Hi everyone, just a really quick post. I thought I'd let you all know that I'll be having surgery on Dec. 9. I'll be off work for about 2 months and I hope after all this is over, I'll be better than new! It will be a while before I can get back into exercising a lot, and I'm really looking forward to the day that I can!
Thanks for following my blog, even though it's been pretty inactive!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Surgery
I had a second consult with the surgeon today and we have decided that it would be best if I have surgery. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about...I have a herniated disc which has forced me to quit soccer, the P90X program, and keeps me from doing any sort of activity other than the day to day stuff. The waiting list is about 3-4 months so it will probably happen in Dec. or Jan. That works out perfectly because we hope to be moving into a new house next month (we're getting movers so I won't have to lug boxes) and I'll be off during the really crappy weather this winter!
I'm really happy with this decision because there is relief in sight! And hopefully I'll be better than ever after about 3 months recovery. I have my doubts that I'll be able to play soccer next summer because it's a bit too rough with a lot of pounding, but with any luck I'll be able to hike, bike, run, etc.
I'm continuing to (try) to eat healthy and so far haven't gained any weight since I stopped exercising. I've been hovering at around 151 lbs for a couple of months now but can't quite break into the 140's. I'll keep trying though! I really miss being able to exercise every day, since I got into quite a routine with P90X. I hope to pick it up again sometime in the future, but I guess it's just baby steps for now!
I'm really happy with this decision because there is relief in sight! And hopefully I'll be better than ever after about 3 months recovery. I have my doubts that I'll be able to play soccer next summer because it's a bit too rough with a lot of pounding, but with any luck I'll be able to hike, bike, run, etc.
I'm continuing to (try) to eat healthy and so far haven't gained any weight since I stopped exercising. I've been hovering at around 151 lbs for a couple of months now but can't quite break into the 140's. I'll keep trying though! I really miss being able to exercise every day, since I got into quite a routine with P90X. I hope to pick it up again sometime in the future, but I guess it's just baby steps for now!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I'm out.
That's right, I'm out...for a long time I'm afraid. I've seen a specialist about my back and he's pretty sure I'm going to need surgery. I'm actually pretty happy that he feels this way because so many people have told me that my herniated disc is never going to go back to normal. I'd rather just get surgery over with instead of waiting another year or two to see if things get better, only to need surgery then. I have another appointment with the surgeon on the 15th of this month and we will discuss what we're going to do for sure.
I'm pretty sure I've had a problem with this disc for quite a while, but the current, sciatic nerve problem has been going on for about 5 months now. It's affected my life so much and I'm glad that the surgeon understands that. I am still able to walk around and work, but he understands that I'm normally a pretty active person and this is keeping me from doing the things that I enjoy. Because of this issue, I've had to quit soccer & P90X. I can't go biking, hiking, running, camping or even walk any distance. I can swim at least, but I feel like I've completely missed out on summer. It's even painful to sit and relax in a lounge chair! Argh!!
So I'm hoping that when I see him in a couple of weeks, he'll decide to go ahead with surgery. I'm not sure what the waiting list is like so it may be a while before I can get in. Although "back surgery" sounds terrible, the procedure itself doesn't sound that bad. It is a very small incision and they basically just cut off the piece that's protruding. Then he'll put in an implant called a DIAM to keep the disc from compressing further. I should only be off work for 4-6 weeks and I won't be able to lift much for another 2-3 months.
So that's my news for now. I'll keep you posted on what happens next!
I'm pretty sure I've had a problem with this disc for quite a while, but the current, sciatic nerve problem has been going on for about 5 months now. It's affected my life so much and I'm glad that the surgeon understands that. I am still able to walk around and work, but he understands that I'm normally a pretty active person and this is keeping me from doing the things that I enjoy. Because of this issue, I've had to quit soccer & P90X. I can't go biking, hiking, running, camping or even walk any distance. I can swim at least, but I feel like I've completely missed out on summer. It's even painful to sit and relax in a lounge chair! Argh!!
So I'm hoping that when I see him in a couple of weeks, he'll decide to go ahead with surgery. I'm not sure what the waiting list is like so it may be a while before I can get in. Although "back surgery" sounds terrible, the procedure itself doesn't sound that bad. It is a very small incision and they basically just cut off the piece that's protruding. Then he'll put in an implant called a DIAM to keep the disc from compressing further. I should only be off work for 4-6 weeks and I won't be able to lift much for another 2-3 months.
So that's my news for now. I'll keep you posted on what happens next!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Another update
Just a quick update...I'm still not back to exercising. Physio seems to be working a little bit, but not much. I see my doctor soon to discuss what I should do.
On a good note, I still seem to be losing weight! It's probably all muscle, but hey, I'll take what I can get!! This morning I weighed myself at 151.6 lbs! I'm not really going to count it yet until I see it a few more days in a row.
Basically since I stopped exercising to rest my back, I've been trying really hard not to eat too much. I've found a really great application for my iPhone that tracks calories and it has a huge database of foods so I don't have to go find the nutritional info myself. The application came up with a plan for me, based on my stats and in order to lose a lb per week, I'm to eat just over 1500 calories per day. So far it seems to be working (as long as I stay on track of course!). I also recently started taking these pills called Green - Lean. Or maybe it's Greenies...can't remember! Anyway, they are supposed to boost your metabolism and so far it seems to be working.
On a good note, I still seem to be losing weight! It's probably all muscle, but hey, I'll take what I can get!! This morning I weighed myself at 151.6 lbs! I'm not really going to count it yet until I see it a few more days in a row.
