3/11/11
I had my first Chi Kung (aka Quigong) class today at the Lohan School of Shaolin. It seems to be a form of energy (chi) manipulation and meditation. We covered posture, breathing and did a creative visualization meditation.
I have, honestly, never really studied this form of meditation. There will be five classes in this series and we are expected to practice the techniques and learn the material. So, I will be studying and practicing.
On another note, I think this instructor will be teaching me tai chi. I am glad to finally find an instructor, since I have already been rejected by two different instructors. I’m still note sure why I am having such a hard time finding someone to teach me tai chi.
I believe that having this as a foundation will help me to understand Chinese martial arts a little better. Most of them have something to do with using chi. If it also helps my condition, even better.
3/18/11
Class number two went well. We moved more in the class, which was a little difficult. The movements weren’t difficult, it was difficult trying to focus on the energy protocol and then add the hand and arm movements to it. I didn’t really feel that the hand motions were helping move my energy, but we already know that specific movements aren’t my friends.
I was interested in how movement could enhance meditation. I have been meditating for over 20 years, and have never used any kind of movement. I think I might have to practice the movements until they are comfortable and then add them to the meditation. So, for now, I am trying to copy the instructor and try not to look like a complete dork.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Getting Back to Exercise
3/5/11
The last visit with my neurologist finally gave me some good news. My efforts with the physical therapy and exercise are paying off. I don’t need to have any more medications and I can slowly start exercising. We talked about running again and he said that there was a limit to my running.
A limit to my running… Unfortunately my brain doesn’t understand that concept. If I run a mile, I want to try for one more. If I run four miles, I want to run six. Well, you get the point. I know that I won’t stop at 6 miles a week or 8 or whatever the magic number will be. So, I have to end my decade relationship with running.
The funny thing is that I say the words “I have to stop running,” but I don’t really get it yet. I keep thinking about when I can run or when I need to buy new shoes or check out a route that looks good. All of these urges are such a huge part of me that my brain doesn’t believe my mouth yet.
I have been having withdrawals. Especially since the weather is getting so nice, my legs want to go. I am having more cramps and not sleeping so well. My lower back is sore and stiff more often. I actually catch myself fantasizing about running, I really have problems.
Since, I have started with the yoga fusion routine, my cramping has really decreased. I am going to start walking and hiking and maybe cycling. When the pool is warm enough, I am going to start swimming again. I have many options and will explore all of them, but it’s hard to give up running.
So, wish me luck. I gotta keep moving.
The last visit with my neurologist finally gave me some good news. My efforts with the physical therapy and exercise are paying off. I don’t need to have any more medications and I can slowly start exercising. We talked about running again and he said that there was a limit to my running.
A limit to my running… Unfortunately my brain doesn’t understand that concept. If I run a mile, I want to try for one more. If I run four miles, I want to run six. Well, you get the point. I know that I won’t stop at 6 miles a week or 8 or whatever the magic number will be. So, I have to end my decade relationship with running.
The funny thing is that I say the words “I have to stop running,” but I don’t really get it yet. I keep thinking about when I can run or when I need to buy new shoes or check out a route that looks good. All of these urges are such a huge part of me that my brain doesn’t believe my mouth yet.
I have been having withdrawals. Especially since the weather is getting so nice, my legs want to go. I am having more cramps and not sleeping so well. My lower back is sore and stiff more often. I actually catch myself fantasizing about running, I really have problems.
Since, I have started with the yoga fusion routine, my cramping has really decreased. I am going to start walking and hiking and maybe cycling. When the pool is warm enough, I am going to start swimming again. I have many options and will explore all of them, but it’s hard to give up running.
So, wish me luck. I gotta keep moving.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Slow Progress
3/1/11
I am making progress with my migraines. The frequency of the migraines has decreased, at least in connection with the neck pain. I am down to one neck pain related migraine every three months (I am averaging).
That’s great… isn’t it?
So, now that I have been working on my neck issues I am having more pain. That is good and bad at the same time. It’s bad because I am having more pain, but it’s good because I am fixing the alignment problem. Slowly, but surely, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I am on medications, doing exercises every day and making progress.
Okay, I am not going to lie. This is frustrating and limiting. I want to run, I want to work out, I want to continue training in martial arts. The medications have terrible side effects and I get a bit cranky about taking them. Yes, the meds work, but I just don’t want to take daily medication.
Every morning I do a physical therapy/ yoga fusion routine. I am pleased that it is working and I have about two hours of no pain afterwards. My range of motion has increased. Of course, as an exercise addict, I want to be able to use exercise to fix whatever ails me.
Even though I’m impatient with myself, I can see the progress.
I am making progress with my migraines. The frequency of the migraines has decreased, at least in connection with the neck pain. I am down to one neck pain related migraine every three months (I am averaging).
That’s great… isn’t it?
So, now that I have been working on my neck issues I am having more pain. That is good and bad at the same time. It’s bad because I am having more pain, but it’s good because I am fixing the alignment problem. Slowly, but surely, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I am on medications, doing exercises every day and making progress.
