How many of us have back pain? Having CP is sort of a recipe for back pain since the body compensates. My back is getting stronger and are holding the spine in place much better since I've been "CrossFitting? for a year.
However... I got up this morning planning on going to CrossFit. My mid-back was hurting but I thought I'd do some stretching and go to the chiropractor after my workout. As I ate breakfast the pain continued to get worse. After deciding it wouldn't be smart to go to CrossFit, I chilled out for a few minutes. As I stood up it felt as if someone stabbed me. I walked to the back and realized driving probably wasn't a smart idea so asked Jim to drive me .
Currently I'm on a heating pad. Amazing to me how much pain one little rib can cause. Dr said the pain would gradually ease. So my hopes are that by tonight the spasms around where the stabbing was will stop.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Today's post is from a friend with CP. When I read her post it touched me, so she gave me permission to share it on my blog.
I am a confident person, but there's something about not living up to people's expectations of you whether you expect them are not. It feels weird being one of only two disabled people in Demi Lovato sound check and asking a question feeling like everyone is looking at you… Judging you. They expect you not say anything just because you're in a wheelchair, let alone say more than three words. There are stereotypes of disabled people, I probably break all of them, but I still feel like I am sometimes overlooked.So I do everything I can to get noticed because I know I will be the last to be noticed.
This young woman is the sweetest thing. She struggles to keep her life as normal and active as possible. She like myself does not feel sorry for herself. She wants to be accepted as a "normal" person who happens to be in a wheelchair.
Don't we all have disabilities? Ours are just visible which makes many people uncomfortable.
I am a confident person, but there's something about not living up to people's expectations of you whether you expect them are not. It feels weird being one of only two disabled people in Demi Lovato sound check and asking a question feeling like everyone is looking at you… Judging you. They expect you not say anything just because you're in a wheelchair, let alone say more than three words. There are stereotypes of disabled people, I probably break all of them, but I still feel like I am sometimes overlooked.So I do everything I can to get noticed because I know I will be the last to be noticed.
This young woman is the sweetest thing. She struggles to keep her life as normal and active as possible. She like myself does not feel sorry for herself. She wants to be accepted as a "normal" person who happens to be in a wheelchair.
Don't we all have disabilities? Ours are just visible which makes many people uncomfortable.
Friday, December 2, 2011
TheFlyLady's technique and was a success.. I did each task for 10-15 minutes each not fretting that it took me more than 10 minutes tocomplete a task. It's normal for me to take longer doings things than someone without CP. I worked for roughly 2 hours using 4 of those 15 minutes for resting between tasks so my true work time was 1 hour. Here's a list of how it laid out:
1) Got items and areas ready (tools together & moved rugs & emptied kitchen trash)
2) Swept all tile floors ... entry way, kitchen, 2 bathrooms
3) Rested
4) Steam moped entry way and kitchen (2 issues here...ran out of time & too tires to steam mop bathrooms. That will have to be a separate task)
5) Rested
6) Spot cleaned kitchen rug
7) Rested (6&7 were actually done together, I sat & spot cleaned & rested while the spot remover was working) this took roughly 30 minutes.
8) Cleaned kitchen counter tops, backsplash, appliance surfaces
9) Rested
10)Put rugs back in place, cleaning supplies back.
While I was exhausted and my back was hurting I was encouraged with my accomplishment. I did strain a muscle in my back while mopping. However I believe that can be managed by my learning how to stand and control the mop without twisting.
I must stress that my back is much stronger now thanks to CrossFit. Today was my CrossFit (workout) day so while there I rolled on a styrofoam roller which help my back immensely.
1) Got items and areas ready (tools together & moved rugs & emptied kitchen trash)
2) Swept all tile floors ... entry way, kitchen, 2 bathrooms
3) Rested
4) Steam moped entry way and kitchen (2 issues here...ran out of time & too tires to steam mop bathrooms. That will have to be a separate task)
5) Rested
6) Spot cleaned kitchen rug
7) Rested (6&7 were actually done together, I sat & spot cleaned & rested while the spot remover was working) this took roughly 30 minutes.
8) Cleaned kitchen counter tops, backsplash, appliance surfaces
9) Rested
10)Put rugs back in place, cleaning supplies back.
