MRI results
The MRI test results were good. Apparently I have some mild osteoarthritis (which the doc said was like having a diagnosis of "grey hair"), but nothing that is impinging any nerves. There's no disc or nerve problems, and I don't need any injections or surgery. That means the pain is all muscular. That's a relief. I was worried that I had some structural issue that I was continuing to aggravate. It turns out that I just have very sensitive muscles, which I already knew.
He recommended that I stop working with the physical therapist as that has been aggravating the pain. Instead I should work on core stability exercises on my own, just much more gradually than the PT has been doing. Basically I need to be patient and go more slowly, and I'll get stronger again.
My plan now is to continue acupuncture and massage to manage the pain (Dr. K has a massage therapist with her again, so I should be able to get weekly massages!). I'll continue the set of at-home exercises the PT prescribed, and then add additional exercises as the pain improves.
In a few weeks I think I will also try swimming at the downtown YWCA for some aerobic exercise that doesn't involve walking. And when I am strong enough I want to give Pilates* a try, as I have heard that's great for developing core strength.
It's tempting to think that my experiment with trying physical therapy was a mistake, since the twice weekly vistis this past month both wore me out and made the problem worse. But, frankly, I got from it exactly what I wanted. I knew I needed to strengthen something, but I was completely lost about what sort of exercise program I needed. I now have a sheet of paper labeled "Pelvic Stability," on which are about a dozen different exercises. I also got some coaching from the therapist about paying attention to my body while I'm doing the exercises, and ways to modify the exercises so I can do them safely. AND the MRI was able to rule out any other structural problems, and give me peace of mind.
My real mistake was in stopping the acupuncture treatments when the pain stopped. But I felt odd asking the students to give me needles for a non-existent pain. Now I know I need to continue getting periodic back treatments whether I feel pain or not, as a preventative. I won't make the same mistake again.
For someone who has just been making this up as I go**, I think I'm doing pretty well.
*If anyone has any recommendations for beginner level Pilates videos, I would love to hear them.
**Somehow I feel the need for a fedora. And a whip.
He recommended that I stop working with the physical therapist as that has been aggravating the pain. Instead I should work on core stability exercises on my own, just much more gradually than the PT has been doing. Basically I need to be patient and go more slowly, and I'll get stronger again.
My plan now is to continue acupuncture and massage to manage the pain (Dr. K has a massage therapist with her again, so I should be able to get weekly massages!). I'll continue the set of at-home exercises the PT prescribed, and then add additional exercises as the pain improves.
In a few weeks I think I will also try swimming at the downtown YWCA for some aerobic exercise that doesn't involve walking. And when I am strong enough I want to give Pilates* a try, as I have heard that's great for developing core strength.
It's tempting to think that my experiment with trying physical therapy was a mistake, since the twice weekly vistis this past month both wore me out and made the problem worse. But, frankly, I got from it exactly what I wanted. I knew I needed to strengthen something, but I was completely lost about what sort of exercise program I needed. I now have a sheet of paper labeled "Pelvic Stability," on which are about a dozen different exercises. I also got some coaching from the therapist about paying attention to my body while I'm doing the exercises, and ways to modify the exercises so I can do them safely. AND the MRI was able to rule out any other structural problems, and give me peace of mind.
My real mistake was in stopping the acupuncture treatments when the pain stopped. But I felt odd asking the students to give me needles for a non-existent pain. Now I know I need to continue getting periodic back treatments whether I feel pain or not, as a preventative. I won't make the same mistake again.
For someone who has just been making this up as I go**, I think I'm doing pretty well.
*If anyone has any recommendations for beginner level Pilates videos, I would love to hear them.
**Somehow I feel the need for a fedora. And a whip.