The Cardiologist's Wife

Pimento Cheese, Not Your Grandma's Spread

Pimento cheese is one of those foods that has been so corrupted by the food industry that it has become synonymous with other crappy foods like Spam. I'm not even certain what store bought pimento cheese might contain, nor do I want to find out. It's a shame because pimento cheese can be a delightful treat, even if it does Read the full post…

Plum Good BBQ Sandwiches

In a few days it will officially be fall but the temperatures are still warm enough for me to continue swimming for a few more days. The breeze was a little cool but that didn't stop me from swimming several laps this morning and I felt great afterwards! Have you exercised lately? With fall's cooler temperatures and fewer insects, you Read the full post…

Shingles Vacine and Treatment

A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with shingles so I felt I should discuss this nasty virus once again. If you ever had chicken pox, you are at risk for getting shingles and believe me, you don't want it. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters that scab over and may take 4 weeks or more to heal. The Read the full post…

Vegetarian Tacos are muy delicioso!

There are times when I think I could easily become a vegetarian, especially when I try a new dish that is as good as the vegetarian tacos I had at Local Lime restaurant in Little Rock and the tofu fried rice at Sai Tai here in Jonesboro. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary this past weekend by spending Read the full post…

Midyear Health Check

Summer is winding down , the year is more than half way over and our January resolutions are long forgotten. It's time for a health reality check. First of all, how is your health lately? If you have enjoyed good health, are you thankful? Take some time to appreciate how wonderful it feels to be healthy, for your family to Read the full post…

Vacation Lessons For A Healthier Life

I'm back from a lovely beach vacation and I wish I was still there with all my heart. Wouldn't it be nice if our every day life was as nice as a vacation? If we could relax, eat well, sleep and exercise just enough without having to worry about bills, work, illnesses and school, our lives would be perfect. But Read the full post…

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Cracked Up Back

[ Post by Lisa Tedder ][ Post on July 16, 2013 ][ In Medical and Health Information ]

It’s official. I’ve cracked a bone in my back. My sacrum to be exact. I’ve been trying to figure out which child was responsible but they aren’t confessing yet. (Surely you remember the old nursery rhyme, step on a crack…..?). I guess I knew something had to be broken since I had so much trouble getting up and so much pain walking for a few days. The CT scan did indeed reveal what the X-rays couldn’t. The doctor said no rehab is necessary; it might cause more pain and damage than any good. He also said it could take up to six months to heal. Six Long Months.

So how does an active person handle being sidelined for an extended period? Well, that depends on the severity of the problem. In my case, the doctor told me to “let Pain be my guide”. That is, if it hurts, don’t do it. However, my friend who is a physical therapist, had a bit more advice. I need to be careful bending and lifting. Swimming is good for me and calcium tablets help the healing process. I was glad to hear that I could do some type of exercise as I don’t think I could be totally inactive for long and not go mad. It’s just too hard for me to sit still. The physical therapist also told me I could lift weights IF: 1. I used good form; 2. I had someone hand me the weights and didn’t bend over to pick them up; and 3. I used a lighter weight and was very careful.

Yeah! The thought of getting all out of shape was very depressing. Swimming slowly in the pool and not kicking very much has felt so good but I have not yet lifted weights. I’ve been sitting more than usual because walking and standing make my back hurt. I am happy to say that I have been mostly pain free the last couple of days except for first thing in the morning. So my advice for coping with an injury when you are used to being on the go is to first follow your doctor’s advice. Ignoring medical advice and trying to work through the pain may lead to more permanent damage. Also follow your physical therapist’s advice. They are highly trained and really do know how to get you back on track in the shortest time. Third, don’t sit on your butt and wallow in self pity or become a couch potato. There may be some activity you can do. Watch what you eat while you recuperate so you don’t gain any weight which would make getting back in shape later that much harder.

Use this time to try some new activities that you haven’t had time to do, maybe learn a language or take a painting class. Or you can tackle those tasks you keep putting off like organizing your tax file or weeding out old clothes from your closet and donating them. Keeping busy in a different way will make the time go faster till you can get back to your usual fitness routine.