While I was exhausted and my back was hurting I was encouraged with my accomplishment. I did strain a muscle in my back while mopping. However I believe that can be managed by my learning how to stand and control the mop without twisting.
I must stress that my back is much stronger now thanks to CrossFit. Today was my CrossFit (workout) day so while there I rolled on a styrofoam roller which help my back immensely.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Cleaning
It's always been hard for me to clean. Even in my younger years I would do a little and lay down then do a little more. This was due to back pain. Most of us with CP (if not all) have scoliosis which is curvature of the spine.
Even though I'm able to work out three times a week, I still can't do house work. My entire body hurts instead of just my back. This dumps the responsibility on my husband who is a saint. Well thanks to a friend I've been introduced to TheFlyLady. I am so excited. This woman has inspired me to give housekeeping another shot. TheFlyLady says to do a chore for 10 minutes (use a timer) then move to another chore, even if your not finished. You do this for 70 minutes. I dedided I can do this even if a few of those 10 minutes are used for resting and I do this for 90 minutes. Tomorrow I will let you know how it goes. Thanks Audrey for linking me to this fantastic website.
Even though I'm able to work out three times a week, I still can't do house work. My entire body hurts instead of just my back. This dumps the responsibility on my husband who is a saint. Well thanks to a friend I've been introduced to TheFlyLady. I am so excited. This woman has inspired me to give housekeeping another shot. TheFlyLady says to do a chore for 10 minutes (use a timer) then move to another chore, even if your not finished. You do this for 70 minutes. I dedided I can do this even if a few of those 10 minutes are used for resting and I do this for 90 minutes. Tomorrow I will let you know how it goes. Thanks Audrey for linking me to this fantastic website.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Long Lost Friend
A few days ago I received a facebook friend request from a childhood friend. Not a girl from my hometown. This girl lived in my cousin's town. Whenever we went to visit my grandparents and cousins she and I always played together. This is the main reason I LOVE facebook... reconnecting!
Anyway this friend works with my cousin's daughter. When she made the connection she asked my 2nd cousin about me. My 2nd cousin was asking about our childhood friendship and what all we did. The most profound question was concerning my ability to keep up , assumming our play would have been "slowed down" due to my abilities. My friend's response was " Marty had no problem keeping up, I did not see her disability."
As I thought about this and my 2nd cousins questions and intrigue I realized that my cousin's daughter really doesn't remember me when I was totally mobile. Seven years ago when I was in MS helping plan the funeral for my aunt I sprained my right ankle & the Dr wouldn't let me put any weight on it. Since I can't use crutches I ended up in a wheelchair. From that point on I've had mobility issues because I sprained that ankle again when it was almost healed. Within months of my ankle finally healing I had a wreck that broke my "good" foot. It took one and a half years after breaking my foot to become mobile with a cane. I've been fighting and struggling to gain the best mobility I can and it's constantly improving.
I'm sharing this because I know at this point in my life my disability is extremely obvious. Yes, this bothers me...I let my pride get in the way. This is something I work on daily. My point is everyone has a disability of some kind. If we ourselves don't see them ...then others won't.
Anyway this friend works with my cousin's daughter. When she made the connection she asked my 2nd cousin about me. My 2nd cousin was asking about our childhood friendship and what all we did. The most profound question was concerning my ability to keep up , assumming our play would have been "slowed down" due to my abilities. My friend's response was " Marty had no problem keeping up, I did not see her disability."
As I thought about this and my 2nd cousins questions and intrigue I realized that my cousin's daughter really doesn't remember me when I was totally mobile. Seven years ago when I was in MS helping plan the funeral for my aunt I sprained my right ankle & the Dr wouldn't let me put any weight on it. Since I can't use crutches I ended up in a wheelchair. From that point on I've had mobility issues because I sprained that ankle again when it was almost healed. Within months of my ankle finally healing I had a wreck that broke my "good" foot. It took one and a half years after breaking my foot to become mobile with a cane. I've been fighting and struggling to gain the best mobility I can and it's constantly improving.
I'm sharing this because I know at this point in my life my disability is extremely obvious. Yes, this bothers me...I let my pride get in the way. This is something I work on daily. My point is everyone has a disability of some kind. If we ourselves don't see them ...then others won't.
