deborahjross | a slow day

In the last few months, a series of aches'n'pains have been exerting a progressively larger influence over my daily schedule. I try not to diagnose myself (and I am seeing a physical therapist), but the sciatica/chronic hamstring tendinitis is getting downright annoying, especially when I sit in my favorite chair to write on my laptop. And also when I walk for exercise. I don't want to back off the exercise because I suspect that the choice is between being fit and in pain or unfit and in pain. Some years back, I had a (second) round of plantar fasciitis. Interesting condition. Did all kinds of therapeutic things, mostly involving needles -- steroid injections and acupuncture, with lots in between. Finally, I just gave up and determined to keep walking and wait it out. A month later, it just went away, and by then, I was on my way to recovering the conditioning I'd lost, thinking that staying off the foot would help.

And then I got stupid last night. Oh, let's try some valerian/hops/skullcap instead of trazadone at bedtime. When will I learn? Not only did the herbs not work, they left me in a state of muzziness until midafternoon. I should put a sign up over the medicine cabinet -- IF IT'S 'NATURAL', RUN AWAY. I not only do not get any benefit from herbal remedies -- either Western or Chinese -- I often get paradoxical reactions. So if something is supposed to help me sleep, it keeps me awake, etc.

All grousiness aside, I did get in my 1/2 hour Pilates and a long (1 hour +) walk into town to run some errands, and several solid and productive hours on the YA novel. It just feels as if I've been moping. Tomorrow will be better, promise!