Basically since I stopped exercising to rest my back, I've been trying really hard not to eat too much. I've found a really great application for my iPhone that tracks calories and it has a huge database of foods so I don't have to go find the nutritional info myself. The application came up with a plan for me, based on my stats and in order to lose a lb per week, I'm to eat just over 1500 calories per day. So far it seems to be working (as long as I stay on track of course!). I also recently started taking these pills called Green - Lean. Or maybe it's Greenies...can't remember! Anyway, they are supposed to boost your metabolism and so far it seems to be working.
Friday, July 10, 2009
MRI results
I had an MRI of my back today and I guess I have a good reason for all my whining! (Not that anyone was accusing me of being a whiner, I just felt like I was complaining a lot!) I have a large disc herniation between L5 and S1 that is protruding posteriorly and slightly to the left and it's pressing on my nerve root. Your disc should be flush with your vertebrae, but this one is stuck out more than a cm past the vertebrae and it's more than a cm wide too.
I work with an MRI tech and she went over the images with me. When she first saw them, she used words like: "Jesus", "Oh my God Heather" and "that's really nasty". So I guess it's pretty serious!
I spoke with my doctor and she wants me to go to physio, take anti-inflammatories, ice and rest, and I'll see her in a month. I'm hoping that I can get this fixed enough so that I can stop limping and start playing soccer again. I have my doubts that I'll be playing this season though. But there may also be the possibility that I'll need surgery down the road. My mother had the same problem at my age and needed a spinal fusion. Yikes!
So I guess P90X is out of the question for a while at least. I do hope to get back into it sometime down the road, but for now I guess I'll just take it easy. I'll keep you posted.
I work with an MRI tech and she went over the images with me. When she first saw them, she used words like: "Jesus", "Oh my God Heather" and "that's really nasty". So I guess it's pretty serious!
I spoke with my doctor and she wants me to go to physio, take anti-inflammatories, ice and rest, and I'll see her in a month. I'm hoping that I can get this fixed enough so that I can stop limping and start playing soccer again. I have my doubts that I'll be playing this season though. But there may also be the possibility that I'll need surgery down the road. My mother had the same problem at my age and needed a spinal fusion. Yikes!
So I guess P90X is out of the question for a while at least. I do hope to get back into it sometime down the road, but for now I guess I'll just take it easy. I'll keep you posted.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Taking a break
I'm very disappointed to say that my body is in need of a break for at least a couple of weeks. I went to see a physiotherapist yesterday (and I've also been seeing a chiropractor) and they have both insinuated that maybe I should rest my back for a little while. It kills me to have to stop exercising for a bit...especially that I have to take a break from soccer. But soccer is what bothers my back the most because there is a lot of pounding involved.
My instructions are to ice my back a lot, rest it as much as possible...and lie on my back as much as possible. Yikes! That's a hard one! Apparently even stretching my back and leg is doing me more harm than good. So I think my best bet is to totally stop exercising for 2 weeks and see if there are any improvements. Hopefully I won't have to take off any longer than that, but I realize it may be necessary. It just sucks that the soccer season is so short.
Also, I'm so close to being done P90X and I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be, weight-wise. I wanted to be in a bikini by this time, and although it is physically possible for me to wear one, I wouldn't be caught dead in it right now! Don't get me wrong...I have accomplished a lot since starting P90X and I have lost a lot of fat, but I'm not where I want to be yet. So fingers crossed that my little break doesn't last too long.
My instructions are to ice my back a lot, rest it as much as possible...and lie on my back as much as possible. Yikes! That's a hard one! Apparently even stretching my back and leg is doing me more harm than good. So I think my best bet is to totally stop exercising for 2 weeks and see if there are any improvements. Hopefully I won't have to take off any longer than that, but I realize it may be necessary. It just sucks that the soccer season is so short.
Also, I'm so close to being done P90X and I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be, weight-wise. I wanted to be in a bikini by this time, and although it is physically possible for me to wear one, I wouldn't be caught dead in it right now! Don't get me wrong...I have accomplished a lot since starting P90X and I have lost a lot of fat, but I'm not where I want to be yet. So fingers crossed that my little break doesn't last too long.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Checking in again
Hi all. Yes, I'm still here. This month has been terrible for working out for me and I feel so guilty! I'm still having major problems with sciatic nerve pain and it's making my life difficult. I limp around most of the time and it's hard to play soccer and to do a lot of different activities. I'm so close to being done P90X, but since I've been away from it for so long, I feel like I might need to repeat a couple of my last weeks before I finish. I'm losing a lot of the muscle tone that I've worked so hard to build up and I know that my fitness test at the end won't be accurate because I haven't exercised in so long. Argh! This is really frustrating!! I want to be more active but my body just won't let me!
I have an appt with a physiotherapist today and I've been seeing my chiropractor as well. I've also made an appt with my family doctor to see if I can get an MRI done to see if my problem is in fact a disc issue. It may end up that I need to take of the summer off from soccer, or just plain take it easy from exercising and rest. I really hope it doesn't come to that because I've been working hard to get into better shape. If I can't exercise, I'll really need to work on my diet alone in order to lose lbs.
I have an appt with a physiotherapist today and I've been seeing my chiropractor as well. I've also made an appt with my family doctor to see if I can get an MRI done to see if my problem is in fact a disc issue. It may end up that I need to take of the summer off from soccer, or just plain take it easy from exercising and rest. I really hope it doesn't come to that because I've been working hard to get into better shape. If I can't exercise, I'll really need to work on my diet alone in order to lose lbs.
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