Posts Tagged ‘chiropractor’
I’m BAAACK! The Next Phase Plan and a Half-marathon!
Posted by admin in Appointments, Try This! on February 1st, 2015
It has been a while since that second triathlon (a.k.a. my last post). In that time, I have finished 4 sprint triathlons, one 10K and two 200 mile bicycle rides (Seattle to Portland (STP) and Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP))! The reason that all of my triathlons have been sprint distance is in large part due to my run. Specifically, my Posterior Tibial Tendon (PTT) continues to give me pain in distances longer than 4 miles.
Here’s the puzzle: last year in May of 2014, I trained up to and ran a 9 mile training run, which is the longest distance I have ever completed, and I did it without pain. How? I have no idea, and it didn’t last long because quickly after that run, I upped my training with a sprint focused run group with the goal of speeding up my runs and increased mileage on the bicycle rides to accommodate the upcoming STP. Thus, I ended up in the Physical Therapists office with inflamed PTT. Needless to say, I did not complete the sprint speed training nor have I run 9 miles since.
So, why start the blog again? Because on my last visit to Brian Crosier, my Physical Therapist, he unlocked two final pieces to my puzzle, I think, and I want to document this next part of my journey.
In December 2014, I had started training up to a half-marathon, the Whidbey Island Half-Marathon on April 19, 2015, from 2 mile runs. All was great until I started running 3.5 miles and my PTT got inflamed. I also started to feel my tight right hip tighten even more. Hip tightness is a new thing that started over the summer after my STP ride with my untried new awesome carbon fiber frame bicycle, but I can tell you that story another time.
S0, I entered Brian’s office with mildly achy PTT and a fairly tight hip. As he was trying to figure out how to help me since I had already been through PTT treatment, and I was already applying the techniques he had taught me over the summer, he discovered an immobility that he had not considered treating before: my mid-foot.
So, after Brian got the foot model, much like the picture above, he began by telling me about the three arches in the foot. There is the major arch that everyone knows about, then there is an arch on the outside of your foot between your heel and your midfoot, and finally, your toe knuckles are supposed to be an arch, but most people’s are flat and not arched at all. Hmm – I’m definitely in the flat toe knuckles camp: no surprise there.
He then added that my left big toe knuckle cannot touch the ground. I laughed and told him that my left big toe knuckle touches the ground every day 🙂 He responded by using the foot model to explain that on my left foot, my main arch compensates a lot for immobility though the mid foot or the navicular bone and the cuneiform bones, meaning it flexes or “falls” in order to allow my left big toe knuckle to touch the ground because those bones do not flex enough on their own. Consequently, the Posterior Tibial Tendon attaches to the navicular bone, which means that my PTT is already being stretched out everytime I flex my arch.
Whoa! What? When Brian told me this, so many issues that I have been having my ENTIRE life began to fall into place. I have always felt like I walk on the outside of my feet, and I have these weird outer foot calluses to prove it. Also, Brian had been coaching me to land “flat” with my feet (i.e. land mid foot with by toe and outer foot touching at the same time) because I land on the outside of my feet then roll in, which puts a lot of pressure on the PTT since it is in charge of the downward/flex motion of the big arch. Well, I have been trying to land “flat” since summer 2014, and I was not feeling very successful. Guess why – I can’t. I physically cannot get that big toe on either foot (the left is worse, but the right foot suffers as well). Finally, when I ride my bicycle, even after a fancy fitting with the spacers placed to help get my knee in the correct place, I always felt that I could not get my big toes down inside the shoes. Of course NOT! I felt so much better knowing that despite my trying and failing, it was a mechanical restraint.
But with me, I’m not satisfied with just the why. I want to know the next step – how do I correct this? Of course, Brian did not disappoint! He had invented a stretch for those small, largely immobile bones of the midfoot. Â I will post a video soon with details on how to do this stretch. For now, know that after the first stretch with Brian, the tops of my feet were sore (both left and right) for two days, and the stretch is not very big. It is just that that part of my foot had never really been stretched.
