1 year ago
Monday, May 20, 2019
IT TOOK A VILLAGE
Yes, I am back, mostly healed and it only took a village to accomplish it. First off, thank you all so very much for all your encouragement, caring and often sound advice. It made all the difference. I can't say it often enough, you all are the best.
My village was my chiropractor, my primary doctor, a determined massage therapist plus all of you.
There was one funny thing that happened that is funnier now then when it happened which is like a lot of things. I mentioned in my last post that my primary gave me 8 muscle relaxing shots in my neck one day to hopefully free up the trapped nerves in my neck.
I have never had a bladder retention problem but that day when I got home and stepped out of my car, my water broke. I had a total, no control, splash down. Soaked everything below my waist, even my shoes. Sure glad it didn't happen at the pharmacy. For a moment I totally understood being a two year old. Think we might have relaxed the wrong muscle.
Out side of that, there wasn't much amusing about the past couple of weeks. Madeline you were right about the massage therapist. In desperation and on your recommendation, I gave one a shot. She gave me a trigger point massage for 90 minutes that really helped and I have the bruises to prove it. But she also discovered one glaring habit I had that wasn't helping.
When I sat at the computer for at least 3 hours a day, I would lean on my left elbow and support my head with my left hand. She noticed that while my right side hurt, my left side was all knotted up. I had to get off that elbow.
Yes Joeh you were right on about posture. It has been a hard habit to break wanting to lean on my left side but I am almost there and am sitting up straight while computing.
And Grannie Annie, you were right also about the Lidocaine. My primary prescribed Lidocaine patches which I put on my neck for 12 hours each day and it finally worked along with everything else. The lightning bolts to the brain finally stopped. I quit lurching, jerking and yelping every few minutes. Ahhhh.
I still have a few spots that need a little work but on a whole I am no worse than any other old person with odd aches and pains. Hallelujah!!
So thanks to my village which provided all the therapy, kind thoughts, prayers and advice, I am back. Thank you so much.
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Very happy to see that you are back in fighting form!
ReplyDeletesmartcat,
DeleteThank you so much. It feels great to at least be ready to argue if not fight:))
Glad you're back and, most importantly, feeling better.
ReplyDeleteMarty,
DeleteThank you so much. Sometimes it helps to have a rough patch to appreciate normal health.
Gosh, I feel bad that I didn't come rushing to your rescue, like your other bloggers did. But then again, whatever works is just the right ticket. Glad to hear you're back to yourself again. That problem with the "water works" would definitely be embarrassing in public. Yikes! :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteOh but you did. You jumped right in with your kind and caring thoughts. Yeah, that "water works" was surprise. Me too happy it happened at home.
So glad you are back and feeling better and can even laugh about some things. I guess we all should be paying more attention to taking care of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteThanks so much and you are right. We are at that certain age where we really need to pay attention to things that youth use to handle for us.
That is certainly great news! Listen to the doctors, and keep up with change of habits.
ReplyDeletejoeh,
DeleteYou nailed it on the posture Joe and I knew better, just got lazy. Back straight and chin in from now on.
So glad to hear all this good news!! I have been using this thing I saw on TV to help with my posture while at my desk. (Better Back) At first it was uncomfortable because I am not used to sitting correctly. I realized I had to move everything back where it should be. It's been amazing though. And c'mon Patti isn't a good message therapist worth their weight in gold? I love mine!
ReplyDeletePeggy,
DeleteHum, I looked up that Better Back and put it in my cart. Thanks--it looks promising. The massage therapist was effective but she didn't do the fun massage but the kind of painful one. I was quite bruised when she finished but I am going back this week. Hopefully all the knots will be gone and she can work on the muscles. Either way, she helped.
I'm glad you are doing so much better, but what an awful experience to deal with. I'm using you as a cautionary tale because I have the same bad habit of leaning on my left elbow while I'm reading the computer screen.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteSo glad my tale might prevent you from some problems down the line. I really wasn't even aware I was doing it. Our grandmothers were right, posture is important.
