The Incredible Shrinking Woman
Thursday morning, I am at the gym doing my third set of heavy squats. In fact, I was on my LAST SQUAT when I realized my legs were not helping me anymore. So, I lifted with my back and SNAP CRACKLE POP, I see stars. I knew immediately what I had done. It had happened during Urinetown when I wasn't supporting my lower back while jumping. It just went out.
I went to the Chiropractor Thursday afternoon and he was able to stretch me out, and crack me pretty good but doing the show wasn't fun. Marc said I looked like I was Mama in Mama's House. The second I got off stage and the adrenaline wore off, my muscles hardened on me. I went back to the Chiropractor on Friday and he took x-rays. First of all, because of the muscle spasms, my lower back spinal column is no longer in the shape of a "C". It is now straight which is causing my body to pitch forward while walking.
I also found out that I am in Phase 1 of Disc Degeneration Disease. It sounds worse that it is. Actually, it is not a disease at all. This is something I read on a website: "Despite its rather dramatic label, degenerative disc disease is fairly common, and it is estimated that at least 30% of people aged 30-50 years old will have some degree of disc space degeneration, although not all will have pain or ever receive a formal diagnosis. In fact, after a patient reaches 60, some level of disc degeneration is deemed to be a normal finding, not the exception."
We have spaces between every disc that act as a cushion. If you have repetitive injuries, these cushions begin to calcify and harden. Eventually, without treatment the vertebrae will fuse together. Not good. It is not something that can be stopped, but it can be slowed down by stretching everyday. I CAN DO THAT! For those of you who want to know what it looks like on an x-ray, here you go!!
Basically, the spaces between the discs are getting thinner which could possibly be why I have lost an inch of height since college!! Interesting! By the time I am 60, I could be shorter than my Aunt Judy!! Todd and I could go to a Halloween party as Chewbacca and Yoda and be proud of the fact that we are "Life SIZED" versions of the characters! SWEET.
I went to the Chiropractor Thursday afternoon and he was able to stretch me out, and crack me pretty good but doing the show wasn't fun. Marc said I looked like I was Mama in Mama's House. The second I got off stage and the adrenaline wore off, my muscles hardened on me. I went back to the Chiropractor on Friday and he took x-rays. First of all, because of the muscle spasms, my lower back spinal column is no longer in the shape of a "C". It is now straight which is causing my body to pitch forward while walking.
I also found out that I am in Phase 1 of Disc Degeneration Disease. It sounds worse that it is. Actually, it is not a disease at all. This is something I read on a website: "Despite its rather dramatic label, degenerative disc disease is fairly common, and it is estimated that at least 30% of people aged 30-50 years old will have some degree of disc space degeneration, although not all will have pain or ever receive a formal diagnosis. In fact, after a patient reaches 60, some level of disc degeneration is deemed to be a normal finding, not the exception."
We have spaces between every disc that act as a cushion. If you have repetitive injuries, these cushions begin to calcify and harden. Eventually, without treatment the vertebrae will fuse together. Not good. It is not something that can be stopped, but it can be slowed down by stretching everyday. I CAN DO THAT! For those of you who want to know what it looks like on an x-ray, here you go!!
Basically, the spaces between the discs are getting thinner which could possibly be why I have lost an inch of height since college!! Interesting! By the time I am 60, I could be shorter than my Aunt Judy!! Todd and I could go to a Halloween party as Chewbacca and Yoda and be proud of the fact that we are "Life SIZED" versions of the characters! SWEET.
posted by Michele at 1:06 PM
2 Comments:
Saw the show on Friday night- I was watching you in particular because I heard what happened. You smiled your way through the pain and did a kick-ass job.
I hope you didn't see my grimace when I saw you being lifted by the 3 boys. You are a trooper, m'dear. I felt your pain, but noone in the audience would have noticed. Very proud of you. :)
Thanks Wally. XXOO
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