So, those that check out the Twitter feed to the left (used to be right) might know that I've been having an issue with back pain when I wake up in the morning. I had a completely unrelated doctor's appointment this morning, and since it's been two months of this, I brought it up, mentioning that I hadn't mentioned it at our last meeting a month ago because I was trying
different things to see if it wasn't something stupid I was doing.
Well, he gave me a once over and we went back to talking about the main reason why I was there. After a few minutes I inquired about my back, and what if anything, did he feel. I think I half insulted him when I threw out a "even though it's not your specialty" but that was kind of a hint to him that I thought maybe I should be referred to a chiro. He reminded me in his gentle way that he studied anatomy at one of the best medical schools in Italy, so I apologized for possibly insulting him. He dismissed it, basically saying I didn't insult him but rather that it would be fairly easy for him to determine if something was really amiss. He then told me that my problems were basically because "you're overweight, stressed out a lot, and don't know how to properly exercise."
Well, thanks Doc. Your mama dresses you funny.
I mean, I already knew I was overweight. I've been overweight in some capacity since I was 21. I had actually gotten my heaviest about 3 months ago...but I had actually lost almost 10 pounds when the pain started. And I've also been stressed out for most of my adult life...
So why the hell did my back decide two months ago that enough was enough and that I'd wake up every morning tight as hell and barely able to move?
So he put me on to trying out yoga. Which I'll do, to humor him, however, a part of me is annoyed that he made the call himself...I mean, if this really is a symptom of a larger problem, while the yoga won't hurt me (I could stand to get core strengthened anyway), it could be an unnecessary delay...kind of like when I went to get diagnosed with sleep apnea. He was almost too thorough, sending me through a rash of different tests before I was recommended for a sleep study. I'm kinda afraid it'll be the same thing all over again.
But who knows, maybe after a few yoga sessions and it'll go away. We'll see. It'd be a real shame to lose my faith in the one doctor I've found faith in since my pediatrician.
I know it may sound funny, but the benefits of yoga are many... not just the stretching, but it aids in stress relief as well as strengthening. In addition, if you go to a GOOD yogi (look for a yoga school as opposed to a DVD or a gym) you can talk with them about your back issues and they will work on exercises specific to your condition. They're good like that. I used to have back issues as well - and no more!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it all!
I really don't have the time to go to any sort of scheduled class. Well I might, but probably not the money and the time combined.
ReplyDeleteChronic back pain is such a hard thing to deal with. Many people I work with suffer from it and I've gleaned a few threads of commonality that link them all:
ReplyDelete1. They are overweight. Having the constant pull of a larger abdomen stresses the lower back.
2. They don't exercise. Excercise is crucial; not only for #1, but also for strengthening of back muscles and the abs, which are the opposing muscle group to the back.
3. They have very poor posture. If you excercise with proper form, you'll be training your muscles so your posture will improve automatically.
I think the bottom line is that increased activity will help you on many levels. If yoga doesn't cut it for you, try something else. But the point is to keep moving. I've noticed things starting to bother me... hip joints, left knee... in the last year or so. I think as I'm getting older, I have to take better care of myself to keep all my various parts in good working order. The same may be happening to you.
The thing about the constant moving thing...
ReplyDeleteFor a good portion of the middle of last month to the first week of this month, I was moving a lot at work, and while that certainitely wasn't helping my stress levels, it sure kept me moving and active.
I dunno, there's just something about this back pain that makes me hesitant to think it's from my little buddha belly...I mean, if it's from the strain of the belly, why does sitting forward in a really bad posture position bring relief (it doesn't feel like I'm stretching at all, it just makes it stop hurting when I sit that way when I wake up, until I have to move, that is).