Another component of the foot issue is how to get the big toes on each foot to touch the ground while still maintaining as much subtalar neutral (ankle being neutral and arch not fallen) as possible? This took convincing – Brian suggested ProKinetics® insoles that have 3mm build-up under the big toe area on each foot (see red part on the photo below). As most of you know, if you have read very much of my blog, I do NOT like inserts of any kind. After working for over a year to get out of prescription orthotics, I am not very enthused about having to use any kind of inserts again. However, Brian made a compelling point: with these inserts, my feet could possibly be placed into a better position that would allow more natural functioning with less pressure on the PTT. Hmmmmm….why does he always make such good arguments?
So, I got the ProKinetics® Insoles. They have a 3mm build-up (in red) under the big toe as well as a removeable (yell0w) arch support. In addition, they come with an extra set of 3mm build ups (orange) in case you would like a 6mm build up.
ProKinetics Insoles
Since lots of my shoes are more minimal (Five Fingers and Luna Sandals), I also purchased a really cool adhesive lift that you stick directly to the ball of your big toes called SoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢. Very cool products.
I am still in the test phase of running with full insoles, but so far the first run has been good, and I wore theSoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢ with my cycling shoes today and what a difference! I know what the bike fitters have been telling me about using my whole foot – I could actually do it! My inner thighs are going to be very sore since I can access their power now, too!
The picture shows how the SoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢ look and adhere to your foot. Weird, but very effective. I will say that I wore them for my trainer ride on my bicycle, and I put them back on my feet after my shower and wore them for approximately 8 more hours. Around hour six, I could tell that the skin under the adhesive was getting  a little irritated. However, when I removed it I did not have any lasting redness or raw places. The website says that these can be stuck directly to the inside of the shoes, too. So, I’m going to try that to see how it works. Definitely adding the additional 3mm orange pieces to the bicycle shoes, though!
Part two: tight hip
The why – my Sacroiliac (SI) joint on the right side, as seen in the photo below, was tight, which was impeding my ability to do some rotation and other movements, and my hip muscles, specifically the gluteus minimus, were taking up the slack and ending up overworked and tight.Â
Once again, bells were going off all over the place! YES! The SI joint was tight on the right side! Of course, a few years ago I had spent an entire summer using a lacrosse ball on the right SI joint when Brian had suggested that I tuck my tail bone when I run in order to use more core muscles and attain a more efficient running form. I had not really thought much about my tail bone once it had stopped hurting, but I had never really treated it. Well, SI joint, those days are done. I am not going to neglect you anymore.
The how on treating the SI joint? To have Dr. Larry, my wonderful Chiropractor, do his magic on the SI joint when I visit him and to re-start some tennis ball massages on the SI joint. Also, I have a massage therapist, Brad, who has been working on my right hip. He will be better able to attack the problem with the new information as well. Gotta love having a village to keep it all working smoothly!
So, this is the next phase – unlock mobility in my midfoot and loosen up the SI joint on the right side. I’m still signed up for that half-marathon in April, and I’m looking forward to the training! If I can find the right combo of mechanical advantage and training pace, I may just make that race! Stay tuned!
9/11/12 – A Momentous Day, PT and Chiropractic Work
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.), Try This! on September 17th, 2012
On September 11th, 2001, I was still in graduate school at Georgia Tech. I had gotten up and was getting ready for an 8:30am class, while watching Matt Lauer and Katie Couric on the Today Show. All was well until I came back from another part of the apartment to find a burning, smoking building on the screen. At first, I thought it was a hoax. How could a building in New York City be burning? Then, Katie and Matt were taking turns trying to explain what was going on when an object hit the second World Trade Center tower. “What is happening???” I kept asking in my head as Katie and Matt continued to work on explaining a horrific scene.
On this day, my cousin also had her 16th birthday. It was not the day she would get her driver’s license, though.
This year, I had a pretty big day with a Chiropractic appointment and a physical therapy appointment.
