Wall Angels

Since I hurt my neck earlier this year, it has been really painful to lift things above shoulder level.  For a while I stopped unloading the dishwasher.  Thankfully a roommate agreed to take that on.  Then she went on vacation and I started unloading it again, but stacked the dishes on the counter and covered them with a clean dishtowel.  You do what you can, right?

Well, a couple days ago I decided to see if I could start doing my wall angels again.  It is an exercise that really helped my back and neck about a year and a half ago.  

I only did three, and that was plenty.  Then I rested a day and then did three again today.  And, yes, I mean three reps, not three sets.

I was hurting a little bit afterward, but not too much, and I felt fine after a nice long hot shower.  Maybe I will do four next time.  Woo hoo!

For me I keep a neutral spine (naturally curved) and don't flatten my spine against the wall.  This way the transverse abdominal muscles turn "on" to help support the spine.  These muscles are low on the stomach below the belly button and are parallel to the floor.  The exercise feels right when I do them like that, and any help my transverse abdominals can get is a good thing. 

Credit Card Woes

My credit card seems to have been frozen.  When I went to the dealership for an oil change today, the charge was rejected.  Could it have something to do with my late payment?  Or maybe that doctor's appointment with the specialist who doesn't contract with any health insurance...who cost over $1,000 in one visit?  Have I reached my limit?

These are questions I have to answer, but I'm scared.

That's what might have gotten me into this mess though--fear.  I let a pile, HUGE pile of medical bills sit there.  And sit there.  I was down.  After the last spine surgeon appointment that I had hoped would set me on a straight course for surgery.  Anyway.  My credit card bill was in the pile.  And I got to it two days late.  Yuck.

Moving forward though.

The "Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever"

Last night I made peanut butter cookies.  These are amazing!  I cut back on the sugar a bit, which makes them almost better than the typical energy bar.  The two main ingredients are peanut butter and egg.

This time I cut the sugar in half (and used brown for more flavor).  Plus I threw in some carob chips (instead of chocolate because of my intersticial cystitis).  I have a confession to make though.  This time I rolled them in white sugar before pressing them with a fork.  Totally unnecessary.  Yummy though.

Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever

Choral Music

I am standing here (I almost typed sitting here, hardy har) paying medical bills.  This is the time of day when I often get tired.  Really, really tired.  I'm used to feeling like this, but come to think of it, I feel nerve pain and weakness in my arms and my legs, plus I feel like I have just been on a 20 mile hike. 

That's about how I feel.

So I am paying medical bills.  A big stack.  It isn't fun to write those checks and see the money go out, but it will be nice to be rid of the stack.

That's the cold, hard reality. :) The bright, sunny reality is that a dear friend came over last night.  We have been friends for over a year now, and neither one of us had been to each other's house.  So, she came over, and we chatted, and chatted some more.  And then we went for the slightest bit of a stroll over in a nature area, and stopped and prayed.

This is entitled "Choral Music" as that is what I've got playing on Pandora right now.

Peace Be Still

Having a hard time.  I feel like it is time to have the surgery, but my meeting with my first choice surgeon has left me feeling very unsettled.

God has been speaking, though--focus, comfort, and peace to my spirit.  The hard part is staying there with Him.  I guess I will just have to keep coming back, minute by minute.

Spine Surgeon #2...Bad Injection

A youngish man in private practice.  He follows the "gold standard."  Incision down the middle of the back, rods and screws.  It truly is proven.

He also suggested that I try cortisone injections at the nerve roots before considering surgery because they should diminish my pain and help buy some time.

I scheduled the injections, which he did himself at a surgery center in the building. 

A wise piece of advice:  Change your procedure appointment if your doctor was sick the day before! 

I thought, "What could go wrong?  All he is doing is injecting anti-inflammatory medication."  Well, he could have nicked a nerve with the way I was limping and had searing pain down my leg.  I also bruised large and deep down to the nerve, which took weeks to go away.  It was months before I started to feel like I might be back to normal again.


I don't think I would ever do an injection again.  However, some people do really, really well.  One of my colleagues got them regularly for the arthritis in her foot before retiring and having a fusion done.

Postponed Again?

Things started to come together, and it seems like I may have found "the one."  But first they rescheduled me because they wanted fresh mri's, then the doctor had to reschedule, and again.  Now it is after hours and no one has called to confirm my appointment for tomorrow. 

Yes, I let myself shed a few tears when I looked at the clock and realized.  I called earlier today, but no one got back to me...

So, at least my appointment is in the afternoon so I can call in the morning before having to drive over there.  That is something to be thankful for.  And I have someone to help me drive, if I indeed have an appointment.