Well, in this case, get your pedals turnin, and head out on the, err . . . road. Not since sometime before I broke my ankle have I been out on a bike. In other words, years. I've been wanting to get back on, but with little motivation and the arthritis having a larger say in matters, I just haven't.
Well, it took my girlie to get me back in a swimming pool, and now, it took my girlie to get me back on a bike. A daddy can only walk around so much to watch his little girl on a bike. It's boring. The obviously answer . . . get on a bike and ride with her.
So, I did. First, thanks to all the smart people in the world for modern pharmacology. And heating pads. Thank you all.
Second, I'm doing it. The biggest bummer of having arthritis in the back and neck, is the constant pain and inability to do the things I used to be able to do. Running is out. Forever. But, getting on a bike and pedaling away . . . nice. I'm huffing and puffing a little right now, and the knees are sore, but I'm doing it. And, it's great. My girlie is very happy. We bike all over the neighborhood, in the cemetary, and at the park. Over the weekend we went out 5 times! I think we did about 10 miles all told.
Just what I need, too. This past winter was a tough winter as far as pain goes. Anything I can do to keep the body moving, lose some weight, and provide some motivation through the winter months will help the bones and ease the pain.
Showing posts with label arthritis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arthritis. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
Saturday, May 31, 2008
What a Pain in the Neck!
Arthritis, that is. Thanks to both my parents having arthritis, I have it. Worst part, is that I have it in my back and neck. I've done pretty well so far, but lately it's been getting worse.
A couple of years ago it really started bothering me. I'd get headaches, dizzy, and of course, it would hurt. I wouldn't mind so much but with an 8 year old daughter it often holds me back from doing everything I'd like with her.
I did a couple bouts of physical therapy and I've got medication that helps. But, lately, it hasn't been enough. I blogged about seeing a neurologist once with regard to our healthcare system . . . that's why. For my arthritis. Well, the time finally came . . . cortisone injections.
I said "no" to them once before. I really wanted PT to work. But when you wake up with a headache, go throughout the day with a headache, and go to sleep with a headache, something ain't right. I finally said "yes" to the injections.
The idea is to inject cortisone in to the joint to reduce the inflammation that's pressing on the nerves that are causing symptoms. People have it done all the time. It's just that the spine is a dicey area. Be it the neck or back.
So I had the injection done this past Friday. I was reeeeeally nervous about it. Upset, too, that I'd gotten to the point of needing them at all. The future doesn't bode well for my neck.
When I got to my doctor's office, I checked in. A couple minutes later the receptionist called me up to her desk. Seems she forgot to put me on the schedule. On the one hand, I was happy. I could leave and maybe forget the whole thing. On the other hand, I mentally psyched and ready. I'd just have to go through it all again. After talking with my doctor, they decided I should stay and wait. So I did. It was an honest mistake. But, my wife and I were both off from work for this so it made more sense to hang out for a bit.
It didn't take long. About an hour. As a nurse checked me in, I got a better idea of what was going to happen. While we were talking, my doctor pokes his head in and says, "I'm ready!". Time to go. I could have a little sedation, but I don't. Time to man up.
I laid down on a table face down. They use fluoroscopy to visualize my neck and placement of the needles. After washing the area and positioning me just right, my doctor says "a poke and some burning to numb the area". Needles don't bother me. In fact, had I thought about it, I would have videotaped this. I've had years of allergy shots. So I'm battle hardened. Procedural pain doesn't bother me either. Except in the mouth. Dentists (shiver) I hate 'em.
After the numbing poke (no big deal) we wait.
(Any plans for the weekend? See any good movies lately?) Then . . .
"OK, I'm going to place the needle now. You might feel some pressure. Tell me if anything hurts."
Nothing does. Well, except my back . . . from laying on my stomach and holding my neck in a weird position. I figure that's not what he's asking about.
"I'm close to the joint . . . you might feel pressure . . . "
I do. Feels like my throat is closing. Being pressed on. Hurts a little.
"A little contrast dye . . . good . . . now the medicine."
I feel pressure but it doesn't last long.
"Needle out. Let's do the other side."
And he repeats the same thing on the other side of my neck. This side doesn't hurt at all. It took about 15 minutes to position me and about 3 minutes to do the procedure. Kind of what I thought, but much worse with screaming, blood, crash cart, and seeing Patrick Swayze.
After that I get up and walk to where my wife is waiting. She's shocked I'm done. As the numbness wears off, I can taste the lidocaine. Even after the dentist I get a little woozy from the lidocaine. I rest.
Today my neck hurts and it's stiff. I've iced it and taken ibuprofen and I'm doing OK. Tomorrow I should be good as new.
No guarantees this will work, but everyone thinks it will . . . and I'm hopeful. If it does, it could last several after which the nerve could be burned. Which would last about a year.
