I thought I should lay that all out there just in case you hadn't caught on to my personality yet. :)
For real though, what do you think has been helping me survive this INSANE time of my life right now? Unfortunately it has been chocolate. Not just any ol' chocolate bar though. Nope. It's the Godiva chocolate cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. It's the chocolate Butterfinger ice cream bars. It's the new strawberry lemonade slushy at McDonald's. Wait... that's not chocolate is it?
Well you're getting the picture of my new dillema.
I have gone from a very HEALTH conscious working out machine to an injured sugar craving mommy monster.
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!!
Physical therapy started last week, as did massage therapy. At first I was so excited about these steps leading up to recovery. I had dreamed of luxurious spa like treatment, nice oily rub downs, easy assisted stretching and light work outs.
WHAT WORLD AM I FROM???
Someone had once told me that physical therapists are commonly referred to as physical terrorists. THIS IS TRUE. Apparently you aren't supposed to baby an injury- in my case an injured neck/ right shoulder/ arm. My entire posture has caved in on itself and I am the female version of Quasimodo. It's pretty attractive if I don't say so myself. My physical terrorist... err therapists don't seem to agree. Instead they stretch,
pull, and tug on my arm trying to get my shoulder blade to work the way it's supposed to. I'm not usually so chipper when this is actually happening. :)Now to the massages. Long, oily rub downs... THEY ARE NOT! Do you know what a trigger point is? Well, everyone has them in different parts of their bodies and especially in injuries. For those of you who have never heard of a trigger point (this was me before the accident), let me explain briefly. They're "knots" in your muscles and tendons. I don't really know anything more medical then that though.
When you go in for a massage for medical reasons- they are not luxurious. Well, that's a lie. They start out luxurious. The massage therapist works his magic rubbing over your back making you believe you are in the ocean and waves are riding across your back. Then he attacks. He finds ALL of your trigger points and PINCHES them until tears come into your eyes.
Now don't get me wrong. I am supposed to say "mercy" when it gets too tough for me; however I have been told many times I don't have a high pain tolerance so I bite my cheeks and close my eyes as TIGHT as I can with out folding my face in on itself. And if you are curious where my trigger points are let me elaborate: my entire Trapezious (sp?) muscle starting from the bottom of my head down past my shoulder blades and up and over my collar bone. That's my back side. My front side? Yup- I have them there too. Awkward much? lol! Right above my right breast all the way up into my collar bone and then into my right arm pit.
Can you imagine having someone PINCH and SQUISH your muscles right there??? IT HURTS!
But complaining aside, these things have REALLY loosened me up and taken away the whip lash migraines. That alone makes my torture sessions WORTH IT! One of my physical therapists even mentioned that my posture is starting to get better. Phew!
Now I haven't been sitting idly by eating my chocolate ice cream bars and reading book after book {cough}, I have also started going on LONG walks with my children in their strollers again. It feels SO nice. I haven't had ANY weight gain and in fact have been complemented that my face is starting thin out again!
WOOT! WOOT!!
I still go to my Monday night Ab Ninja class and leave feeling very wobbly and sore. I'm very careful with my arm, but as of last Monday actually had enough strength in my arm to do some ab workouts involving a medicine ball.
Because triathlon training has been completely TORN from work out regimen I am going to start training for a 5K. With the help of all those around me I think I can really do this. :) I have to believe that so I can stay optimistic and continue this journey with out too many set backs. The Moses Lake Triathlon is this weekend and my heart is sad that I don't get to compete, but I know that there is a bigger picture out there for me. I just have to wait and see what it is.
I hope all of you have a safe Memorial Day weekend and watch out for those teenage girls with five or ten piercings in their faces- they'll get you when you least expect it! HAHA! {No offense to anyone personally!}
Love Nichole!
5 comments:
How disappointing on the massage thing. Aren't they just supposed to relax you into repair?
I like the idea of finding something to start training for again, though. And chocolate? Well, I've been craving it, too. Must be something to do with global warming or something. But I have found some things that help. I get Weight Watchers Mint Cookie Crisps. At 70 cents a bar, I can't afford to eat more than maybe one a day, but I dangle them out saying if I can just go until such a such a time without eating anything unhealthy, then I can endulge in that. Other things work just as well. Just have to use it as a reward for positive behavior, and then enjoy every bite of it, savoring it slowly so you know you ate it.
And I am finally losing weight again, after a five month plateau. I hate to say anything too soon, but losing two weeks in a row was nice. Now see if I can go three weeks. The only plus is that at least at the end of five months, five winter, slow, depressing months, I actually did not gain anything back. I'd just lose a pound one week, gain it the next, and then lose it again - that same frustrating pound - for five months.
But dealing with all you've been dealing with is pretty normal as a sabboutager of eating healthy. One day you'll be ready to assess it, learn from it, and then move on to your next successes. You will do it! You will succeed, I have total confidence!
You have been through so much and yet find some humor in it - I love reading your blog. I too am eating way too much sugar and keep thinking I need to stop but not doing very well with it. I'd love to get back out to running - if you (or you and Rachel if you guys are doing it together) would like a partner in running I'd love to join you. Maybe aim for a 5K together...
Screw the triathlon, go sign up for the Warrior Dash in North Bend. Look it up and just try to say no to all that craziness. Randy is going to be in the 8 am wave, but I will be in Idaho. You should go crawl through the mud and jump over flames with him.
"Aren't they just supposed to relax you into repair?"
Hahahahaha. As a former Massage Practitioner, I can't help but laugh. I would get a lot of Personal Injury or L&I or Auto accident clients, who all thought the same thing. What most people don't realize is that if we just sort of rub over the problem, that's not gonna do squat, but make you feel good for like a minute after. A few more if you're lucky. By getting in there and digging out the problem, you'll notice a much more significant change. This part of massage has really been misconceived.
Also, I just want to clarify that Trigger Point therapy is all together different from Acupuncture or any kind of energy work. Trigger point finds the specific (and I mean microscopically specific) points on the body causing the pain and anguish you are experiencing. Thus, the not-so-relaxing experience, but totally worth it in my opinion. :)
I am sorry that you are going through so much pain, but it sounds like you have really good people taking care of you and making sure you get where you need to be.
It's amazing how much a really good massage therapist can help with headache pain!! I was disappointed about the tri too. :( Turns out I couldn't have done it anyway, dr.'s orders! (recovering). So that kinda worked out, eh? lol! Good luck training for your 5K! How exciting!!
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