First, I went to Dr. Larry’s. I was having a pain in my right glute max, and my thought was that it might be L5. Dr. Larry said that it sounded more like S1. So, he adjusted, and it felt great! He also did the usual neck, back hips and ankles with a little right wrist for good measure.
Then, I headed down to see Brian for physical therapy. I was wondering if it was too much to do these two things on the same day, but then I figured, why not?
I told Brian about Dr. Larry’s verdict on the S1 adjustment, and Brian said that it made a lot of sense b/c the S1 is the nerve that controls the Posterior Tibial Tendon, among other tendons in the foot. So, if you’re S1 nerve gest severed, then your Posterior Tib Tendon will not work. Hmmmm, interesting. Does that also mean that if your s1 vertebra is out of alignment, then your Posterior Tibial tendon will have a difficult time working to its fullest capacity? Good question. I do not have the answer, but it certainly does make one think.
Brian worked on ASTYM for the posterior tibial tendon and the back of the calf. Still crunchier on the right than the left. Also, I was more tender from the Iron Girl 5K. He then had me do a calf warm-up (downward dog), the World’s Greatest Stretch (coming soon), and a few running warm-up moves. These running warm-up moves included learning to hop softly for approximately one minute. The “soft hops” are shown in this video by Sanatan Golden, a PT in Portland, OR, who helps to produce “Minimalist Mondays” videos and clinics.
We then practiced foot “lifts,” which are a warm up where you try to lift your foot rather than hop from foot to foot in order to prepare for a run.
Finally, he had me run on the treadmill. This is going to be an ongoing exercise, too. Despite my reservations and rebelling against running because I am terrified of continually reinjuring myself – you know the dance: two steps forward, three steps back. However, when asked to run for a camera, I cannot say no. The following video is from Sept. 4, 2012.
Note: I had no idea Brian would suggest running that day. So, I was not dressed for success in running. Also, the creepy slow voice is Brian asking me if I am relaxed in the second video. I have some serious video editing skill deficits to overcome in the future.
I have not put the later videos together, but I might just do a video post later. For now, check this out!
In the left-most video or Video #1, I am trying very hard to remember all of the steps to running barefoot: tilt pelvis up, lift legs, head up, chest expanded, shoulders back, try to create a forward lean, etc. Notice that my legs do not always come up very far on the up swing (less than 90 degrees). In the right-most video or Video #2, Brian has showed me the first video, then told me to relax and think of being light, relaxed and quick. I also only worked on tilting my pelvis up (I had to think of something – what is this relaxed thing, anyway???).
Guess what? Relaxing and not worrying so much produced a better stride naturally. These videos were only a few minutes apart. Brian literally showed me the first video, talked about good things (thank you for doing that, I had enough negative self-talk going on for about four people at the time), and then added that I could just relax. Very well done, indeed as that second video shows. My legs swing up to 90 degrees, my pelvis is in a good place, and I might even be smiling.
Although this video is from last week, it mimics the video from 9/11/12.
So, don’t sweat the small stuff, and just relax!
9/1/12 – First crash
Remember how awesome I was on my bike? Yeah, that feeling carried over to Saturday when I decided to ride my awesome self on my awesome bike to Dr. Larry’s office.
All was going well until I got behind the bus. Since there were a lot of cars, I decided to stop behind the bus as it unloaded and loaded passengers. No problem! “Unclip, then brake!”
Well, the bus looked like it was about to go. So, I reattached to the bike, started to pedal, then realized that the bus was not moving.
I braked. The bike stopped. I fell over.
Yes, I did it. The classic new clipless pedal user fall. The most embarrassing fall of them all because there is no reason except for user error. BAH!
I checked my left elbow because I wasn’t wearing sleeves, and I was sure the road had eaten it alive. Not a scratch! SWEET! My left knee was hurting, too, but since my elbow was okay, I assumed it was good, too.
I picked up my bike, put the chain back on, then thought about actually checking my knee. Blood! What? Then, I kind of felt really cool for having an injury. I finished my ride to Dr. Larry’s office, locked up my bike, and bought some large bandaids for the new cool wound.
