Sadly, Nate has been dealing with another bout of intense pain this weekend. What we thought was slowly healing over the last few (5) months, has flared up worse than ever. Frustrating for us both as we looked at one another bewildered as there had been nothing different to cause such a change, and it happened so quickly!
So now we will begin pursuing additional counsel. Nate has been going to the chiropractor for the last 5 months starting at 2 x week and then had been reduced to 1 x week for the last month or so as adjustments were getting easier and he seemed to be responding to treatment.
He has an appointment scheduled with the family doctor a week from Tuesday, but it might be that we try and move that appointment up to this week if at all possible.
As a spouse, it sure isn't easy to see your loved one suffering. Options to try to "help" are so limited.
"Can I bring you more pain medicine?"
"Have you done your stretches? If not I can help..."
Today, after church I was on a quest requested by Nate for new pain medicine (as the Aleve no longer seems to making an impact) and a cane from Goodwill if they had one. However, after answering questions as to where Nate was, I collected an assortment of items from concerned friends including the business card for a massage therapist, a cane (checkmark), a ...uh...roller tube?...I'm not sure of the technical term...but it helps with stretching, and a set of crutches...just in case the cane was too short. Above all we know Nate is being prayed for by friends.
So while it's difficult to watch Nate be in pain, it's good to have the reminder of friends who love and care for us. So as we continue to pray for relief for Nate, we are not alone in our prayers, we are thankful for friends who are there to support us too.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Running Around in Circles
That's what I've been doing.
Really.
In many ways more than one, but what I'm referring to is my new gym routine. Nate and I find ourselves consistently at the Wellness Center in the mornings, and I find myself on the track. I decided to ease back into running....ever so slightly and cautiously.
I've had some running spurts in the past but they have not ended well. They have ended in pain. Mostly because I pushed myself more than I should have. Let's face it, I'm no marathon runner so training for one is not in my future.
However, I do like the way I feel after I run and I like to get my heart rate up more than what I can do with just walking.
So my approach this time has been slow and gradual all the way.
A while back I started with: walk a lap, run a lap, walk a lap, run a lap, and so on.
A few weeks ago I bumped it up slightly: walk a lap, run 2 laps, walk a lap, run 2 laps, etc.
Today, I raised the bar slightly again. I added an extra lap to the run sequence to total 3.
At each phase I'm very aware of every little ache because I know where it could lead...but my happy news is: No back pain!
So I will continue to run around in circles in the mornings, until further notice.
Really.
In many ways more than one, but what I'm referring to is my new gym routine. Nate and I find ourselves consistently at the Wellness Center in the mornings, and I find myself on the track. I decided to ease back into running....ever so slightly and cautiously.
I've had some running spurts in the past but they have not ended well. They have ended in pain. Mostly because I pushed myself more than I should have. Let's face it, I'm no marathon runner so training for one is not in my future.
However, I do like the way I feel after I run and I like to get my heart rate up more than what I can do with just walking.
So my approach this time has been slow and gradual all the way.
A while back I started with: walk a lap, run a lap, walk a lap, run a lap, and so on.
A few weeks ago I bumped it up slightly: walk a lap, run 2 laps, walk a lap, run 2 laps, etc.
Today, I raised the bar slightly again. I added an extra lap to the run sequence to total 3.
At each phase I'm very aware of every little ache because I know where it could lead...but my happy news is: No back pain!
So I will continue to run around in circles in the mornings, until further notice.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Fruits, Veggies, and Exercise....Oh My!
Nate's making dinner and playing soothing music (Thanks Nate!), which affords me the time to collect my thoughts, and then share them.
Not too long ago I think I might have mentioned that I was going to try smoothies for breakfast in the morning. Update: I think I might be on week 3-4. We were away for a week and then some around Christmas, and during our time away from home I did not keep up the smoothie routine. But upon our return I am back at it. And I have to say it's going better than I anticipated. I will typically do them 5 out of 7 days a week, and then if I have a morning that I really want something different I simply, change breakfast smoothie for lunch smoothie. And I am getting much more streamlined in my methods. I have presorted smoothie bags in the freezer with all the ingredients. So I simply dump in the blender and add water (and some days I add some yogurt too).
The effort of eating more veggies has also been successful. My last trip to the store I spent 90% of my time at the outer edges to keep to the fresh produce and less processed foods.
So all in all, I'm confident I am eating gobs more fruits and veggies then previously consumed pre-smoothie kick.
To top all of that, I have branched ever so slightly back into jogging. So I temper it with lots of walking and I am extremely aware of how I'm feeling and how my body is reacting. I've had my fill of the body breakdown due to running. Tendonitis, back issues, etc. No thanks. So I've just started with sets of walking and jogging: walk a lap, run 2 laps, walk a lap, run 2 laps....you get the idea.
And we've lightened up on the meat in our meals. I think tonight is our first night in....has it been all week?!...that we are having meat.
Man, now that I write it all down, our/my changes seem pretty significant. I think since I didn't try to tackle it all at once helps...it's been a slow evolution over the last few months. And I'm really grateful for Nate's support, willingness, and downright encouragement for us to eat better too. It's so much easier to make healthier meals when I don't feel like I'm depriving my hubby of "real food".
Here's to many more months and years of healthy living!
Not too long ago I think I might have mentioned that I was going to try smoothies for breakfast in the morning. Update: I think I might be on week 3-4. We were away for a week and then some around Christmas, and during our time away from home I did not keep up the smoothie routine. But upon our return I am back at it. And I have to say it's going better than I anticipated. I will typically do them 5 out of 7 days a week, and then if I have a morning that I really want something different I simply, change breakfast smoothie for lunch smoothie. And I am getting much more streamlined in my methods. I have presorted smoothie bags in the freezer with all the ingredients. So I simply dump in the blender and add water (and some days I add some yogurt too).
The effort of eating more veggies has also been successful. My last trip to the store I spent 90% of my time at the outer edges to keep to the fresh produce and less processed foods.
So all in all, I'm confident I am eating gobs more fruits and veggies then previously consumed pre-smoothie kick.
To top all of that, I have branched ever so slightly back into jogging. So I temper it with lots of walking and I am extremely aware of how I'm feeling and how my body is reacting. I've had my fill of the body breakdown due to running. Tendonitis, back issues, etc. No thanks. So I've just started with sets of walking and jogging: walk a lap, run 2 laps, walk a lap, run 2 laps....you get the idea.
And we've lightened up on the meat in our meals. I think tonight is our first night in....has it been all week?!...that we are having meat.
Man, now that I write it all down, our/my changes seem pretty significant. I think since I didn't try to tackle it all at once helps...it's been a slow evolution over the last few months. And I'm really grateful for Nate's support, willingness, and downright encouragement for us to eat better too. It's so much easier to make healthier meals when I don't feel like I'm depriving my hubby of "real food".
Here's to many more months and years of healthy living!
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