A couple months after I had Livvy my neck went all wonky. One minute I was fine and the next minute it was kinked and it hurt. When the pain didn't go away I decided to make my way to the chiropractor. After x-rays and oohing and ahhing over me, my kids, and my problems (probably just seeing dollar signs because I had BIG problems) the chiropractor told me I had degenerative disc disease (or something like that). According to him, my neck was curving the opposite direction that it should and I (lucky me) was the worst case he had ever seen. He couldn't say what caused it and I couldn't think of any major incident in my life that would cause such a weird thing at such a young age. I'm such a young whipper snapper you know.
After way too many trips to the chiropractor (every day, then every other day, then twice a week- seriously- it got out of hand with me and my three kids going to every appt), things were improving. And then after a while, things weren't improving. I was sick of going there and sick of paying him money and sick of all my exercises, and sick of laying still for a half an hour every single day with my head strapped down so I stopped going and decided to find myself a physical therapist. I never did. But they don't have to know that. Shh...
But anyway, the other day my neck started hurting again so I was toying with the idea of going to Dave's physical therapist. I'm just afraid he's going to tell me to come in 10 times a week and guess what? Don't have the time for that, not to mention I have 4 little extensions to my body that never seem to go away. Ever. For which I am grateful, of course. However, they can make excessive trips to anywhere slightly complicated.
After talking to a friend of mine about how core strength (or the lack thereof) is indicative of so many problems in the body, a light went off! And yes, this leads to yet another story.
Eight years ago this month I had major surgery. I had a cyst the size of a baseball in my bile duct. Since the bile duct is a necessary organ, they couldn't just take it out and toss it. They went in and removed the cyst and then took part of my intestine and made it into something that would compensate for my missing bile duct. I would say "good times" but the truth is, it was not good times at all. It was hellish and awful and it hurt. Bad. After a week in the hospital and a couple months of not even being able to stand up straight, things were better. Life went on except for one thing- I lost my core strength. To this day I can't do a sit up. On a couple occasions my brothers and sister have sat around me trying to get me to do a sit up and we have laughed and laughed watching me try. It's ridiculous.
For your viewing pleasure, I thought I would add a couple pictures of my surgery.
Tube in my nose and morphine button in my hand. This is what 3 months of marriage looked like for me and Dave. Yikes.
See my face? I'm really not happy. Not at all.
Extreme close up. Those holes are where the drains were. I have never experienced anything worse than when they pulled those out.
I would like to think I made the connection (finally!) that a lot of what might be causing my neck problems is that I have a weak core. It has given me the purpose and motivation to exercise my body and build my strength up again. Maybe I'm wrong and there is no connection but hey, if I think there is a connection and it is motivating me to be better, I'm all over it.
There's my story people. I am motivated and I am exercising. So while right now I may be a fabulous mother of four, I am looking forward to the day when I can say I am a fit and fabulous mother of four. So much better!
I will keep you posted as to when I can actually do a sit up. It's my goal. One of my many many goals.
6 comments:
Oh, I remember. I even remember the scrapbook page these pictures came from. (Sad but true.) And I am living proof of the misery. Poor newlywed Nat. I'm impressed that you made the connection with the core and the neck and all of that. I just hope you're right. I'm not sure I even have a "core" after all these babies, so try it out and let me know. Good luck with your neck. What a pain!!
Wow- that is crazy sorry to hear you went through all that:( Good luck with the exercising- yo can do it!!! Thanks for the baby announcement- sooo cute:)
That's really interesting you've had that problem. I've been seeing a chiro for the last 6mths. He's a guy in our church who moved in the same time as us and he was the chiro for all these famouse Olympians...so, I sorta believed him a little. Anyway, I have MAJOR jaw issues. My jaw will literally become seperated and I can't move or talk. So, I started seeing him for this. At this point my jaw is 89% better...but he took xrays of my body and asked. "Have you ever been in a major car accident?" I'm like "NO"! So, anyway, to cut my story short...I've been working out at the gym four times a week because he's trying to have me strengthen my torso and back muscles...he admits he can only do so much. So, I wish you luck....I think you're on the right track. Although, I'm no proffesional. =)
So you should try yoga! I always thought it was kind of weird, but it helped strengthen my core and every other muscle so much, plus it feels great to strech!
Wow, I didn't even remember hearing about this. I didn't realize you have a scare like me. We should compare sometime.
OUCH! I can not even imagine having a major surgery (unless you count a c section). At least it was pre-kid, right? That would have been a nightmare! Hey look how fit you are, your nice little (key word) tummy! I would love to have mine look like that!
Heather
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