Needless to say, having a chiropractor appointment after a crash is very well timed! He was worried about my knee, but I told him that since the adrenaline was still going, I was feeling pretty good. He adjusted my wrist, ankles, hips, full back and neck. Then, I had a massage with Jennie, who did the most amazing release on the hip flexors (or the iliopsoas) from the back. Usually, a deep release of the this muscle is from the front with the massage therapist pushing their hand down into your stomach area, following the hip bone until they reach the hip flexor muscle attachment point close to your spine. Instead,she had me lay on my stomach, and while she kept her forearm on my low back applying steady pressure on the back side, she reached up the hip bone to the hip flexor from the front side. This is a great way to release that muscle as well as get the lower back muscles to relax at the same time. I greatly enjoyed this!
After all that, I made it home on my bike without incident, but I learned to have a little more respect for it, for sure.
8/20/12 – The Aftermath, or A Trip to the Chiropractor
Posted by admin in Appointments on August 30th, 2012
My first appointment after the triathlon was to see Dr. Larry and to get a massage. I admitted that I had gone to another chiropractor. Dr. Larry and I talked about my crooked spine, which was visible on the x-rays that the new chiropractor had taken, and he explained that just because I had a slight bend in my spine, it would not change my treatment. Basically, everyone has some sort of abnormal bend in their spines. He is there to help minimize this bend and make everything line up correctly.
So, he did some pretty deep foot/ankle adjustments, a wrist adjustment and an overall total back alignment. Then, he activated my legs to increase hip mobility, especially in the right hip.
Next up – the massage! Yay! Gordie did the honors, and he probably could have used 30 more minutes with all of the knots and kinks he found and worked out. He even did a great release on my hip flexors. That, I think, is one of my favorite things. If the hip flexor is not tight, the world is rosy.
I’ll be seeing Dr. Larry again. For sure.
8/19/12 – THE TRIATHLON!
Posted by admin in Triathlon Training and Races on August 30th, 2012
At long last, the day was here! After a week of pouting because my ankles were killing me, I felt rested for the race. READ: I did not go to the gym to do the workout tailored to my need for more stretching in my hip flexors and quads; I did not do my bike, run or swim unless I had to train with my training group; and I barely used my foam roller. I was a mess. I was disappointed. Once again, I had trained too much and injured my feet. MEH.
Well, my wonderful husband also surprised me by saying that we should look at bikes. So, we did, and I got a new, super fast bike! I did not get clipless pedals/shoes because it was Friday before the race on Sunday, and, technically, you’re not supposed to have anything new on race day. However, I figured a road bike (versus the mountain bike that I already had) was a fine exception.
Saturday, I rode my bike to the expo where I picked up my race packet with three numbers and a timing chip in it. What were three numbers supposed to be for? 1. for me to wear on the bike and run 2. to attach to the bike 3. to stick on my bike helmet. Oh, right!
I met Denise Geroux’s (my coach) mentor, Sally Edwards. She was inspiring and very energetic. Then, since I was new, I stayed for the race rundown with Sally. That was completely useful as I learned where all the numbers went as well as a few tricks to use during transitions.
Then, I rode my new bike home enjoying how fast the wind whipped through my hair as I raced along the road at super speeds unattainable on my clunky mountain bike. I then dropped my new bike off at the race transition area and got ready for the race.
Sunday morning at 5am, my alarm went off. Wow! No one said that race day would start so EARLY! Surprisingly, I did not really need any coffee to get going! Adrenaline is amazing.
My husband and I headed out and picked up TEAM ERIN – Ollie, Brandon and Julie (Adam was already in the car with me). They are some of the most amazing friends. They wore the hot pink shirts with “TEAM ERIN” printed on the front and got up at 5am on a Sunday! Thanks guys!!!
Anyway, I got to the race, stood in line for the port-a-potty and squeezed into my wetsuit. I then headed down to the swim start about 15 minutes early to get into the water and acclimate before I had to race. As I was standing waiting for my wave to start, I couldn’t believe it was here. I wasn’t really nervous. Instead, I was excited and incredulous that it was actually happening.
