Pacific Crest Trail 2007Physical Therapy
I have been doing physical therapy for a few weeks, and I'm slowly... slowly... regaining strength and with that, the pain is diminishing. As of now, my back is doing SO much better. It's so hard to believe that in February, I could not even take one step in my own bedroom.
PT was rough when I started. There were many moments that I thought I was just going to bust a vein in my neck and pass out for all the effort I was having to put into simple exercises. I mean, I couldn't even lift my leg off the ground. Getting on the rotary torso machine took so much focus and control just to hold 25lbs. that I was shaking like a leaf after. And one machine... where I had to sit, and bend my knees, and push some kind of bar down with my heels... well, not possible.
Now, though, huge improvement. Some days are worse, some days are better, but overall I'm doing way better than I was. I'm hopeful that my progress will negate the need for surgery. I don't think I'll be out bounding across hills and valleys next month, but maybe by the Fall anyway, providing I don't end up having the surgery.
Right now I have a god-awful cold that will not leave me. It's one of those hangers-on, that catches ya and kind of just makes you feel not really completely out of commission, but not even feeling well enough to do much of anything. And it will. not. leave. Plus I'm coughing like mad... ever tried to cough on a busted disc in your spine? :[
In other news: I'm still trying to find a new job, but I did find a good apartment, and I also found a car (since I had to give my step-dad back his truck, which was a loaner until I was to leave to hike). I didn't find just any car, though, I found a car I've been wanting for a long time - a vintage Volkswagen Beetle. Yay! It needs work, but I love it. And it's all mine!
When I get re-employed, I'm going to have to sit down and start seriously budgeting to tighten the belt if I really, really want to do this hike next year. As of right now, with my back pain, hiking is the last thing that I want to do. But I know I'll feel differently when I'm healthier.
Of course, if nothing pans out, I should just jump in the Bug and start driving, eh?
PT was rough when I started. There were many moments that I thought I was just going to bust a vein in my neck and pass out for all the effort I was having to put into simple exercises. I mean, I couldn't even lift my leg off the ground. Getting on the rotary torso machine took so much focus and control just to hold 25lbs. that I was shaking like a leaf after. And one machine... where I had to sit, and bend my knees, and push some kind of bar down with my heels... well, not possible.
Now, though, huge improvement. Some days are worse, some days are better, but overall I'm doing way better than I was. I'm hopeful that my progress will negate the need for surgery. I don't think I'll be out bounding across hills and valleys next month, but maybe by the Fall anyway, providing I don't end up having the surgery.
Right now I have a god-awful cold that will not leave me. It's one of those hangers-on, that catches ya and kind of just makes you feel not really completely out of commission, but not even feeling well enough to do much of anything. And it will. not. leave. Plus I'm coughing like mad... ever tried to cough on a busted disc in your spine? :[
In other news: I'm still trying to find a new job, but I did find a good apartment, and I also found a car (since I had to give my step-dad back his truck, which was a loaner until I was to leave to hike). I didn't find just any car, though, I found a car I've been wanting for a long time - a vintage Volkswagen Beetle. Yay! It needs work, but I love it. And it's all mine!
When I get re-employed, I'm going to have to sit down and start seriously budgeting to tighten the belt if I really, really want to do this hike next year. As of right now, with my back pain, hiking is the last thing that I want to do. But I know I'll feel differently when I'm healthier.
Of course, if nothing pans out, I should just jump in the Bug and start driving, eh?
