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deborahjrossAll in all, I'm pretty happy with my body. Crappy lipid genetics aside, that is. I'm strong and flexible and can do most things I care about. The only injury that causes me any grief is a bad disk in my neck. It was probably caused by a bad fall in kung fu lo, these many years ago, thanks to a green belt with enough knowledge to be dangerous but not enough sense to take care of his partner, aka me. I knew I'd hurt it, but I thought it was muscular. I remember that night, creeping downstairs at 2 am to ice my neck. The house was dark and still, I'm shivering a little from the ice, and the only thing I can find to watch to take my mind off it is ALIENS2. To this day, that movie has strange somatic associations.
The problem flared up in 1999 and put an end to kung fu. Fortunately, the neurological stuff responded to Medrol Dose-pak (that's a version of prednisone, 6 doses the first day, 5 the next, etc.) and also, very fortunately, I was working for a physical therapist, so I got lots of help there. For my breaks, I'd get them to hook me up on the traction machine.
I had another, much milder flareup earlier this year and now, today. It had been niggling at me for a couple of days. The earliest symptom is upper back pain, followed by loss of range of motion. I think I made it worse by trying to stretch it out. Sigh. Now am trying ibuprofen 600 mg q 4-5 h to see if I can beat it to a standstill before my stomach revolts. I was also good and backed off the other exercise. Even walking is too jarring when it's bad, alas.
So what brought it on? Did I get cocky about neck protection (no extension or side bending to the affected side, watch the posture)? Or is this the way it's going to go now?
so there's my gripe. it's a pretty small one, all things considered. Oh, and I'm almost done with Chapter 26 of SHIELD and wrote 5 pages on the new Darkover project, THE CHILDREN OF KINGS (aka COK) yesterday. ta-ta! just typing that made me happy!
The problem flared up in 1999 and put an end to kung fu. Fortunately, the neurological stuff responded to Medrol Dose-pak (that's a version of prednisone, 6 doses the first day, 5 the next, etc.) and also, very fortunately, I was working for a physical therapist, so I got lots of help there. For my breaks, I'd get them to hook me up on the traction machine.
I had another, much milder flareup earlier this year and now, today. It had been niggling at me for a couple of days. The earliest symptom is upper back pain, followed by loss of range of motion. I think I made it worse by trying to stretch it out. Sigh. Now am trying ibuprofen 600 mg q 4-5 h to see if I can beat it to a standstill before my stomach revolts. I was also good and backed off the other exercise. Even walking is too jarring when it's bad, alas.
So what brought it on? Did I get cocky about neck protection (no extension or side bending to the affected side, watch the posture)? Or is this the way it's going to go now?
so there's my gripe. it's a pretty small one, all things considered. Oh, and I'm almost done with Chapter 26 of SHIELD and wrote 5 pages on the new Darkover project, THE CHILDREN OF KINGS (aka COK) yesterday. ta-ta! just typing that made me happy!
