Bursal sacs: sounds like something hippies would carry

So the trip to Dr. H’s office was great. He put my right hip back into place, adjusted my back and neck and did ultrasound on my right calf. He is thinking that instead of a fracture (pressing on my patella and tibia didn’t hurt), I have inflamed my bursal sacs around the knee (which hurt like the fiery flames of hell when he pressed on them). That would explain the burning sensation I have down my leg sometimes.

I was given ultrasound treatments when I tore my Achilles to reduce inflammation and my body responded really well to it, so that gives me hope that it will work in this instance too. I go back on Tuesday for another session and we’ll play it by ear after that.

He also told me to rest between treatments and to do no heavy lifting, furniture moving, excessive walking or vacuuming. Darn, and I had so hoped to go out and run a 10K, move some boulders, and shampoo the carpets this morning. Oh well, I guess it’s a day of lying around in the sun, reading and then a night of lying around, watching movies. Poor me!

Actually, he did give me some exercises to do which he thinks may help and I’m going to dust off the old yoga DVD and work on my core. It does seem that when your core isn’t strong, everything else falls apart. Thus the name core, I guess.

What are you doing this weekend?

Friday Five, #46

1. I did something this week that I never dreamed I could do. Seriously, it isn’t even on my list of 100 Things to Do Before I Die list because that? I could never do that!  What’s that?  I went the entire week without using any paper towels. (Was that too much build up? Were you expecting maybe that I won a Nobel prize? Wrote a novel? Won the triathlon? Get over yourselves.)

This wasn’t so much a noble “go green” endeavor as it was a “used the last of the paper towels last week and I forgot to pick up more” scenario…but I’m going to take credit for lasting the entire week. Have you ever tried to do it?  Go on, I double dog dare ya.  It wasn’t easy, I’ll just say that. I never realized how many times I reach for a paper towel. I did buy more at the store this week but I think I’ll be much more conscious of how I use them going forward. In fact, I haven’t even opened the package yet. But I do feel better knowing they are there.

2. And speaking of picking up paper towels, it cost me more to fill my gas tank than to buy a week’s worth of groceries. What is wrong with this picture?

3. Has anyone heard what the June NaBloPoMo theme is going to be? And can you believe it’s almost June? Yikes!

4. PLEASE! I can’t make it to the Sex and the City movie until Monday night. So if you see it this weekend, NO DETAILS! or I will climb right through the interwebs and hurt you!

5. And what kind of world is this where George Clooney is single and Clay Aiken is going to be a father? I think these are clearly signs that the end of the world is near. Seriously.

Better late than never?

As you may recall, back in January I injured my right leg. A vicious table leg jumped out in front of my tibia when I wasn’t looking and then a few days later, my knee decided to do the twist without warning. The result was I could not climb stairs using my right leg so I had to lead with my left on each step. This all coincided with my yearly exam so I mentioned it to my doctor. She said to put an ice pack on it and give it a few weeks, it should be fine.

Well, it’s now almost June and it isn’t better.

I can climb stairs now but only sometimes. And even when I can, I can’t walk straight up. My right leg has to be out at a weird angle in order to not put weight on the front of my leg. And sometimes, if I’m too tired or carrying something heavy (like my laptop case or even laundry) I can’t use both legs to climb at all. I have to revert back to toddler mode.

And frankly, I’m tired of it.

I have considered calling my doctor about it…but the only doctor I have is my gynecologist and she just didn’t seem too concerned when I mentioned it to her the first time. I thought about calling the orthopedic surgeon who saw me when I tore my Achilles tendon a couple of years ago but I didn’t know if I could just walk in there or if I would have to have a doctor’s referral first. So I did what I have always done for the past 10 years whenever I have needed medical advice.

I went to my chiropractor, Dr. H.

Dr. H is one of my favorite people. He listens and asks questions about every part of my life. He can connect the dots between the stress I feel to the knots in my upper back. Or the blister on my foot with the hip bone that is out of alignment. He can adjust my lower back and make my headaches stop.

I just love that.

I stopped in Friday to see him and just give him the background on my leg. I wasn’t even sure if there was anything “chiropractorly” (I love making up words — can you make money doing that?) that could be done for it but I knew if he couldn’t help, he would tell me. He did a preliminary leg once-over and said it could be anything up to and including a stress fracture. Lovely. The good news is, he can’t imagine that I would need surgery. The bad news is, if it does turn out to be a stress fracture, I’ve probably not been doing the right things for it and he would need to refer me to an orthopedist.

But we’re going to start Friday with a complete alignment and make sure I just don’t have some nerves or something trying to compensate for my strange stair climbing posture. He may do ultrasound over the leg and see if that helps as well. If I don’t see any marked improvement after two or three sessions, he’ll refer me to an orthopedist. So I’m glad I sought help and I’m hoping it is nothing that a few ultrasound treatments can’t help. But I’m also pretty concerned that I’ve let it go for so long. That can’t be a good thing.

Wish me luck. And two normally functioning legs.

It worked!

Four-day weekends are simply awesome. The only thing better than not having to set the alarm on a Sunday night is not having to set it on a Monday night either. (It’s the small pleasures, isn’t it?)

My attitude is adjusted. My skin is a little more sun-glowy (although it’s been cold and rainy more often than warm and sunny these past four days). My sleep habits are a little more sane.

And I did it all without a DQ Blizzard. Who would have thought?

And now it’s back to work. But I’m ready and up for it.

That is, if I can set the alarm without having a relapse.

Friday Five, #45

1. I went straight from work yesterday to a Medical Advocacy Refresher course at the Center. That made for a long day but it definitely took my mind off my small problems. I wonder if I’ll ever hear a story of abuse and not cry? I hope not.

2. I had a first this week…eggplant, spinach, and feta cheese pizza. I don’t remember ever having eggplant on a pizza before but it was pretty darn good. (Josh is trying not to gag right now, I can hear it from here.)

3. The Law & Order season finale was this week. Did you see it? Not their best work by a long shot but the word “blogosphere” was used. I thought that was pretty cool.

4. It never fails, within the first ten minutes of getting home after Jen’s been here to clean, I either track dirt in on the floor, splatter water on a mirror or spill something all over the kitchen. I can only assume I’m part canine and I’m marking my territory after an intruder has been in it. Or I’m just a klutz. Potato, potahto.

5. So happy it is Friday! I hope you have a wonderful (holiday) weekend and get to do at least one thing that brings you joy. That’s what weekends are for, right?