Well, I decided to take some time off from blogging but am now ready to go again. Not much has changed in my world with regards to my scoliosis. I'm terrible at sticking with exercise plans so I'm still struggling with finding something that I truly enjoy. I don't believe that my curve has increased since my x-rays last year but I plan on getting another set done this fall for comparison.
Other than that, I'm still looking for any doctor (other than a surgeon) in Calgary that knows anything about scoliosis in adults and how to deal with it. I did go to the National Spine Care Clinic and saw a physiotherapist there but again it was the usual "here are some exercises to do at home" bit. And then "come back and see me in a month and we'll see how you did". Sadly, that doesn't work for me. There's no motivation for me in that as I don't seem to mind disappointing them and I'm so used to disappointing myself on the issue of my back that it's not sinking in anymore. Very frustrating!
So I guess the biggest thing I'm trying to overcome now is the lack of motivation for making my physical life better. I'm afraid that it would take some major wake-up call for me to become truly motivated to work as hard as is necessary to make my back better. The lack of money to find the best people to help with this process is extremely limiting as well. I'm still working on the mental side of this disease and until I overcome that, I'm stuck.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, September 01, 2006
Long time, no post
Wow has it been a while since I've posted anything! To follow-up on the whole x-ray fiasco, I was finally able to get my doctor to fax a new request to the clinic so that I could get my x-rays done. Unfortunately, the new x-rays were not comparable to the old ones since they were measured differently so there's no real way to know if my back is better or worse. In any case, I now have a baseline to work from so I guess that's better than nothing.
A few months after getting my new x-rays, I visited a physiotherapist at the National Spine Care clinic here in Calgary and essentially his diagnosis was exactly as expected: I need to get myself into better physical shape so that my body can support my back regardless of what condition it's in. So with that in mind, I purchased an annual pass to my local pool (luckily only a 5-minute walk from my front door and partially funded by my former company's fitness program) and tracked down a copy of the Yoga for Scoliosis DVD. I've only been to the pool a few times, first doing lengths and yesterday, the Deep Water workout. I think that a combination of Aquacise, Deep Water training and lengths might work out best for me. I find that for now, I have trouble doing lengths as I get winded easily but the workouts aren't as strenuous in a cardiovascular sense (although they are still good for that) and they are a little easier at this point. I've done the DVD twice now and it's OK. I've done yoga before so at least it's not completely new to me but it can be difficult as well especially the straight-leg exercises as my hamstrings are extremely tight.
So with renewed motivation, I'm embarking on the road to better fitness. I have another appointment at the Spine Care clinic in November so I'm determined to be in better shape by then.
A few months after getting my new x-rays, I visited a physiotherapist at the National Spine Care clinic here in Calgary and essentially his diagnosis was exactly as expected: I need to get myself into better physical shape so that my body can support my back regardless of what condition it's in. So with that in mind, I purchased an annual pass to my local pool (luckily only a 5-minute walk from my front door and partially funded by my former company's fitness program) and tracked down a copy of the Yoga for Scoliosis DVD. I've only been to the pool a few times, first doing lengths and yesterday, the Deep Water workout. I think that a combination of Aquacise, Deep Water training and lengths might work out best for me. I find that for now, I have trouble doing lengths as I get winded easily but the workouts aren't as strenuous in a cardiovascular sense (although they are still good for that) and they are a little easier at this point. I've done the DVD twice now and it's OK. I've done yoga before so at least it's not completely new to me but it can be difficult as well especially the straight-leg exercises as my hamstrings are extremely tight.
So with renewed motivation, I'm embarking on the road to better fitness. I have another appointment at the Spine Care clinic in November so I'm determined to be in better shape by then.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Some progress finally!
Well I finally made some progress on the road to developing my own exercise program for my kyphoscoliosis. I kidnapped my mom yesterday for about an hour to help me finish my self-assessment to determine what exercises I should be doing. Now that that's done, I can start on the exercises and hopefully get my back into better shape along with the rest of my body.
I did have a partial setback in my quest however. I had asked my doctor to refer me to get new x-rays and I finally had some time this Saturday to get this done. Except when I walked into the clinic, I found out from the technician that my doctor had not been specific enough on the form for the tech to know what x-rays to do. She told me that there are three sections of the back and she didn't know which one or ones she was supposed to x-ray. Having looked at the form myself, I figured that the fact that it said "kyphoscoliosis" would make it fairly obvious that my entire back needed to be done. The tech then repeated that she couldn't do them because it would be illegal. Needless to say, I was rather ticked off by this but at my doctor, not the tech since I do understand what she's saying. But really - how stupid! So I called my doctor this morning to get some kind of clarification so that I can finally get the x-rays done. I still haven't received a call back however so who knows when I'll be able to finish this.
My doctor should have received my old x-rays by now (from about 5 years ago) but she needs the new ones, obviously, in order to make a comparison. However, who knows if I have to follow-up once she receives the new ones or if she will take the initiative and call me in to discuss them. I'm really curious to know how much worse my back is now since it seems to be quite a bit worse to me. I still believe that the real problem lies in the leg-length difference that I have and I think they should concentrate on how to make that better too.
