sugarshaneh’s BodyBlog

Well I saw a back specialist today that works with the Portland Trailblazers and he took a look at my x rays and medical history.  His diagnosis was that I have a degenerative disk between L5 and S1.  I trust that this is more than likely the proper diagnosis.  He did say that I have slight assymetry in my pelvis, but nothing that would cause the pain that I have had. 

The road to being pain free is going to be tough.  From I am going to start with a physical therapist that has some chiropractic training as well.  He is also going to give me a workout routine that is geared towards my condition.  He is someone that works with athletes, so I am hopeful to get a very good workout routine out of this.  I go for a follow up visit in one month, and if I seem to be in the same place I will get a cortisone shot to help loosen things up.  Worst case scenario is going to be a spinal fusion surgery.  From what I understand if I am able to be diligent with my workouts I will be able to keep my pain to a manageable level.  I would probably still have some pain from time to time, but nothing like I am dealing with now.  

I am looking forward to working with someone that has experience in working with someone who deals with chronic pain.  I am also thankful that this doctor is not willing to just throw drugs at the problem.  I do not want to spend my prime years on pain medication waiting for surgery.  I started working out in February to try and fight the pain.  It seems I needed more supervision with my workouts.  Oh well, live and learn.  At least I was working out, and didn’t do anything to make things worse.  Besides, I may just find a workout that will help give me more results that I would like.  If I am going to be working out 5 days a week and eat well, I sure as hell want to look like it!

I have been in quite a bit of pain since my business trip in late June.  I had figured it was from not working out for a week and being on the road for a week.  Now I am not so sure.  I went to the doctor last week and am going in for X-rays this week to see what is going on.  It’s terribly frustrating to be in pain when I try to tie my shoes.  I was initially diagnosed with pelvic asymetry, but I am starting to doubt that diagnosis.  I was told by the physical therapist that my back is locking between my L5 and S1 disk.  I have the feeling that is the root of my problems.  It was also suggested by my doc that I could have arthritis in my back, which would be a HUGE pain in my ass.  I don’t want to have to live the rest of my life with pain in my back…

 I have been just maintaining the progress that I had made this spring/early summer.  I have been ok with this even though I think sometimes that I have been settling.  It’s such a huge sacrifice to eat clean and not drink alcohol over the summer.  It has been a task this summer more so than others.  I have had some huge stress from work and a bump in the road with the wifey and I tend to lean on the bottle to help me shut my mind down.  This does nothing for my waist line that’s for damn sure! 

I have been on vactation for the last 10 days or so and I feel a bit reinvigorated.  I haven’t had a full weeks vacation in well over a year, and it was long overdue for sure.  I feel ready to get some hard work done at the gym and the office.  I am going to be going in a little later to work so I don’t feel the need to be rushed at the gym and skip my abs or cardio depending on what time I get to the gym.  I will get there at the same time in the morning, but I will stop worrying about what time I get out and just stay later at work.  I really think lifting 5 days a week and doing abs and cardio after each workout is really going to help me get my body to the next level that I want. 

 My son goes back to school after labor day.  We have one more trip planned for the summer that weekend which I think we will have some food that is less than desireable for a clean diet.  I am getting back to a clean diet starting tomorrow.  I will get warmed up I suppose before I get serious about staying on my diet.  It is always much easier when the kids are in school to stay on a set schedule.  I hate to say I am actually looking forward to fall.  It has always been my least favorite season, but I am really starting to realize that I need to be on a schedule, and it’s damn near impossible to be on a schedule when the kids are out of school.

I haven’t made much progress over the last month.  Summer seems to be a little more difficult for me on the diet end of things.  I tend to enjoy a cocktail after work while in the back yard or a beer while enjoying the sun.  Although I haven’t lost any weight, I have maintained what I had and haven’t taken any steps backwards.  That and I have a much better than than I did a couple months ago…   

Well a week on the road with no exercise eating what you can get sucks…  Well it got me an extra 5 lbs.  It was sure nice to get back to the gym this morning.  The only exercise I got while I was gone was walking in airports and I got to swim laps at the last hotel I was in. 

Now it’s back to business as usual, and a little bit of extra hard work to get that weight back off.

Well I am on the road this week for work.  I spent 16 hours in airports/driving yesterday.  Got 4 hours of sleep and off and running this morning.  I don’t think I am going to get much workouts this week.  I have been trying to keep to healthy food as best as I can.  Hopefully I don’t gain too much weight while out on the road this week!

I have not been able to do any squats because of my hips and back problem.  I absolutely love doing squats, and it seems pretty cruel to not be able to do them.  I have been pain free for a couple months or so.  Today I figured I would give it a shot and see how I feel after. 

I am pretty hopeful that I have done enough work in the last 4+ months of working out, that I can do them without any pain after.  So far so good!  We shall see what tomorrow holds after my cardio day.

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