Okay, I am not going to lie. This is frustrating and limiting. I want to run, I want to work out, I want to continue training in martial arts. The medications have terrible side effects and I get a bit cranky about taking them. Yes, the meds work, but I just don’t want to take daily medication.
Every morning I do a physical therapy/ yoga fusion routine. I am pleased that it is working and I have about two hours of no pain afterwards. My range of motion has increased. Of course, as an exercise addict, I want to be able to use exercise to fix whatever ails me.
Even though I’m impatient with myself, I can see the progress.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Other Health Issues
I have been agonizing over this entry. At first I wasn’t going to mention any of this, but then I decided to. Since this is affecting my training, it should be mentioned in this blog… I know what you’re thinking; what is she talking about??
Well, I have an ongoing issue with migraine headaches and have been seeing doctors about them for a while. After my back injury, I started physical therapy for my migraine headaches. I wasn’t really sure what could be accomplished but, as an exercise addict, was willing to try.
At first the exercises and neck manipulations were brutal, I left every appointment with a migraine. I was miserable and ready to stop. I went for a couple of sessions and noticed that the exercises were actually helping my neck pain and spasms. This was pretty encouraging. The physical therapist and I had a discussion and decided that the manipulations were not beneficial. He recommended that I try traction.
I am not sure about you, but when he said “traction” I immediately had an image, which was better suited to a castle dungeon or dominatrix than a physical therapy office. I was hesitant, but still willing to try anything to get rid of pain.
The first traction experience was a little strange, but amazing. I was pain-free for two hours afterwards. The absence of pain was so intense that I felt euphoric. I continued with the traction until the end of my sessions.
The neurologist decided that I should get x-rays of my neck, since I responded so well to the physical therapy and traction. He suspected that I was having a problem with degenerative disk disease. It turned out that he was partially right. The films showed that I had spondylosis, degenerative disk disease and a reverse curve in my neck. What all of this meant is that I had pain in my neck that was causing migraines, not the other way around. So, more physical therapy and traction was the answer.
I am almost at the end of my physical therapy and I do feel a lot better. I am not sure if I will be able to continue running. I might have to replace it with cycling or swimming. I still plan on continuing with the project.
I look back at the pain that I have had for many years in my neck and have always assumed that it was just normal. Now, I have more days without pain, it is magical. The exercises are really helping and the traction is great. The whole treatment has dramatically decreased the number of migraines that I am getting. I am working on having a traction device in my home. I am very excited.
I have not been in training for a couple of months and I am looking forward to beginning again. This kind of stuff comes with age, but it doesn’t have to stop you.
It isn’t going to stop me.
Well, I have an ongoing issue with migraine headaches and have been seeing doctors about them for a while. After my back injury, I started physical therapy for my migraine headaches. I wasn’t really sure what could be accomplished but, as an exercise addict, was willing to try.
At first the exercises and neck manipulations were brutal, I left every appointment with a migraine. I was miserable and ready to stop. I went for a couple of sessions and noticed that the exercises were actually helping my neck pain and spasms. This was pretty encouraging. The physical therapist and I had a discussion and decided that the manipulations were not beneficial. He recommended that I try traction.
I am not sure about you, but when he said “traction” I immediately had an image, which was better suited to a castle dungeon or dominatrix than a physical therapy office. I was hesitant, but still willing to try anything to get rid of pain.
The first traction experience was a little strange, but amazing. I was pain-free for two hours afterwards. The absence of pain was so intense that I felt euphoric. I continued with the traction until the end of my sessions.
The neurologist decided that I should get x-rays of my neck, since I responded so well to the physical therapy and traction. He suspected that I was having a problem with degenerative disk disease. It turned out that he was partially right. The films showed that I had spondylosis, degenerative disk disease and a reverse curve in my neck. What all of this meant is that I had pain in my neck that was causing migraines, not the other way around. So, more physical therapy and traction was the answer.
I am almost at the end of my physical therapy and I do feel a lot better. I am not sure if I will be able to continue running. I might have to replace it with cycling or swimming. I still plan on continuing with the project.
I look back at the pain that I have had for many years in my neck and have always assumed that it was just normal. Now, I have more days without pain, it is magical. The exercises are really helping and the traction is great. The whole treatment has dramatically decreased the number of migraines that I am getting. I am working on having a traction device in my home. I am very excited.
I have not been in training for a couple of months and I am looking forward to beginning again. This kind of stuff comes with age, but it doesn’t have to stop you.
It isn’t going to stop me.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Getting Back In Shape
7/16/10
I have been continuing my pool exercises, walking and running. I am feeling like I am slowly getting back to normal. I am hesitant to add my abdominal routine, yet.
7/23/10
I am going to be working with a trainer. How fun! I have to make some time to write a little about him. I think we are going to be working on abs and glutes… mom-fat and butt! I am getting excited. I may be able to talk him into taking some martial arts with me, we’ll see.
