My back

I finally had my MRI on my back (insurance snafu back in Dec, pushed it to January!), followed by my follow up with the back Dr.

MRI report -
Mild to moderate right convex scoliosis (14deg bend!) of the lumbar spine with apex at approximately L2. Partial disc desiccation at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and to a minimal degree at T12-L1 and L1-L2. Lost of disc height is mild to moderate at L4-L5 and mild at T12-L1 and L1-L2 (possible indication of arthritis!)
No abnormal paraspinal soft tissue mass (no cancer!!)

Impressions -
1. Right convex curvature of lumbar spine (how was this missed when I was growing up?!)
2. Mild multilevel degenerative changes, most prominent at L4-L5 and L5-S1. No high-grade spinal canal or neural foraminal stenosis.

Last May, my mom had lumbar surgery for a similar problem, but she had pretty much lost all the disc height due to arthritis. My dad has had rheumatoid arthritis since he was in high school, so finding out that my back is falling apart isn't that surprising. Awful, but not surprising.

The back Dr. recommended physical therapy (PT), annual check-ups to monitor the scoliosis (anything over 20deg is bad news), and return visits if the pain worsens. I like the PT idea, but I really don't want to be in pain and have to go back.
I work for a MD, PhD, so I had him look at my results and he recommended visiting my primary care physician and getting on a preventative treatment plan. Sounds great! He recommended a Dr in the clinic he visits that really focuses on preventative medicine. I have an appointment at the end of February!
On a side note - it is a one-stop-shop, so I can get my annual done then too! Sweet!!

Last Friday was my first visit with the PT.
After looking at my back, he said some of my problem is my posture. I am not using my lower abdominals, so my shoulders hunch forward and puts added pressure on my lower back. I am working on better posture and engaging my lower abs. He also "massaged" my right lower back and buttock, trying to work out the tightness that is causing some numbness down the back side of my right leg. It was painful! He also gave me some exercises to build up my obliques and buttock muscles. Basically, the lower part of my core is very weak! I am a little disappointed in my body, but happy that I am on a path to make things better. I don't want to have to deal with regular back pain or have surgery!

My next PT appointment is on Tuesday. I am looking forward to it:)
Enjoy!
ELH

Back pain

Back update - I am now a walking pharmacy!

Sunday - went to Urgent Care and got a predinsone shot, methocarbamol (muscle relaxer), and hydrocodone (for pain). Not much relief and the hydrocodone messed with my head causing me to cry uncontrollably. I just kept thinking how worthless I was because of the pain and that I couldn't do anything. I hate feeling out of control and having G do everything for me. Dang meds!!

Tuesday - went to a back/pain specialist. He is sending me out for an MRI and gave me - methylprednisolone - 6 day treatment, cyclobenzaprine - muscle relaxer, and tramadol for pain.
I also found that I have 14deg curvature in my back. The Dr said this should have been corrected when I was a kid. Great! He also said that since I am an adult, anything over 20deg is worrisome. I just need to have an annual check-up to monitor the curvature. I wonder if I can schedule my annual lady exam, annual back check, and annual skin cancer screening all in one day! I need a one stop shop!
Fortunately, I haven't found the lady Dr or the dermatologist, so maybe I can find good ones in same hospital complex as the back Dr.

More workout updates

Monday, Nov 14^th – I had a bad night of sleeping, so when the alarm went off, I rolled over and set it for another hour! No workout today :)

Tuesday, Nov 15^th – I am just trying to keep in shape and meet the 1000 mile marker for the year! Instead of just straight runs, I am going to repeat so of my marathon week-day training runs.

20min easy warm-up – 8:51, 8:25, and 0.33miles @8:16 pace.

6 x {2min hard, 2min easy}

1^st – 0.27miles @7:22

2^nd – 0.26miles @7:46

3^rd – 0.26miles @7:41

4^th – 0.27miles @7:26

5^th – 0.27miles @7:19

6^th – 0.26miles @7:38

10min easy warm-down – 8:20 and 0.5miles @8:24pace

I ended up doing 6.05 miles.

My legs were tired, it was humid, warm for November @7am, and some of the hard 2min were in a very hilly neighborhood! Fun times!

Wednesday, Nov 16th - Tired. Molly decided to freak out barking in the middle of night, which meant I didn't sleep well. My back was also bothering me - think it is related to my monthly "friend!" Continue reading to see that the pain is much more serious...

Thursday, Nov 17th - Still not feeling that great, but I need to keep my mileage up for the 1000 mile goal. I was supposed to do a 15min warm-up, 2x{10min @8min, 3min easy}, and 10min warm-down. Instead I just did an easy 4 mile run.

Splits -

Mile 1 - 9:02

Mile 2 - 8:39

Mile 3 - 8:19

Mile 4 - 8:25

Total - 4miles in 34:21.

Friday, Nov 18th - Busy day at work, so we only had time to take Molly for a 1.62 mile walk. Later that night we froze our butts off at BBQ cook-off competition that was an hour away. G didn't tell me all the details, so I felt a little hoodwinked! It was fun. I would try it again in warmer weather.

Saturday, Nov 19th - I needed to run 8+ miles to have my weekly total at 18+ miles, the min amount I need to run each week for the rest of the year to get to 1000 miles!

This run felt okay, but I also felt out a shape. Weird.

Splits -

Mile 1 - 9:09

Mile 2 - 8:31

Mile 3 - 8:32

Mile 4 - 8:30

Mile 5 - 8:43

Mile 6 - 8:56

Mile 7 - 8:54

Mile 8 - 8:46

0.5miles @8:54

total - 8.5 miles in 1:14.31

Sunday, Nov 20th - I was going to walk Molly, but my back was killing me. I have no idea what I did. It had been bothering me off and on all week, but this was unbearable. I tried all the home remedies - ice, hot, Epson salt bath, advil and nothing helped. G suggested that I go to the Dr. on Monday. I remembered that there is an Urgent Care Clinic around the corner and they are open on Sundays! The Dr thinks I have a pinched nerve and gave me a prednisone shot in the hip! I also got a muscle relaxer - methocarbamol and pain meds - hydrocodone. The shot started to help a little bit with in a few minutes.

Monday, Nov 21st - No workout. I could barely get out of bed. The pain was awful and the hydrocodone was making me sad. I just started crying and felt totally worthless. The info from the pharmacy said the "Hydrocodone works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain." Scary!! The pain was so bad, I called around and found a back and pain specialist that can see me tomorrow! Hopefully, I can get better meds, a diagnosis, and a treatment plan.

I spent most of the day on the couch with ice and a heating pad. Sucky :(

Tuesday, Nov 22nd - Feeling better. I actually could get out of bed and not worry about collapsing because of the pain. My Drs appointment is later today....

I have the 10k Turkey Trot on Thursday. Pretty sure I am going to miss that:(

Hope you all are have a great Thanksgiving week!

ELH