Ouch!

I can safely say that last week was a whole new array of pain. My neck gave out on me and although my doctor had told me that it was coming, I kind of felt like a sitting duck. I was expecting my neck to blow up, but there was nothing I could really do to prevent it. Why? Well, my neck is the reason I am getting breast reduction surgery during the summer. Even though I have herniated disks in my back and neck, I had never really felt this much pain from it. I found out I had the herniated disks on an MRI for a different cause.  So this past week was my first taste of it. I was highly medicated and my hands were numb for 3 days. I changed my entire routine. I didn’t really move my neck at all and I changed my sleep position (which kind of prevented me from getting a good night sleep). I stopped working out and my days consisted of painfully strolling to class and laying down for the rest of the day.

So what should I do now?

For the first time in a long time, I am being proactive about this. I’m getting REAL help. I’m starting physical therapy treatment hopefully next week and it will help straighten my neck muscles until I get surgery in the summer.

The fact that this had an effect in every aspect of my life made me realize that I can do something to get my body in better physical health, so that everyday tasks don’t seem so hard.

As for dancing, I am able to dance this week because apart from scheduling physical therapy, I have been getting back massages and alternating heat and cold packs. I was also taking painkillers, which I am no longer taking. They switched me to muscle relaxant pills that help loosen up tense muscles.

I’m very glad that the horrible pain is over, now I need to keep it that way!