Then, the countdown for the swim began, and we were off! I alternated between swimming all out until I couldn’t breathe and breaststroking until I had control again. I feel like I should send a thank you note to the woman who kept up with me because I shaved 4 minutes off of my time trying to stay ahead of her 🙂
Once out of the water, I had no brain, I was on auto-pilot. “Take off the swim cap and goggles in one swoop, then unzip and peel off the wetsuit to the waste…” In the middle of my refrain, Adam starts yelling from the sidelines. I’m completely disoriented because he’s not part of my plan at this point! What’s he doing here, anyway? Oh, yeah! That’s awesome! He just watched the whole swim and he’s taking pictures (that’s why the pictures are so good- hahaha!).
I continue to the transition area, and just when I think I can get back to concentrating on continuing to remove my wetsuit, while watching for pebbles under my bare feet, Ollie and Brandon show up out of nowhere along the trail! HI!!! Totally awesome! When I arrive at my transition plot, I somehow manage to get out of my wetsuit, but not before removing my timing chip from my ankle. I went through my mental list – helmet, glasses, shoes, number, bike. And I was off!
My new bike was amazing! I did not have pedal cages or clipless pedals or shoes. So, it was just my foot and the pedal with mostly downward pressure to propel me along. I did great until the ramp onto I90 (YES! We got to ride down the express lanes of a major interstate across a floating bridge! SWEET!), I did not gear down enough, and my bike stopped. So, rather than fall over, I chose to get off the bike and run it up the hill. To my great surprise, everyone else was walking their bikes up the hill. I kept thinking in my head, “Isn’t this a race? Shouldn’t we be running?”
Needless to say, my new bike was kicking butt down that express lane. I was feeling really great about my speed until the first person passed me. At this point, I look at her pedals and shoes. My mind responds, “The only reason she passed me is because she’s got clipless equipment.” 😉 I was passed my many more people, most of which also had clipless pedals/shoes. Yep, I’m definitely going clipless now!
Halfway through the ride, I realize that I’m not wearing my timing chip. YIKES! What happens? Will they kick me out of the race? Nah. I’ll just have incomplete times. Good thing I remembered to take note of my bike start time on my own watch.
So, as I entered the transition area, I noted the time at 1:09. I had started the bike at 27 minutes. Yeah, that brain organ is just not cognitively active at present. I’ll ask Adam later – wait! I hear Adam now! AWESOME! The bike to run transition was much quicker – take off helmet, put on hat, put on timing chip and GO!
I started out strong because I knew that “Team Erin” would be there to cheer me on, and I didn’t want them to cheer me walking 🙂 Once out of eyesight, I walked. No one is kidding about that “lead leg.” My legs felt like they were made out of wood or lead or both. Picking them up was torture. Then, one of my team members ran up next to me, and I decided to run again.
I made it about one mile, then my ankles started to burn. Next, shooting pains started to travel along my posterior tibial tendon. GAHHH! I walked. Another of my teammates caught up with me. She and I kept playing catch up for a while. The most amazing thing throughout the entire race was how our team kept cheering for each other when we would see each other along the route. This happened a lot during the run when the route doubled back. We would all high five as we passed one another along the route. Yes, this definitely spurred me on to run as much as I could. I alternated running until my ankles were too painful and walking until I felt like I could run again. I finally gave up after I ran up Genessee Hill and walked in.
Now, I was saving up for the finishers shoot. If there’s one thing I know, people remember how you start and how you finish. So, I was going to RUN down the ENTIRE finishers shoot! And I did. I even pumped it up at the end to finish in 1:48! Less than 2 hours!
Adam and Brandon did the math on the bike, and at 21 minutes on swim and 42 minutes on the bike, I had shaved four minutes off the swim and about 10 minutes off the bike. My run was around 36 minutes (I have no idea how long my transitions were due to forgetting my chip during the bike), which was about 4-5 minutes slower than I normally would have run a 5k, I think.