So, not bad. Not bad at all. Patrick will have to wait.
A couple of years ago it really started bothering me. I'd get headaches, dizzy, and of course, it would hurt. I wouldn't mind so much but with an 8 year old daughter it often holds me back from doing everything I'd like with her.
I did a couple bouts of physical therapy and I've got medication that helps. But, lately, it hasn't been enough. I blogged about seeing a neurologist once with regard to our healthcare system . . . that's why. For my arthritis. Well, the time finally came . . . cortisone injections.
I said "no" to them once before. I really wanted PT to work. But when you wake up with a headache, go throughout the day with a headache, and go to sleep with a headache, something ain't right. I finally said "yes" to the injections.
The idea is to inject cortisone in to the joint to reduce the inflammation that's pressing on the nerves that are causing symptoms. People have it done all the time. It's just that the spine is a dicey area. Be it the neck or back.
So I had the injection done this past Friday. I was reeeeeally nervous about it. Upset, too, that I'd gotten to the point of needing them at all. The future doesn't bode well for my neck.
When I got to my doctor's office, I checked in. A couple minutes later the receptionist called me up to her desk. Seems she forgot to put me on the schedule. On the one hand, I was happy. I could leave and maybe forget the whole thing. On the other hand, I mentally psyched and ready. I'd just have to go through it all again. After talking with my doctor, they decided I should stay and wait. So I did. It was an honest mistake. But, my wife and I were both off from work for this so it made more sense to hang out for a bit.
It didn't take long. About an hour. As a nurse checked me in, I got a better idea of what was going to happen. While we were talking, my doctor pokes his head in and says, "I'm ready!". Time to go. I could have a little sedation, but I don't. Time to man up.
I laid down on a table face down. They use fluoroscopy to visualize my neck and placement of the needles. After washing the area and positioning me just right, my doctor says "a poke and some burning to numb the area". Needles don't bother me. In fact, had I thought about it, I would have videotaped this. I've had years of allergy shots. So I'm battle hardened. Procedural pain doesn't bother me either. Except in the mouth. Dentists (shiver) I hate 'em.
After the numbing poke (no big deal) we wait.
(Any plans for the weekend? See any good movies lately?) Then . . .
"OK, I'm going to place the needle now. You might feel some pressure. Tell me if anything hurts."
Nothing does. Well, except my back . . . from laying on my stomach and holding my neck in a weird position. I figure that's not what he's asking about.
"I'm close to the joint . . . you might feel pressure . . . "
I do. Feels like my throat is closing. Being pressed on. Hurts a little.
"A little contrast dye . . . good . . . now the medicine."
I feel pressure but it doesn't last long.
"Needle out. Let's do the other side."
And he repeats the same thing on the other side of my neck. This side doesn't hurt at all. It took about 15 minutes to position me and about 3 minutes to do the procedure. Kind of what I thought, but much worse with screaming, blood, crash cart, and seeing Patrick Swayze.
After that I get up and walk to where my wife is waiting. She's shocked I'm done. As the numbness wears off, I can taste the lidocaine. Even after the dentist I get a little woozy from the lidocaine. I rest.
Today my neck hurts and it's stiff. I've iced it and taken ibuprofen and I'm doing OK. Tomorrow I should be good as new.
No guarantees this will work, but everyone thinks it will . . . and I'm hopeful. If it does, it could last several after which the nerve could be burned. Which would last about a year.
So, not bad. Not bad at all. Patrick will have to wait.
Monday, November 05, 2007
My achy breaky back!
OK. I stole that from Hannah Montana. Which also means you know I watch Hannah Montana. A by product of having a 7 year old daughter. I wouldn't admit to really liking it . . . a lot! Nooo.
Anyway.
I've got arthritis in my back. It presents problems from time to time . . . and pain. When I'm good I can still walk around State Fair with my 60lb 7 year old on my back. But, when I'm bad, I can barely carry my own weight. Both my parents have arthritis, as does my older sister and brother, so it comes as no surprise. I've been to the doctor and I've had an MRI. It's there. It just a matter of living with it and doing what I can to keep it under control. One of those things is physical therapy. I've gone a few times and it has always done good by me. Between what they do and the excersies (stretching) they give me to do, I've always managed to do better.
Well, I did some work for a spa last year. I did it for exchange of servcies . . . a barter. I thought it would make a nice gift for the wife. Well, she decided it would be nice if we went to a spa day together. I really didn't want to as I'm not a big fan of all the smelly stuff and creams they want to rub on you. But as it was a nice date out with my wife, I agreed.