Patti! I cannot tell you how happy I am to have you back in the blogging world and feeling well again. Hurray in every way! I'm going to tell my sister about lidocaine patches and all the other great advice here. Welcome back!
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteThank you so much for your visits and support. I really hope some of these measures will help your sister. I know it has to be hard on her also.
I am so happy to see this post and know that you are all better sweet Patti. Stay well and pain free sweet friend. Hugs
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
DeleteThank you bunches. It is just wonderful to be back and almost pain free. I can deal with what is left.
As I read this I realised I was leaning on my left elbow and slouched over sideways. Geez my posture is crap. Thanks for the advise and I'm glad you are feeling better. You can't beat blogging buddies for advice can you?
ReplyDeleteJoey,
DeleteYikes, you me and Jean all leaning to the left. Wonder if it is political:)) Check out the "Better Back" brace that Peggy mentioned. I found one at Amazon.
I swear by massage. After my wreck and many many doctor appointments and prescriptions that didn't help I took someone's advice and had a message. I think I did go to more than one using something like a Groupon coupon but once I found a lady who understood my knots, I was a believer. I was still working then and like you, I'm sure the desk job and poor posture contributed to the soft tissue injuries. There were times I went 3 times in one week and other times I went once a week. It was the only thing that really helped. I'm not sure if you had as good a result as I did but if you can swing it, I would continue the messages as often as you can. Living with pain is so disruptive. I hope you continue to improve.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
DeleteIf I could afford it I'd go every week. I went this week and she found some more trouble areas but this time, it was more pleasurable than painful. Very few bruises.
I am very happy to hear that you are recovered, have learned a few things to make corrections on, and you don't really have to wear diapers.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteHa ha, not yet anyway. Hope that is a ways off but who knows?
Glad to hear that you are feeling some better. I'll admit I laughed at your description of your water breaking. Not funny, but funny in the rear view mirror.
ReplyDeleteHope the improvement continues!
Eileen,
DeleteUsually if I put a little time between events, they can be darn funny. Still improving, thanks so much.
Isn't it wonderful to feel so much better? I hope it lasts and the old habits don't return.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteYes it is. I have been religious about that elbow.
Had some of the same issues. Hope you're better as the weeks progress!
ReplyDeleteHootin' Anni,
DeleteOh no, hope you have put them behind you also. Getting better each day.
It's great reading your good progress!
DeleteI'm glad you are feeling so much better and amazed at how much it took to get you there. I too suffer from the effects of a lifetime of bad posture, one of the most difficult things to change for me. Hope you will be better able to keep it up. It's good to have you back.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeletePosture is such a chore and slouching so much fun but we all know it is not good for us. It is hard to change but worth the effort.
Glad you are feeling better. That sounded really challenging. I think lots of things help and looks like you are open to try things, which might be part of your success. I slept wrong in March and had pain all across my back and shoulder, all down my arm. For about 6 weeks. The chiropractor told me to stop sleeping on my stomach and since, I have learned how to sleep on my back and side only and that has helped. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteNawm,
DeleteLike you I need to learn how to sleep on my back. Both chiropractor and massage therapist said my side sleeping was a contributor. I am trying.
Yes, I will cheer you on too. Bravo to you for taking care of yourself so well.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteThank you. As you know, a lot of our ailments can benefit from our own actions.
Hey Patti your definitely an inspiration to my long standing sore neck problem
ReplyDeleteRay,
DeleteI do hope you find a way to eliminate that trouble. Sure gets you attention doesn't it?
Yay, Patti! I'm so glad you're feeling better. It really is wonderful that we can be connected through our blogs and get such helpful information. Hmmm... my physical therapist told me I was slouching and needed to stand up straighter. Sigh... I'm trying, but it's hard.
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteIt was interesting how spot on my readers advice was. I sure am grateful for thier input. Slouching is so hard to battle. It is just so comfortable to slouch and good posture is a struggle. Keep trying, I am.
I am so glad that you are feeling better. I have been ill too but nothing like yours so I apologize on getting behind on my blogger watch. Hope you continue to get better.
ReplyDeleteGinnie,
DeleteOuch, I sure hope you are past your problems also. May we both be tip top soon.