Overall, what a great way to start triathlons! Ollie bought me a recovery massage at the end, which was such a delight! Thanks, Ollie!
I think meeting up with my training teammates throughout the race was amazing! Seeing “TEAM ERIN” on a field of hot pink was just fantastic! I really would not trade that experience for anything in the world. And next time, I hope to run the ENTIRE 5K.
As for the following days, my ankles got pretty bad – very tight, painful when walking, very painful when running. I started making phone calls – Dr. Larry and Brian Crosier (PT who was recommend by Mac at Born to Run). I plan to make this sort of the final round of foot rehab. I want to get it right this time so that I can run a marathon.
2/2/12 – Groundhog’s Day Acupuncture and Chiropractic
I’m still working on the whiplash from the car wreck, and it is really making a difference going to both the Chiropractor and the Acupuncturist.
This week, I have not felt pain in the low back, but it is still shifting around between the neck and the shoulders and back again. For example, on Tuesday, it was definitely in the neck (on the sides and back of the neck). Today, the pain was like a large blanket over my upper back and across the tops of my shoulders. Today, Jenna deemed it time to do another session with cupping. It was just lovely with some rather dark purples places as well as some lighter ones. The darkest places are on the left side this time, which was the side of the impact in my wreck. The body is a very interesting machine.
My Chiropractic work complements the acupuncture very well because after acupuncture, I still had a lingering shooting pain down the left side of my spine that Jenna referred to as “structural”. Dr. Larry adjusted my back, which really helped to lessen those pains.
I am hoping to be completely well in record time, but we shall see how quickly my body really can heal 🙂
1/20/12 – Car Wreck
So, I am from the South. This means that I do not have extensive experience driving in snow in and ice, which were the conditions of the road on Friday, January 20, 2018. Long story short, I lost control, drifted into the next lane and a car hit my driver’s side back door. No one was seriously injured, and only one car collided with me that day, which was lucky seeing as how I ended up perpendicular to oncoming traffic with my front bumper against the middle metal railing and stuck on the large pile of snow put there by the snow plows. The driver of the other car helped me to get to the side of the interstate, and the drive home was, thankfully, not very exciting.
The aftermath:
Whiplash. It has been 9 days since the wreck. The day after the wreck my neck was sore; followed by two more days with a sore neck. Then, on Monday I happened to already have an appointment with Dr. Larry followed by a massage from Lynda. This appointment was by far the most important in starting the healing process. Dr. Larry did not treat me that day. Instead he did an examination of my neck and back where he found some very sore places. Lynda then did an intense massage of just my shoulders and back to help get everything moving (i.e. blood flowing, muscles relaxing, which was a feat that we didn’t really fully accomplish due to the injuries to the muscles). Over the course of this past week, the pain has traveled from my neck to my low back to my hips to sciatica in my left leg behind my knee and back up again to the neck. What a mystical thing whiplash is – to me, anyway.
I also went to my acupuncturist, who immediately gave me the whiplash treatment where she tapped into a strong web of energy to funnel that energy back into my spine and neck. I know it sounds hokey, but, I think it’s really helping me heal quickly. I do believe that the body is surrounded by energy that can be channeled to help heal areas of need. I also believe that the energy can be stuck or stagnate when we have injuries or scar tissue that have been left to get hard and immobile.
Anyway, the quick responses that all of these professionals have had to my injuries is really helping me get better quickly. I have not lost much range of motion in my neck, which was starting to happen by Monday after the wreck.
My Chiropractor has been spot on in having me come in often because each time I make an appointment so close to the next, I think, “Well, I might not need that next one….” only to find that my neck or some other part of my back is completely out of whack and in need of some help by the day of the appointment.
Needless to say, I highly recommend having injuries treated promptly. I am looking forward to a speedy, full recovery!
p.s. I think my posts will likely be about the recovery process rather than my feet for a while….it’s all related, you know 🙂
1/17/12 – Meet Acupuncture, the Newest Member of the Village!
