Things Are Going To Change ... Starting Tomorrow

I havent been feeling too good about myself lately (or since I had Brooke, in general). I've mentioned before that my body is just not the same, but I generally just complain about it instead of doing something about it. Top that off with the back and neck problems that I still have not scheduled physical therapy for, and I am just feeling pretty crummy in general. In addition, I am eating horrible food all the time. I have a latte and pastry for breakfast, often the same thing for lunch, and then we eat out (take-out) for dinner. I dont have healthy food to eat at home, and even when I do I dont actually prepare it. This is largely due to the challenges of grocery shopping and making meals with a baby, but also largely due to my own lack of initiative.

I woke up this morning and decided things were going to change.

I was going to try out (and sign-up) for this new class. I was going to start eating better. I was going to schedule physical therapy.

It started off pretty well. I had berries & yogurt for breakfast. I went to Starbucks for my latte, but didnt get a pastry! I had a decent lunch (and made it versus getting take-out, fast food, etc). But thats about all that I did right.

This morning I was supposed to have a trial class for Biceps, Babies & Buggies, a class I really want to take this summer but am a bit worried about how it will work with Brooke's nap schedule. (This class is a continuation of the post-natal ab class I just finished up). Well, the weather is not so nice today ... so no class trial.
Strike one

I had a friend with car trouble who was stranded with a 6-week old baby. I decided to be a hero and go rescue her, and had to park in front of a bakery (Bombon Americano) where we had to sit and wait for the tow truck.

Strike two

I was going to call and schedule at least one session of physical therapy and have realized that I lost the prescription for therapy that my doctor gave me.

Sigh....
Strike three

I'm officially out. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

A Bulging Disk

According to the doctor I have a bulging disk in my neck. He said its not that uncommon, espcially with the "forward neck" issue. The good news is, treatment for this is pretty conservative - physical therapy. The bad news is, I have no clue how I am going to fit physical therapy into my schedule. I'm not even working right now and I have my hands full :(

Next on my to-do list is to call the rehab center and see what types of appointments they have available and try to figure out if I can manage to swing any of them. I know that rehab is important and for my own good, but I just cannot imagine taking an hour out of a day (plus transportation to and from) to do rehab. If I had an extra hour there is a LONG list of things I need to do and would like to do ... and rehab isnt on there!

Finally Figuring It Out

I've been pretty sure all the caffeine I take in must have some benefit, but have been waiting for some more proof. Runner's World has posted a new article, "The Benefits of Caffeine". According to the article, caffeine can make/help you:

ride/run farther
think faster
sprint faster
recover better

In addition, they also say that claims that caffeine dehydrates you and cause bone-mineral loss are incorrect.

Perhaps I should be going to Starbucks more often? I mean, if one latte a day is good for me, then two can only be better ... right?

Last Day

It's our last official day if vacation, we head home early tomorrow morning. Travelling with a baby is really different, and the vacation (much like my life) was all about her. Generally I use a vacation for some much needed "me time": lounging, reading books, pigging out ... But now it's about managing our day according to her moods, protecting her skin from the sun, making sure she isn't too hot, and watching her experience new things (both with pleasure and distaste).

It's been great, but when I get gone I think I'll be needing a vacation from my "vacation" :).

Hotel View

I'm not a golfer, so I guess this is an ok view. By the squeals of
delight coming from my husband I'm guessing he likes it :)

Vacation Day 1

I had my last ab class today ... And left for the airport straight
from there. It's been a long day (with a flight delay) and we're
pooped. Brooke did great on the flight (for the most part) and with
the daylight & excitement we got her to stay up until almost 8 local
time ... That's 3 hours past her bedtime!!

That still puts us in for the night quite early, but after the pigging
out we did thanks to a local Hawaiian BBQ joint we're in food comas
anyway.

Hopefully Brooke is on local time already due to her late night and
tomorrow we can do some relaxing :)

Sorry For The Lack Of Update...

I've been having a bit of a pity party this week. Its been a hectic one, and my back is still hurting :( My neck got better and worse, but now is better ... but my back just wont get better. And I'm pretty sure I know why. Brooke has a cold and is extra clingy this week. That means I have spent the week carrying around a 20 lb baby. If your back was in great shape it would be out of whack by now, and mine didnt start off so great in the first place!

I had the MRI on Wednesday, which was a freaky experience. I thought I had an MRI before, and told them so when I went in. But when I saw how tiny the little tube they wanted to squeeze my body into was, I realized I hadnt had one. As I sat in the tiny tube trying not to lose my cool, I remembered I had a CAT Scan (not an MRI).



Dont know if you can tell from these pics, but the MRI (left) has a smaller opening. In addition, you go all the way in whereas with the CT scan it was a wide open circle that just-so-happened to be around me. The MRI also took 20 or so (more?) minutes while I think the CT Scan was shorter (but perhaps being trapped in a tube, while holding a "panic button" in case I freaked out, just made the experience seem a lot longer).

Anyway, I go back on the 27th to find out the results of my MRI. Why not until the 27th? Because next week I'll be out of town on a well-needed vacation. Hooray!!!!

It Figures

Yesterday I woke up with a stiff neck. Just add that to the list of ailments my rapidly detioriating body has. I figured it was just as well ... I already had an appointment to get my back checked out, so now I'd just do a two-for-one (back & neck).

The doctor did a lot of response-type testing, in addition to taking x-rays. Turns out, it's my neck they are worried about! My back looks fine and they think its muscular. I was told to go to physical therapy for it to work a few things out, but none of its a major concern.

