Hello from cloud 9 everybody!
I convinced John to make me some pumpkin custard oats for breakfast, and he just doubled the batch and shared with me. Yay – I got him to eat more superfoods!
I got in to see the doctor this morning. The pain had lessened enough so I can get around some, but my knee is numb and my thigh is really painful still. I asked John to take a picture of me in the parking lot on my crutches.
First time in my life ever on crutches. So, here is the deal on my injury: I herniated a disk in my back. When I twisted around, I pulled/popped the disk, which compressed the sciatic nerve. That’s why the pain started in my back and gradually moved down into my leg and my knee, and which is causing the numbness there. Fun, fun. So, this is going to take a lot longer to recover since it is more than just a muscle pull. I can progress activities as tolerated, and the doctor gave me some Vicodin and Flexeril. 😯 😯 I refused the prednisone. Former fatty does *not* want to take a steroid, thankyouverymuch. I would never re-lose that weight.
Of course, I do have to say that I have some real fear here about not being active. I have to be so very careful about what I am eating because I am burning so few calories not moving around. I made my way downstairs for the first time in a couple days, and the first thing I see is an open bag of chocolate chips on the counter. Of course I hobbled over and snagged some like the addict I am. John had to put them back up high again. Who knows what he was eating downstairs when I couldn’t get down there 
I know that I am not going to wake up 100 pounds heavier. I know that. My rational mind knows that. But the fear is there, you know?
I actually was able to make my own lunch today! I kept it simple and somewhat random. Tortilla with some Nuttzo and jam as my sandwich.
I really like the Nuttzo, I have to say. It’s pricey, but quite good. It took me forever to make this while leaning on my crutches, and then I had to have John come carry my plate for me. I cannot tell you how hard this is for a fiercely independent woman….
I have been working some today to make up for Wednesday, but it is a relaxed kind of working. Those are good days, don’t you agree? Especially when a snack arrives for me:
Caffeine and chocolate!
200 calorie snack, which is just about perfect. And really is perfect taste wise 😀
I also wanted to again thank every one you from the bottom of my heart for all your comments and emails the last couple days. I was bowled over by them, truly. I am so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life, virtually and physically!
Dinner time came, and I was able to work on my salad bowl. I haven’t had a BBQ chicken salad in awhile!
After dinner, I was feeling pretty good what with the meds and all, so we went out to pick up some food for Pixie and make a pit stop:
This is the reduced fat berry coffee cake at Starbies. It’s pretty good. It was so great to get out of the house, too, although I am pretty slow. 😀
Here’s to a good night’s sleep!
Question: Have you ever had sciatica symptoms?
Hi Lori. I’m glad you’ve got a diagnosis so you can have a clear idea of the way forward. Good on you for saying no to prednisone. My lovely and very gentle partner had to take it a couple of years ago, and within a week he was yelling at the dogs and punching walls :0
I have had sciatic problems weirdly linked to my upper thorasic spine for several years – it took me out of the gym for 3 years and I regained all the weight I had diligently lost. But I don’t think that’s going to happen to you! My only advice (for what it’s worth)is listen very carefully to your body and do everything as incrementally as possible, as well as consider exercise regimes outside your preferred routines to accommodate the injury. I am fully recovered now, but for a long time I thought the damage was permanent. It didn’t help that I kept re-injuring myself by going really hard and fast instead of taking things carefully. Things changed for the better when I started doing water-based activities and gave the gym a miss for quite a while. All the best with it. You clearly have the will, the fitness and the emotional intelligence about yourself to overcome this.
.-= Jo´s last blog ..Easter recovery dinner =-.
Just wanted to say Get better soon. I love your blog, and I’m always so amazed by some of your exercise routines. We also share a love of coffe 🙂 Rest,relax,and very soon I’m sure you will be back at it again!Have a great week-end!
I once had stress fractures in my lower back that caused sciatica. It was the most painful experience of my life…the kind that made me want to vomit and/or punch in a wall. I sincerely hope your pain isn’t as bad as I had it and if it is, I hope that it heals VERY quickly! The drugs should help you cope though 🙂
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Holy scrapple batman! ~ Dave =-.
Oh, I’m glad you got to see the doctor, and have a definitive answer to what happened. I am not surprised that this is what it was. My back problem actually started with me noticing numbness and tingling in my legs! Then I noticed that my back hurt…
How bout physical therapy? Did the doctor mention that yet? I didn’t go for very long, but I learned a ton from the physical therapist, and then after that I started going to see Vicky, who also adjusts my exercises to suit my weak areas.
You are going to be okay though.
.-= debby´s last blog ..Mr. Monk May Have Been Misnamed =-.