First, not as bad as I first thought. Yes, there was the aroma stuff, soft music, creams, and the like, but it was really low pressure. If you didn't want it, you didn't have to have it. I was having two things done, a cranial sacral massage, and a full body massage. The cranial sacral massage, I thought, would be good for my back as it targeted the spine, neck, and head. It wasn't a massage as much as it was a pressure point procedure. Supposedly designed to break up connective tissue and reduce tension. It was about 30 minutes long. My reaction is so-so. There were some things the masseuse did that mimiced what my PT did. That felt good. The rest of it . . . well . . . it was relaxing.
Then I go for my full body massage. I've never had one before. I'm both looking forward to it . . . and not. On the one hand I knew it would feel great. On the other hand, it seemed a little weird to have a female other than my wife rubbing me down while I'm in my underwear. And, I was nervous. I've heard about the "it hurts so good" comments. Particularly about my back. Well, she starts . . . and it feels pretty good. She really digs in! She also does some "adjustment" type things on my back as if to "straighten" or pull the tissue from the spine. It doesn't hurt. But it doesn't feel great, either. I tell her to relax on that because of my arthritis. She moves on and everything seems to go well.
Afterward my neck hurt. But my back felt alright. My wife and I went out to eat and went home. We both slept good.
I woke up with the most intense pain in my back I've felt in a long time. My neck hurt and was stiff, the middle of my back had multiple knots in it, and my lower back was twitching. I barely made it to work. Good thing it was Friday. I sat on a heating pad all day long and took some pain killers. That helped, but didn't provide any real releif. The weekend was spent doing ice bags and heat pads, watching TV, and reading with my daughter. It was terrible! I was in all kinds of pain! I was worthless the whole weekend.
It's Monday and I'm better, but far from normal. I have PT tomorrow so this will be a topic of conversation. Did the massage screw up my back? I'm certainly gun shy now. Was it just my situation? I told them I had arthritis in my back. You'd think that would be factored in to the things they do to you. I know one woman working there of a PT for 9 years before coming to this spa. So you'd think they know about things like srthritis and such. Dunno. But, I likely won't be back anytime soon!
Anyway.
I've got arthritis in my back. It presents problems from time to time . . . and pain. When I'm good I can still walk around State Fair with my 60lb 7 year old on my back. But, when I'm bad, I can barely carry my own weight. Both my parents have arthritis, as does my older sister and brother, so it comes as no surprise. I've been to the doctor and I've had an MRI. It's there. It just a matter of living with it and doing what I can to keep it under control. One of those things is physical therapy. I've gone a few times and it has always done good by me. Between what they do and the excersies (stretching) they give me to do, I've always managed to do better.
Well, I did some work for a spa last year. I did it for exchange of servcies . . . a barter. I thought it would make a nice gift for the wife. Well, she decided it would be nice if we went to a spa day together. I really didn't want to as I'm not a big fan of all the smelly stuff and creams they want to rub on you. But as it was a nice date out with my wife, I agreed.
First, not as bad as I first thought. Yes, there was the aroma stuff, soft music, creams, and the like, but it was really low pressure. If you didn't want it, you didn't have to have it. I was having two things done, a cranial sacral massage, and a full body massage. The cranial sacral massage, I thought, would be good for my back as it targeted the spine, neck, and head. It wasn't a massage as much as it was a pressure point procedure. Supposedly designed to break up connective tissue and reduce tension. It was about 30 minutes long. My reaction is so-so. There were some things the masseuse did that mimiced what my PT did. That felt good. The rest of it . . . well . . . it was relaxing.
Then I go for my full body massage. I've never had one before. I'm both looking forward to it . . . and not. On the one hand I knew it would feel great. On the other hand, it seemed a little weird to have a female other than my wife rubbing me down while I'm in my underwear. And, I was nervous. I've heard about the "it hurts so good" comments. Particularly about my back. Well, she starts . . . and it feels pretty good. She really digs in! She also does some "adjustment" type things on my back as if to "straighten" or pull the tissue from the spine. It doesn't hurt. But it doesn't feel great, either. I tell her to relax on that because of my arthritis. She moves on and everything seems to go well.
Afterward my neck hurt. But my back felt alright. My wife and I went out to eat and went home. We both slept good.
I woke up with the most intense pain in my back I've felt in a long time. My neck hurt and was stiff, the middle of my back had multiple knots in it, and my lower back was twitching. I barely made it to work. Good thing it was Friday. I sat on a heating pad all day long and took some pain killers. That helped, but didn't provide any real releif. The weekend was spent doing ice bags and heat pads, watching TV, and reading with my daughter. It was terrible! I was in all kinds of pain! I was worthless the whole weekend.
It's Monday and I'm better, but far from normal. I have PT tomorrow so this will be a topic of conversation. Did the massage screw up my back? I'm certainly gun shy now. Was it just my situation? I told them I had arthritis in my back. You'd think that would be factored in to the things they do to you. I know one woman working there of a PT for 9 years before coming to this spa. So you'd think they know about things like srthritis and such. Dunno. But, I likely won't be back anytime soon!
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