I did have a partial setback in my quest however. I had asked my doctor to refer me to get new x-rays and I finally had some time this Saturday to get this done. Except when I walked into the clinic, I found out from the technician that my doctor had not been specific enough on the form for the tech to know what x-rays to do. She told me that there are three sections of the back and she didn't know which one or ones she was supposed to x-ray. Having looked at the form myself, I figured that the fact that it said "kyphoscoliosis" would make it fairly obvious that my entire back needed to be done. The tech then repeated that she couldn't do them because it would be illegal. Needless to say, I was rather ticked off by this but at my doctor, not the tech since I do understand what she's saying. But really - how stupid! So I called my doctor this morning to get some kind of clarification so that I can finally get the x-rays done. I still haven't received a call back however so who knows when I'll be able to finish this.
My doctor should have received my old x-rays by now (from about 5 years ago) but she needs the new ones, obviously, in order to make a comparison. However, who knows if I have to follow-up once she receives the new ones or if she will take the initiative and call me in to discuss them. I'm really curious to know how much worse my back is now since it seems to be quite a bit worse to me. I still believe that the real problem lies in the leg-length difference that I have and I think they should concentrate on how to make that better too.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Feeling better
Well no attacks this week although there has been the possibility of them a few times. I seemed to have staved them off by taking my naproxen and/or staying in the same position for a while. I have nothing new to report on the customized exercise program yet but I really hope to get this going very soon. I do want to get better but there is always something holding me back. Like I've said before, I'm sure it's fear of the unknown, so to speak. Not knowing how much it will hurt to move the curve back into a more normal position is scary. If it's anything like the attacks themselves, I'm not sure I could handle it. However, how will I know if I don't try right?
I have become convinced within the last year or so that my rib cage has been distorted enough to be affecting my digestive system now. Without going into the gory details, let's just say that I can digest just fine, I just can't expel as easily as I used to. I have a rather fast metabolism and could easily eat every 3 or 4 hours. However, metabolism doesn't help to move the waste any further than the stomach. Although I have told my doctors this, they don't seem to be as concerned as I am and recommend that I eat more fibre. Well, I have changed my eating somewhat and eat high fibre cereal every morning. But scoliosis has a way of overtaking any other health issues I encounter to the point where I get used to whatever it is I'm doing to make things better. For example, I could (and sometimes do) eat the same cereal every morning for a week and it would be effective for a only few days. It's the same with colds and the flu. I haven't had either in years since the scoliosis seems to override any other problems that come along. I usually get sinus infections a couple of times a year that would take me out of commission for a week but I haven't had one in about 7 months or so now.
It's hard to say for sure that the scoliosis is responsible for all these things; maybe I just have a fantastic immune system. Although, comparing to the past, I used to get colds just like everyone else as well as the flu about once a year. It's a pretty convincing argument in any case.
I hope to get my x-rays done this weekend. I tracked down my old ones, which were nearly 5 years ago, in about 10 minutes through only two phone calls. I was happy to find that it wasn't nearly as complicated a process to find them as I had expected. In any case, my old x-rays will be sent to my doctor by Feb. 1 so she should have both in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, she will then call me in to show me the difference. If not, I will just go in myself and ask to see them. I still can't understand why I'm not allowed to keep a copy. They are my x-rays with my back on them. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
I have become convinced within the last year or so that my rib cage has been distorted enough to be affecting my digestive system now. Without going into the gory details, let's just say that I can digest just fine, I just can't expel as easily as I used to. I have a rather fast metabolism and could easily eat every 3 or 4 hours. However, metabolism doesn't help to move the waste any further than the stomach. Although I have told my doctors this, they don't seem to be as concerned as I am and recommend that I eat more fibre. Well, I have changed my eating somewhat and eat high fibre cereal every morning. But scoliosis has a way of overtaking any other health issues I encounter to the point where I get used to whatever it is I'm doing to make things better. For example, I could (and sometimes do) eat the same cereal every morning for a week and it would be effective for a only few days. It's the same with colds and the flu. I haven't had either in years since the scoliosis seems to override any other problems that come along. I usually get sinus infections a couple of times a year that would take me out of commission for a week but I haven't had one in about 7 months or so now.
It's hard to say for sure that the scoliosis is responsible for all these things; maybe I just have a fantastic immune system. Although, comparing to the past, I used to get colds just like everyone else as well as the flu about once a year. It's a pretty convincing argument in any case.
I hope to get my x-rays done this weekend. I tracked down my old ones, which were nearly 5 years ago, in about 10 minutes through only two phone calls. I was happy to find that it wasn't nearly as complicated a process to find them as I had expected. In any case, my old x-rays will be sent to my doctor by Feb. 1 so she should have both in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, she will then call me in to show me the difference. If not, I will just go in myself and ask to see them. I still can't understand why I'm not allowed to keep a copy. They are my x-rays with my back on them. Anyway, we'll see what happens.
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