When I first went to the Chiropractor, it was after several recommendations and a 3,000 mile car ride across our great and really big country that finally led me to that office. Yesterday, I visited an acupuncturists office after many of the same recommendations. My friend Ollie enthusiastically suggested it first, but I must admit it was not until my massage therapist, Lynda, told me that it would be a great idea to get any “stuck” energy moving.
Per my last post, I have been feeling really stuck lately: My right shoulder, my right knee, my left foot – all stuck in the same place. Each still hurting despite the endless physical therapy that Melissa, my personal trainer, continues to thoughtfully direct me to do. What have I done to unstick it? So far, physical therapy, massage and chiropractics. None are working. I felt like they have taken me as far as they can. What next? How do I heal?
Acupuncture.
After Lynda’s recommendation, I hastily texted Ollie for the contact information on the acupuncturist she recommended: Jenna Beem, Health Discovery Acupuncture and Herbs. After all of the first visit paperwork, I headed back with Jenna to the treatment room. She and I talked about my history, and she was really interested in the car wreck in 2007 when I hit a bus. The whole incident was not my fault – he ran his left turn arrow, turned in front of me, and got stuck in the middle of the intersection I was approaching downhill in the Atlanta pouring rain. I did not have anti-lock brakes, and I slid right into the bus. It won; my poor small car lost. The air bags were wonderful, though! No broken bones, but a lot of bruises and a really upset right shoulder to show for it.
Jenna asked about my Raynaud’s – when did it first show up? You know what? It showed up the winter immediately following my car wreck! Eureka! Connection? She seemed to think so 🙂 I might not only heal my shoulder, I might also heal my cold-numbing fingers and toes! I cannot express eloquently enough or at all how much having regular circulation in my hands and toes again would mean to me.
Ok. So, she decided that we needed to start face down so she could work on my shoulders, back and feet. She also said that she was going to do some cupping to remove some of the “stuck blood”, which she thought might be causing a lot of the problems.
I know I had more than 40 needles in me at one point. Also, she told me to tell her if any of the needles hurt, and when I mentioned the one in my left foot was uncomfortable in a dull way, she said that was good and meant that we had found an area that really needed to be opened up. Ok – now, I’m listening. My left foot is definitely needing to be opened up. She further explained that sharp, acute pains were bad, but dull, annoying ones were fine.
After she removed the needles, she did the cupping using two small glass globes. She moved them all along my back stopping in certain places and moving again. She explained that when the area was purple after the cupping, that meant that there was a lot of “stuck blood” in that location, i.e. that’s where the scar tissue is, or it is where the energy is stuck. I was skeptical at this point b/c the cup is basically making a hickey on my back. I mean it could be that she is just going to leave it longer in the areas I say are hurting so that they appear more purple. Ok. NOT what happened at all! She moved the cups equally along my back. The low back is just pink, while the upper back is purple. My right shoulder is very purple. VERY PURPLE.
After all of this, she massaged mint oil into my back, which was therapeutic in and of itself for the rest of the day. I left with a lot more mobility in my neck and my shoulders felt more open. I felt lighter in my shoulders and neck than I usually do.
After two days, my shoulders are definitely still more mobile, but they are beginning to get tighter. This is a process, like all things involving the body. It is going to take 4-6 weeks to see consistent change. When you go to build muscle, it takes 4 weeks to actually begin making new muscle. Likewise, it will take that long for my body to realize that it can rebuild those areas and be less tight. Open up old passageways, so to speak.
I am also doing two meditations several times each day. They are going really well. I am so excited about the prospects of finally continuing to heal. Hooray! Is this the missing link? It’s an adventure, and we shall see 🙂
EDIT: According to Jenna, I had around 20 needles, not 40 🙂
1/12/11 – New Year and Almost One Whole Year!
Posted by admin in Reflections on January 12th, 2011
I’m BAAAAACK!!!