Friday, November 25, 2011
I'm a nervous wreck and don't know why! Anyone with CP can probably relate to this feeling. It's like my internal body needs be be free from the bones and skin. I'm having to bite my tongue not to scream. The more I try to control my nerves, the worse it gets. My arm is drawn up against me in pain. As I struggle to straighten it, my arm feels better but quickly draws up again. This is the time to go to the drugs but I want to beat it without the drugs. Sometimes I can. Not so sure today.
As a child I went through this (the nervousness) but don't remember the pain. I do remember everyone laughing at me for being so jumpy. It was embarrassing. I couldn't explain why I was jumpy. At some point my nervousness did get better. I don't remember it being too bad in college, maybe it was and I just don't remember. As I adjusted to work environments I seemed to be able to control it. Maybe it was the same but I handled it better and my friends and co-workers took my lead on how I dealt with situation.
I do remember one day as I walked though the promenade of the bank building a janitor actually commented to me that he was proud of me. The fact that I could be home on disability yet chose to work. I thanked him. I understood what he meant yet he did hurt my feelings.
My sister had told me that my disability was barely noticeable and of course it was more obvious when I was tired. The fact that the janitor "noticed" I had a disability it what really bothered me.
I got a little of track here but surprisingly as I was writing this my body has relaxed a little. The key...STAY BUSY. I just learned that. As long as I'm focused on something my nervousness declines.
As a child I went through this (the nervousness) but don't remember the pain. I do remember everyone laughing at me for being so jumpy. It was embarrassing. I couldn't explain why I was jumpy. At some point my nervousness did get better. I don't remember it being too bad in college, maybe it was and I just don't remember. As I adjusted to work environments I seemed to be able to control it. Maybe it was the same but I handled it better and my friends and co-workers took my lead on how I dealt with situation.
I do remember one day as I walked though the promenade of the bank building a janitor actually commented to me that he was proud of me. The fact that I could be home on disability yet chose to work. I thanked him. I understood what he meant yet he did hurt my feelings.
My sister had told me that my disability was barely noticeable and of course it was more obvious when I was tired. The fact that the janitor "noticed" I had a disability it what really bothered me.
I got a little of track here but surprisingly as I was writing this my body has relaxed a little. The key...STAY BUSY. I just learned that. As long as I'm focused on something my nervousness declines.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Todays's WOD (workout of day)
Row 750 meters
50 Situps
50 DUs (for me 12 in Step -Ups)
25 Push ups --mine are cheats but hey...they're pushups
Row 750 Meters
Thought I was going to die...but did it. Don't remember the time. Most were around 10- 12 mins
I'm thinking mine was 24:09. I know it was over 20:00.
I believe this was a 1st for me. We usually scale back the #'s for my workout...didn't on this one. YEA!!
When I started at CrossFit I couldn't even do one sit-up and today I did 50 in one whack!!
How can this be bad for someone with CP? Yes, we're slower and have to make adjustments. BUT...my core muscles are obviously much stronger (basically didn't exist when I started) and my back muscles are stronger. My spine is holding in place. When I complain about pain to my chiropractor, in most cases my back is not out. It's related to a muscles that needs to be worked. One major trick I've learned at CrossFit is to use a ball (cricket, lacrosse, tennis) and lay on it moving it around on the muscles while moving the muscle. This is extremely painful but the after effects are awesome.
Row 750 meters
50 Situps
50 DUs (for me 12 in Step -Ups)
25 Push ups --mine are cheats but hey...they're pushups
Row 750 Meters
Thought I was going to die...but did it. Don't remember the time. Most were around 10- 12 mins
I'm thinking mine was 24:09. I know it was over 20:00.
I believe this was a 1st for me. We usually scale back the #'s for my workout...didn't on this one. YEA!!
When I started at CrossFit I couldn't even do one sit-up and today I did 50 in one whack!!
How can this be bad for someone with CP? Yes, we're slower and have to make adjustments. BUT...my core muscles are obviously much stronger (basically didn't exist when I started) and my back muscles are stronger. My spine is holding in place. When I complain about pain to my chiropractor, in most cases my back is not out. It's related to a muscles that needs to be worked. One major trick I've learned at CrossFit is to use a ball (cricket, lacrosse, tennis) and lay on it moving it around on the muscles while moving the muscle. This is extremely painful but the after effects are awesome.
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