I never wanted to be one of those older people who talks non-stop about their health, but that was before my various aches and pains began to demand an outsized amount of my attention. In the past, I used to put things off until I had more time. These days, I put things off until I feel well enough to do them.
Of course, it’s never just one problem at a time. Right now I am trying to recover from a root canal that took two, two-hour sessions. My tooth hasn’t been this pain-free in years, but my jaw is on strike. I can’t open my mouth wider than a slice of thin-crust pizza, so every other food has to be worked into the gap like a package through a mail slot. I’ll be going back to the dentist next week to find out if there’s anything to be done other than remain patient. (No pun intended.)
Then there’s my back. I come from a long line of people with “bad backs,” and I wish I hadn’t had to find out what that actually entails. For a number of years, my lower back has gotten cranky and stabby from such challenging activities as playing a board game or doing my job. You can imagine the fallout from yard work.
This week I finally got an x-ray and even I could see that things sure would be better if I had a visible disc below my bottom vertebra. But at least I know what the problem is now, so I can discontinue the stretches and exercises that definitely will not help and concentrate on the ones that will. I’m already seizing the opportunity to take more walks with the dog because that’s good for us both.
For whatever reason, I’ve been pretty energetic lately and I would very much like to run with that feeling, especially with so much holiday prep on my agenda. It would be nice to be able to focus on wrapping gifts and making delicious treats instead of practicing ways to reach items on the floor without bending forward.
The good news is that there are medical professionals engaged on all fronts, so I feel like I have a fighting chance of minimizing my symptoms and keeping them that way for a while. Wish me luck.
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