Yes, I found a big rock and hid for the fall, but now it’s time to get back down to work since the one year anniversary of my adventure to become a barefoot runner started. I still have the Village – Dr. Larry – Chiropractor, Lynda – Massage Therapist, and Melissa – Personal Trainer. I really do believe that I have the best people keeping me functioning in a healthy way, and Dr. Larry keeps saying he’s really impressed with Melissa, which is a big vote of confidence for a Chiropractor to respect a Personal Trainer! Apparently, some Personal Trainers have been known to have their clients do exercises that are very hard and not good for your back, but NOT Melissa! She’s awesome! and good for your back 🙂
Here’s what’s up: the feet are growing some really nice veins. In case you have never looked at a pair of really healthy feet, they have some excellent thick, blue veins running along the arches and the outside of the foot. I had never really considered veins as beautiful, until I started getting a nice popping set of my own! They are fantastic! Plus, they indicate active feet in need of more blood. It just doesn’t get much better….
Except when you consider that I have progressed in my workouts to the point where I can squat 75 lbs! Yes, 75 lbs!!! It is quite an accomplishment, if I do say so myself.
My shoulder continues to get better, and then flair up with regularity. This is something that I find quite disappointing.
Important TRUTH:
When you injure a major joint, the real healing of your wound will most likely take MONTHS!!! Think 6 months or more. Be careful with your body during times of healing and above all be patient.
These are points that I try to make to myself each day that my shoulder flairs up again because I did too many shoulder protraction/retraction moves. I give it a few days of rest and ice, then try again once it feels normal.
I’m going to begin a new running routine this weekend or tomorrow, whichever day I get out and start. It’s cold and rainy. Running in the rain when it is cold is just plain nasty. So, I’ll start when I start.
I’m aiming for running the 5k at Whidbey Island in April. That gives me plenty of time to get the body going in that direction. Also, it’s good to have a goal – especially a race where the energy is high, and you get a medal at the end 😉
Here’s to being spry at 70! Yeehaw!
10/5/10 – Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back :-(
I went to my chiropractor, Dr. Larry, and it was a needed appointment. He adjusted everything, but my shoulder! Hooray, on the shoulder at least!
My L-5 was out, my neck was all kinds of misaligned, and my hips and ankles need to be popped. He also worked on both wrists, which felt so incredible.
However, I was really looking forward to my massage b/c my left ankle has been seriously working its way into an inflamed tizzy since Sunday. But, my massage therapist had to cancel. Major bummer!!! Major, major bummer!!!! I was counting on the massage to keep the inflammation from getting worse, but here I am no massage, and an increasingly inflamed left ankle.
Now, what the hell is going on this time?! Seriously! I just got released from the physical therapist, can my body just cut me some slack and not have injuries?!!!
I feel like my ankle has a crush on Travis and cannot stand the fact that we’ve graduated and won’t be seeing him anymore.
Well, ankle, get over it. It takes a village to get through things, but isn’t all that ready to be over?
As I sit with my Anatomy Coloring Book in one hand and my fingers following the trail of pain in my left ankle/side of my calf, I am truly wondering what is wrong. I cannot tell what this is. It looks like the Flexor Digitorum Longus and the Soleus are the culprits this time, but I’m not a friggin’ doctor.
Yes, this is frustration. FRUSTRATION! and sadness.
I have worked so hard, especially this week with getting to the gym three days in a row. That is probably part of what contributed. I can so identify with folks who go to the gym and workout, only to have their bodies rebel and pay them back with days of pain. Now, granted, one cannot go from couch potato to Mr. Universe in one gym visit, but I’ve been working on this slowly. And although I identify with folks who get pain and quit, I am not going to quit. My feet will function. I did not get the awesome doctor I had at birth who put me in casts rather than cutting my tendons just so I can quit now.
Ok, so here’s the plan:
1. email Travis for his opinion.
2. massage the area – really get in there and move things around
3. ice
4. no running
5. still going to the gym, but no elliptical – a nice bike ride perhaps
6. while at the gym, taking it easy on balance and heavy lifting – meaning Physical Therapy work and some modified personal training work
7. riding my bike to work rather than walking – that worked before, maybe it will work again.
Alright – BREAK!