Hi! Howās things? Just checking in because itās Sunday again, and a bank holiday no less, for those of you it makes a difference to!
This afternoon I have spent watching Canadian Drag Race after a chilly morning at the bandstand. I shall probably continue to do more of the same.
But first, this week I….
Still couldnāt walk
Those of you who have read last weeks catch up will know that on Friday morning I had a terrifying few minutes when I woke up and couldnāt walk without shooting pains down both legs.
Iām sad to say that since then that has become part of my new normal. Itās not *as* bad every day, but it happened again Monday morning, and almost every morning since.
Fortunately I have had my MRI moved forward to this week, so hopefully some progress with a diagnosis will happen.
Got a new phone
Something I forgot to mention last week is that I very cleverly managed to move my tripod with my phone still in it after a coaching call, throw it on the floor and smashed the screen to bits.
Fortunately I was able to upgrade, so I have a shiny new iPhone 11 and am slowly adjusting to life without a home button.
Got poked and prodded
In an attempt to fix myself, me and my credit cards have been throwing money at the problem.
This week I visited an osteopath and an acupuncturist. Both were great, but I canāt say I am yet feeling any long term relief.
The acupuncturist also used Gua Sha, which is a massage using a flat stone. It actually feels great, but looks very disturbing, probably avoiding strappy tops once youāve had it is a good idea…..
Had a hair cut
Oh thank you thank you thank you back gods for making it so that I managed to sit in a chair and have my hair cut.
I have been stressed about this since my back went bad again because I last had it cut in December and we didnāt have long before I lost my temper and shaved the whole lot off.
It feels so good to have my little bob back again!
Terrible photo, but itāll have to do!
Had another disappointing Physio call
Getting treatment for my back pain has been, well, a total pain, mostly thanks to the Physio, and I may have a bit of a rant.
After being dismissed back in January I felt fairly positive after I contacted them again in April.
However, on this fortnightly follow up call it has become obvious that despite speaking to me 4 times she has pretty much no idea who I am, and has already forgotten everything she said to me last time.
She asked me how often I was doing āthe exercisesā when last time she told me to stop doing them. She gave me a completely different prognosis than last time. Asked about my weight, despite already having been told that I injured my back training originally and told me ānot to worry about itā as I would make it worse and told me she thought it sounded like I was trying to push through too fast (Iāve done nothing by a few stretches and walking the dogs since March) leaving me with the distinct impression that being in pain is ALL MY FAULT.
I donāt feel like Iāve had any helpful advice or support and I just donāt understand why no one can see me in person. Considering thereās always a slight chance this is something medically severe, in the last 6 months the physio has done no physical tests on me at all other than asking me to try and touch my toes and do a bridge on a video call.
Itās frustrating and I canāt help but feel if Iād been assessed properly in December maybe I wouldnāt be in this place now.
There. Rant over. Letās move on to something nicer.
Took the Pugs to the Pub
On a Friday night no less. We managed to grab a table at their favourite as went by after our very slow walk.
There is nothing more British than sitting shivering in the cold outside a pub in April drinking a nice cold beer wearing your chunkiest jacket.
Although walking and lying down seem to be presenting more issues for me, sitting seems to have, thankfully, got a little easier, so with great caution I can at least have a drink and eat my dinner at a table.
Who needs to walk or sleep anyway!
And that is another week in my life. Apologies for the down beat rant.
I remain confident that normal service will soon resume.
How was your week?
So sorry to hear about the continued pain and frustration with your back. To be honest I’m impressed you’re holding up as well as you seem to. I share your frustration with treatment for stuff like this. A few years ago I passed out at the top of the stairs and found myself at the bottom pretty beaten up. Despite insisting to my GP it felt like a panic attack, and barely being able to walk as a result of a damaged knee I was told I was fine and should go back to work. At the time I was going 50 hour weeks in wine retail lifting heavy boxes. Stupidly I didn’t listen to my body but to her and went back and just struggled through doing even more damage. Sigh. I really hope the MRI provides some answers and you finally get the treatment you need. Sending big positive vibes from Verona.
Oh gosh, that sounds awful! I hope youāve recovered since?
Thank you for being so kind. I just want my life back!
Sending good healing thoughts for your back. I hope the MRI gives your some answers and your hair looks amazing!
Thanks! I always feel better once my hairs been done!
Blimey! I’m all for acupuncture, cupping, etc. but frankly that gua sha looks painful: like you were run over by a steamroller!! But maybe that’s less painful than what your back has been treating you to lately? And doctors who don’t listen are the pits. So, sending warmth and sunshine in the hope that they’ll improve morale until you’re feeling better.
I am with you on the physio rant! I fell and broke my shoulder in February and even though the fracture consultant and the second physiotherapist I spoke to both said I need face to face treatment I am having monthly (yes monthly!?!) sessions by phone, cue the physiotherapist trying to describe to me how to do an exercise and me not getting what he’s on about and it is utterly shit and achieves nothing. The first guy I spoke to was absolutely dreadful and like you couldn’t even remember what he had said to me on the previous call, and all the time his children were screaming in the background and he was obviously distracted. When I told the consultant at the fracture clinic he just rolled his eyes and said I have NOTHING good to say about the service.
Fingers crossed on the MRI and getting to the bottom of your sore back.