[Previous entry: "Prostrate Cancer Treatment Story"] [Next entry: "I know who Jesus is....."]
09/08/2005: "Things about my arthritis"
Back pain always nagged, then it was numbness in my toe, then leg (aha! the L5 nerve!!!). Spasms in my same leg/nerve led me to get diagnosis and prognosis......
Everything I Can Think Of To Write About My Arthritis
I. How it maybe started
a. I lifted a 150lb barbell over my head when I was 12, and it got stuck
b. I broke three transverse processes in the lumbar region when I was 18 (for those of you who remember, it had to do with falling off the “chicken poop”)
c. I seriously twisted my back when working at the post office at age 34 (for those of you who remember, it had to do with freeing a stuck 70-lb mail bag—that turned out to actually weight 110 lbs—from a cage)
d. I was in three car wrecks in four months in 1990
II. How it got aggravated
a. I feel special when I can carry heavy things
b. I used to like picking up my 200lb daddy and carrying him across the room
c. I pulled out plenty of bushes and trees trying to use brute strength
d. I carried my brother and sisters (though not at the same time) on my back and on my shoulders
e. I carried my kid and his kid everywhere I could, even if it hurt, because I’m a good mommy
f. I helped neighbors and friends pack heavy furniture because I’m such a good friend to all
g. I moved my furniture around by myself at home and at work because I didn’t want anybody messing in my planning
h. I packed around computers and monitors because I didn’t want somebody else to get hurt
i. I carried around an extra 40 pounds of body fat
j. Normal degenerative (aging) process
III. How it looks now
a. I won’t get better.
b. I have osteophytes on some of my lumbar bones
c. I have a thin disk
d. I have one very small, one small, and one noticeable protrusion
e. My knee wasn’t addressed, but it fits the descriptions as well for degeneration
IV. How the future looks
a. I can keep knee pain to a minimum by walking and strengthening the muscles around it
b. I can lessen back pain somewhat and slow progression by abdominal and back exercises
c. I will get worse with age, but with care can minimize and delay further damage
d. If worst comes about, surgery can help
V. Things I begin to understand
a. Injury to an area causes blood flow, which increases oxygenation, which increases free radicals, which increases need for anti-oxidants
b. Heat to an area of injury, see (a)
c. Cell walls in these areas begin to be less permeable, which cause the water to be less able to remove bad junk from the cells
d. Cell walls in these areas begin to be less permeable, which causes the water to remain in the cells and that causes swelling and pain related to weather conditions
e. Vegetables, fruits, anti-oxidants, glucosomine, MSM are good for me
f. Pain pills help, but are prescribed two at a time to get the benefit of both types, anti-inflammatory plus not
VI. Things I’ve Been Told
a. Yes, walk, but do not do hills;
b. Don’t jog or run
c. Yes, swim
d. Yes, exercise, but if it hurts—not in a stretching way—stop doing that
e. Keep the weight off
f. Don’t lift heavy things
g. Don’t carry kids or computers
h. If I absolutely must lift, use proper technique—back straight, tummy tucked, turn with feet not back, lift with legs
VII. My conclusions
a. I already had discovered most of this stuff on my own
b. I’ve put up with the pain for many years, so I’ll continue to do so without pain pills until I really need them
c. Knowing that it’s arthritis and learning about the condition keeps me from wondering if anything can be done to make things better
d. I’m glad it’s not cancer, sad it isn’t just a twist or something that could be fixed forever
e. I will avoid surgery as long as possible
f. I have a wonderful husband who will lift heavy things for me
