Back from the Back

OK, It's officially been a long time since I posted on this blog.  This pinched nerve has pinched my life.  I think I'm finally on the mend thanks, mostly I think, to time and a resourceful pursuit of medical alternatives.

If nothing else, this experience has taught me how important a new healthcare system is for this country.  I have visited a primary care doc, spine doc, two chiropractors using different techniques, physical therapist, had a nerve block by a radiologist (I think) and as a last resort I hit the pool for water aerobics yesterday.  (I might add, that is was a lovely group of women and I brought down the average age by about 30 years, proving it's never too late to be active).

I'm sick to death of trying to figure out the right avenue to get better and I believe to my core that the healthcare system screams for a more logical way to help a patient make informed, cost effective choices .  We are lucky to have good health insurance, but I can't imagine what I've cost the system in the last three months even though it has been a reasonable expense to us.

So what's the upshot?  I'm feeling better, but really have no idea why.  I'm an impatient patient, so I've used lots of connections to find a variety of unrelated treatments.  It's a good thing to have family in the healthcare world (sister who's a doc, husband in hospital administration).  It is critical in our system to take matters into one's own hands to find the right treatment.

My issue is obviously tiny compared to the many people out there who have serious illnesses and/or don't have health insurance.  This experience will make me a much more informed voter when it comes to healthcare reform.  I am motivated to understand what can be done to make it better in small and big ways.

I'm also less crabby (my family is happy about that) and relieved to be feeling better and able to get back to my life.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

Since my bike accident, we have become well acquainted.  I find that I wake up at about 4:30 AM and am unable to fall back to sleep.  I have to admit that I kind of like being up at this hour.  The house is quiet, the world is just beginning to get started.  I can hear some traffic on the roads and river, but it's still kind of sleepy.  The spring birds are active and chatty, all in all not a bad way to greet the day.


I also like it from a work standpoint.  I use the early hours to review my thinking from the night before.  There is something infinitely clearer in the light of day, so when I am working on a project, like I have been this week, I know that I can put it aside at the end of the day, and take another look in the morning - I always see something new.


Maybe this is a result of my injury or maybe it's a result of getting older, but for now, I'm going with it and taking advantage of the "Wee Small Hours"

I Need to Get Back

In more ways than one.  I need to "get back" meaning I need to get my back fixed!  It was a month ago today that I gracefully fell off my bike and pinched a nerve in my back - ouch!!  I have been a patient, patient - going to the Chiropractor, spine doctor and doing exercises, etc.. in an attempt to have it heal itself.  My patience has run out - I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and have the steriod injection in the hope that it will calm the pain enough for me to "get back" to my life.


I've been crabby, short tempered and generally no fun, and that has to stop. I know this may not be a magic cure, but I frankly don't have another month of not being able to move in me.  I miss being myself and want to enjoy exercising again (hopefully training for the triathlon, or at least getting back to a regular routine), and just feel more like myself


I also need to "get back" to this blog - I have had numerous ideas and topics running around in my head, but like everything else this month, I've not had the energy to pursue it - so as of today - I'm back in the game.


I'll let you know how I'm progressing, but more importantly, I'll "get back" to writing about my journey,  now that it's 2/3 the way over - I want to finish strong!!