7/28/10
Sunday was my first workout with Thomas, my trainer, and it was something. My legs are so sore I can hardly walk. My butt isn’t really feeling much, maybe I am doing the exercises wrong. He was constantly correcting my form… doesn’t that sound familiar?
I have been continuing my pool exercises, walking and running. I am feeling like I am slowly getting back to normal. I am hesitant to add my abdominal routine, yet.
7/23/10
I am going to be working with a trainer. How fun! I have to make some time to write a little about him. I think we are going to be working on abs and glutes… mom-fat and butt! I am getting excited. I may be able to talk him into taking some martial arts with me, we’ll see.
7/28/10
Sunday was my first workout with Thomas, my trainer, and it was something. My legs are so sore I can hardly walk. My butt isn’t really feeling much, maybe I am doing the exercises wrong. He was constantly correcting my form… doesn’t that sound familiar?
Physical Therapy
7/9/10
After resting and applying ice to my back over the long weekend, I felt better. I went back to the doctor to get a release to work and explained my progress. He told me that it was normal for the injury to take awhile to heal and gave me a back brace to drive. I feel weird wearing the brace when I drive, but it helps and my back doesn’t spasm. It still gets a little stiff, but I can deal with that.
The last two physical therapy sessions were as usual. Yay! I am finished!!
After resting and applying ice to my back over the long weekend, I felt better. I went back to the doctor to get a release to work and explained my progress. He told me that it was normal for the injury to take awhile to heal and gave me a back brace to drive. I feel weird wearing the brace when I drive, but it helps and my back doesn’t spasm. It still gets a little stiff, but I can deal with that.
The last two physical therapy sessions were as usual. Yay! I am finished!!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Physical Therapy
Friday 6/25/10
I graduated to doing floor work in PT today! Unfortunately it was on a huge ball and I find it to be a bit creepy. But, the good news is that the exercises were challenging and I looked like a huge spaz trying to balance on the ball. I had to keep stopping and re-balancing. It could have been embarrassing, but it was too funny.
Wednesday 6/30/10
Great news! I started on the stationary bike today. I finally got to touch some real equipment. I also got a couple of extra exercises on the creepy ball. I feel horrible today but it has nothing to do with my injury. I just want to sleep all day. I had a migraine which lasted a couple of days.
Friday 7/2/10
After PT on Wednesday, I felt so great that we decided to go for a drive. We have been limiting my time in a car, because of my pain. We went to a little town about an hour away and I was fine. On the way back I started to get a little uncomfortable. Then I was having trouble sitting normally. My back decided that it wanted to start spasming and shooting pain down my leg. The rest of the ride wasn’t fun and I didn’t bother to take any meds with me.
Thursday I was really sore and stiff. I didn’t really feel that much better after my exercises. I had to drive the truck on an errand (the first time since the accident) and my back got worse again. I had spasms and shooting pain. I don’t understand how I can go running and swimming and work-out, but I can’t drive for more than 15 minutes?
I explained to the PT staff that I was having pain again and was having trouble driving. I took it easy on my exercises and then they hooked me up the electro-device and massaged me.
I feel discouraged and worried. How am I going to build back up to driving a car? On one hand I am SO glad that I can run. I would have a hard time giving that up. But, on the other hand, I NEED to drive to function in this society. It's depressing, but I will figure something out.
I graduated to doing floor work in PT today! Unfortunately it was on a huge ball and I find it to be a bit creepy. But, the good news is that the exercises were challenging and I looked like a huge spaz trying to balance on the ball. I had to keep stopping and re-balancing. It could have been embarrassing, but it was too funny.
Wednesday 6/30/10
Great news! I started on the stationary bike today. I finally got to touch some real equipment. I also got a couple of extra exercises on the creepy ball. I feel horrible today but it has nothing to do with my injury. I just want to sleep all day. I had a migraine which lasted a couple of days.
Friday 7/2/10
After PT on Wednesday, I felt so great that we decided to go for a drive. We have been limiting my time in a car, because of my pain. We went to a little town about an hour away and I was fine. On the way back I started to get a little uncomfortable. Then I was having trouble sitting normally. My back decided that it wanted to start spasming and shooting pain down my leg. The rest of the ride wasn’t fun and I didn’t bother to take any meds with me.
Thursday I was really sore and stiff. I didn’t really feel that much better after my exercises. I had to drive the truck on an errand (the first time since the accident) and my back got worse again. I had spasms and shooting pain. I don’t understand how I can go running and swimming and work-out, but I can’t drive for more than 15 minutes?
I explained to the PT staff that I was having pain again and was having trouble driving. I took it easy on my exercises and then they hooked me up the electro-device and massaged me.
I feel discouraged and worried. How am I going to build back up to driving a car? On one hand I am SO glad that I can run. I would have a hard time giving that up. But, on the other hand, I NEED to drive to function in this society. It's depressing, but I will figure something out.
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