The doctor basically said that my neck looks (through x-ray) like the neck of an old woman. He didnt use those exact words, but thats the gist of what he was saying. I have "forward neck", arthritis, and they want to check for possible nerve issues. So I go back for an MRI on Wednesday. In the meantime, they suggested physical therapy for that too!

If the MRI doesnt show anything, then all I need is rehab. If it does show something then we will discuss "our course of action" at my next appointment. I heard him say something about a shot (a shot in my NECK? No way dude) and stopped listening after that.

Right now I'm currently suffering through this stiff neck. It makes life in general difficult, but life with a 6-month-old almost impossible. Technically, its a good thing I have it ... because the doctor wouldnt have looked at it otherwise. Because my neck hurts so much, I havent noticed my back hurting at all in the past two days. I guess (???) thats a good thing too :)

Forward Neck
I didnt post more on this originally because I didnt want anyone to laugh at me or think I honestly look like this ... but I figured someone would ask, and Jess already did :)

Here is a depiction of "forward neck".
I swear I dont look like that (although my husband will probably tell you I do). Its actually very common, especially for people who sit at computers all day. The doctor also told me its more common in women...

Fate

I just so happened to park in front of a bakery when I went to see the
PT. In addition, I also just so happened to be early.

Early + Bakery = Cupcakes

The physical therapist seemed to think my back pain is just due to "stiffness". She said my lower back was really stiff. That, coupled with my weak ab strength, is creating my pain.

I'm not sure I buy it. How could a stiff back create pain 24 hours a day for more than a week? Is a "stiff back" the same as a "stiff neck"? I also would think that during my massage on Sunday the guy would have noticed a "stiff back", right? Instead, he told me that I was "stress free" and he didnt find any muscle issues. I'm thinking that my back might be stiff today, but thats because its been hurting for a week, making me do things differently and act differently, thus creating this stiffness?

Anyway, she referred me to an specialist and I made the appointment for Monday afternoon. Guess only time will tell :)

Injury Screening Appointment

I have a sitter tomorrow and thought it would be the ideal time to go get this back thing checked out. I have a feeling if I lug my 20lb baby into a rehab center and say "my back hurts" they will look at my like I am the biggest idiot to ever walk through their doors. Also, things tend to go a bit smoother without the occasional hiccup a baby can bring to a situation ;)

My core class instructor suggested two different therapists from a local rehab center. Of course, both of them are not working tomorrow. I have the sitter, the time, and the ache - so I am going anyway. I made an appointment for later in the day tomorrow, after my abs class and while Brooke is (hopefully) happily spending time with her sitter. I sure hope "Maya" knows what she's talking about...report tomorrow!

Sciatica?

Its been a week since my back started hurting. Yesterday I went and got a massage, thinking that would cure all of my problems. Good news: I am not carrying any stress in my body. Bad news: My back still hurts.

I didnt know if I should go to my core class today, as that is where the pain began. But ... I figured I could limit my activity, stop if there was any pain, and most importantly get out of the house and do a bit of stretching. Class was pretty good, and I wisely took it easy. My instructor suggested that my pain sounded to her like sciatica. She also said I could go into a friend of hers at a rehab center for a free "injury screening" and that her friend would be able to tell in "10 seconds" if that is what it is. She also seemed to think in that visit that she could correct the problem.

I'm gonna give it until Wed (my next class) to see if it goes away, and then perhaps go talk to my instructors friend. I dont have a whole lot of other options right now anyway :)

Perfect Pre Race Food

Caffeine infused Butterfinger...

Definitely Irritated Something

The back pain that started Monday is still there :( Its not a horrible pain, but it prevents me from getting comfortable and makes a lot of my activities with Brooke challenging.

I am supposed to do my abhomework twice between now and Monday, but am a bit nervous to try as thats when this pain all started for me in the first place! My back would occasionally hurt from some of the exercises in the past, but nothing like this. Guess I'll give them a whirl tonight :)

Perhaps I am just in need of a good massage.....

Shuffle Pic & Backache

Since the Shamrock Shuffle my back has been aching. The issue is, I'm not sure if its from running the Shuffle (felt fine after), my abs class (took it on Monday and couldnt do 99% of the stuff cuz my back hurt), or carrying around my 20lb baby (ok, she is only 19lbs 11 ounces). I have a feeling its a combination of all three, but that running the 8K definitely did something to make me sore.

I talked to my abs class instructor, who noticed all of the pain I was having on Monday. While my core strength has improved drastically since the first class, I am still really weak in that area (having a baby will do that to ya!). She suggested that I work on "engaging my core" at all times. When I am just sitting around, when I am carrying Brooke, when I am out for a walk, eating dinner (you get the idea). When your core is not engaged, your back is taking the brunt of the punishment for whatever activity you may be enjoying. I have been working on this, and its hard! That just means that I am not doing it on a regular basis, and thus my back is really doing a lot of work all day.

Shuffle Pics
Normally I stalk the photo website to see my pics after a race. For some reason I find joy in how horrible I look during these "action shots", and it does give me a bit of an opportunity to laugh at myself. Here I am, with my friend Christina, right before the finish. You can see how beautifully my hair is flowing in the sleet, the excellent running conditions of the course, and the picturesque winter-white of the scenery we got to enjoy.

FYI: If you cannot tell, this picture is a PROOF. I stole it off the website.