (and will do it on the side – I’m not changing careers)
2. I plan to learn Spanish with Rosetta Stone.
3. I have a 25th rib – most people have 24.
4. I always eat with chopsticks, with the exception of soup & salad.
5. I only wear silver or white gold. No yellow gold for me.
6. I knew at the age of 6 that I didn’t want children.
7. At the age of 6, I also knew I wanted to work in the world of “abnormal psychology”.
8. I’ve always been intrigued with the paranormal, and have some experiences with it myself!
9. I was born with curly red hair.
10. I want to live closer to mountains.
11. I’m a morning person, but like to be left alone for the first couple hours of the day.
12. My BMI is 22.3 Click on this link to calculate yours:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bmi-calculator/NU00597
13. The summer before 8th grade, I had my butt-length strawberry blond hair chopped off to a 1 inch spiked do, except for a small bit that I dyed maroon and braided for a tail (ever so popular in the early 80’).
14. I don’t like to be in water- the shower is the only exception.
15. I loathe eggplant.
16. I’ve never met or seen my biological father.
17. I like animals better than people.
18. I plan to live to at least 100.
19. If I died tomorrow, I would have no regrets. I’ve done everything so far in life that I’ve wanted to do.
20. I was charged with shoplifting when I was 14. I stole a 35 cent pack of M&M’s.
21. I saw Brad Pitt up close on a side street in downtown Seattle .
22. I haven’t had cable for 12 years. And don't miss it!
23. I haven’t had meat in 20 years.
24. I haven’t had dairy products in 16 years.
25. I am flat footed.

Happy Birthday Caitlin

Here's wishing Caitlin a Happy 14th Birthday tomorrow. Caitlin is Heather's very cool daughter (Isabel is cool too!). Here's a picture of all of us taken on a crisp October morning at the Lapham Peak Colorama 5k & 10k trail running race. Pictured left to right: Heather, Joy, Joe, Caitlin, Isabel. Heather took up running last year, and Caitlin was already an established track athlete. Towards the latter half of the year we tried to coordinate our schedules to do some races together. Heather & Caitlin did the 5k (3.1 miles), Joe & I did the 10k (6.2 miles), Isabel did the Smokey Bear run (just under 1 mile), and my mom, who's not pictured, walked the 5k. The race was grueling with difficult steep hills littered with rocks and tree roots, but we all finished, and Caitlin and Isabel both medaled in their respective age groups! I hope we will run more races together as a group in the future - something for me to visualize as I continue with this disc herniation recovery process.

Speaking of my status - the hip is a little better today and my chiro agreed with me that it is likely tight muscles from heavy duty core work. My foot was around a 7 most of the day, but after my chiro appointment, it seems to be improving - maybe at a 5-6 now. The fact that I'm responding that quickly to the chiropracty is a great sign. The more often I have any positive change in my foot or leg, the better the odds are that my disc is retreating from squashing my nerve.

Crunching the Numbers

• It’s February 3rd. Only 4 more months to spring!
• My foot is a little tinglier today, at a level 4-5.
• My hip is approximately 7% better (just kidding on the percentage. Let’s just say it’s a little better).
• I’m in my 4th week back to the gym and finally my cardio, as evidenced by my heart rate, is back to it’s usual non-running status. It took about 2 weeks to rebuild my arms, so what I’ve always read is true – you gain muscle strength back faster than cardio. For cardio, your time off is commensurate with the time it’ll take to regain it.
• I resumed my core work-out with higher reps – 3 sets of 12. Takes almost 35 minutes!

Triumph Over Adversity

I didn’t want to mention anything for the past week because I hoped it would not need mentioning, but I have to report my left hip has been a bit sore – increasingly so in the past 2 days. It hurts to bend over and to do certain movements. I’m suspecting that some muscles have gotten tight from my daily core work, so today I gave the core a rest. But there is that fear in me now too, that wonders if this is connected to my herniated discs. However, I have to think I’m doing okay since my foot is holding its improved status – three days of level 3-4 numbness is a good thing. Also, you guys know how flexible I am, Pretzel Joy, that’s me. Well with the left leg sciatica, I haven’t been able to stretch much of my left leg as it causes pain. In the past two weeks, I’ve gained more flexibility on that side, which is another indicator to me that I’m getting better. So, (deep breath in), with a smidge of rest and help from Ibuprofen, I’m hoping this is nothing.

I love stories about people who triumph over adversity. For example, Aron Ralston, the climber who had to cut his arm off, or the many individual stories of survival from holocausts around the world. I love to see the hope, determination, confidence, belief and optimism embodied in these kinds of people and stories. I just read an article in my Runner’s World magazine that fits the bill. It’s a story about a New York fireman/athlete who was crushed by a 40 ton bus in 2005, and how he completed the 2008 NY Marathon against all odds. If he could return to running with all of his limitations, I can count my blessings that my limitations are few and (hopefully) time limited. Read his story by clicking on this link: http://www.thebravest.com/FDNYNewsArchive/1008/24d.htm

Welcome to February

February is the second month of the Gregorian calendar. It was named after Februalia, the Roman festival of purification. Originally, February was the last month of the Roman calendar.

It may not surprise some of you to now I keep a daily log - a spreadsheet with a corresponding graph - of my symptoms, so I can track changes in my condition, discern any patterns, and have a detailed history to share with my neurosurgeon, as well as for my own knowledge. Looking back one month to January 1st, I find that my foot numbness and prickliness was at a 10, as was my leg numbness. Today my leg is still a 10, but my foot is at a 3-4. On January 1st, I was still using the cane for support, had only received 1 of my 2 epidurals, had not seen the neurosurgeon yet, and had been absent from the gym or any activity for 2 weeks. I'd like to visualize that my blog for March 1st will reflect on February 1st with these words: "With my leg and foot no longer numb, it's hard to believe that only one month ago it still was! No pressing need for surgery at this time"