Hey Lori! Glad you got a diagnosis and something to help manage the pain. Also glad that you seem to be feeling a bit better. No, I haven’t had sciatica trouble, but I used to have my back go out on me when I was carrying more weight. No fun, that. 🙁
.-= Pubsgal´s last blog ..Weekly Update, 4/7/10 =-.
I meant to add that I believe you’ll do fine, food-wise; in fact, you might start getting less hungry, since you’re not working out. I found this happened when I was sick and cut back on the workouts, and I never thought that would happen…now that I’ve eased back in, my appetite has increased and I’m finding it harder to stay within my calorie budget, even accounting for the exercise. :-/ Or maybe it was triggered by dinner last night, which was exceptionally tasty. 😉
.-= Pubsgal´s last blog ..Weekly Update, 4/7/10 =-.
I hope you continue to feel better. After my operations I found that I wasn’t very hungry so I actually lost a little weight while in recovery. You are aware about calories etc so I think you’ll do fine and not gain weight plus hopefully you won’t be out of commission long. I don’t have scatica that I know of just a bad lower back that sometimes acts up its been about 4 years now since my last episode:)
Take care of yourself and take it really easy and REST!
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Slip that leads to a Binge =-.
Well, I’m relieved you at least got some happy drugs to ease the pain 😉 Whenever I injure myself, I remind myself it’s God’s way of sloooowing me down. I’m go-go-go all the time that I never take two seconds to rest, so it seems he has to force it on me sometimes. Hang in there, nothing lasts forever. Even if you do put on a couple pounds while you’re healing, you won’t have to deal with them the rest of your life. Any excess weight will melt off once you’re back at ’em 🙂 I imagine your hunger levels will drop too, so over-eating shouldn’t be a problem! Take care of yourself! xoxo
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Flashyback Friday! =-.
I’ve never had sciata problems, but I know people who do. It can be very painful and uncomfortable! Have you thought of going to a chiropractor? I know a lot of people who have gotten help that way!
.-= Alissa´s last blog ..Weigh In Day =-.
Glad you made a trip to the Doctor! Still wishing you a speedy recovery!
.-= Ron´s last blog ..Busy week =-.
I pulled a muscle in my lower back that compressed my sciatica and it is so painful. It was right before we left on a trip to England for me to visit my brand new in-laws back in 2002. I was miserable but I limped on through and took a whole lot of Aleve. As soon as I returned home I visited a Chiropractor and after the first visit the pain was nearly gone. I heart Chiropractic! I can’t recommend it highly enough.
.-= Andra´s last blog ..No Weigh Friday =-.
Vicodin and Flexeril is quite a cocktail. I took the Flexeril the other day and it knocked me out and I usually have a high tolerance for drugs. I had scaitica pain one Christmas and it was awful but luckily it didn’t last more than a few days. Did they tell you to lie on a tennis ball? Hope you are feeling better soon. Take it easy. Glad John is taking good care of you.
So happy you’re on the mend!
I understand the weight concern, but as long as you keep blogging about your experience, you’ll have us to keep you in line. 🙂
Wish you hadn’t mentioned the choco chips. 🙂
.-= cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..For Your Consideration: A Day of Rest =-.
Hi Lori, just catching back up with you and I am glad you got a doctor to have a look at it but sorry you’re still in such pain! And I know what you mean about worrying about not being active – I know the only reason I maintain my weight is because of my activity so I would be scared too. So hang in there, I will be rooting for you. And you will get better and will be able to do your exercise again, so all is not lost.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..You know you’re a runner when… =-.
I’m sorry that this is going to take a bit longer to recover Lori. I understand your fear, I would have the same. If I don’t workout I just don’t lose weight or even gain. It’s essential in my lifestyle to exercise regurarly.
Take it easy sweety, I hope you feel better soon.
.-= Fran´s last blog ..A day in my life: Friday April 9th 2010 =-.
Lori, I was hoping the injury would be one that would come and go over the period of a couple of days, but it sounds like you are going to have to deal with this for a bit. Take care of yourself gal, and you are right to be adjusting the program early. While you aren’t going to wake up 100 pounds heavier, you do need to make adjustments so you don’t have a slip. I know you will handle this in an outstanding way, just like you do everything else.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Feeling the Burn =-.
Holy crap! You sue know how to exercise & you know how to get injured too. Noting but the best from you! 🙂 Sorry, I should not be making jokes! I so feel for you & understand you mindset. I get like that too & when I was down due to that dog attack a year plus ago, I felt the same way.
I sure hope you are better soon & back to your normal routine!!! No more turning while you are pushing around a eight bench, OK???!!!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Walk for Health and For Cancer =-.
You don’t have to justify an irrational fear of gaining weight. I understand.
.-= megan´s last blog ..Biking with my Girls =-.
Take care of yourself and get well soon! And your meals look just as delicious as always in spite of the crutches getting in the way! 🙂
.-= Karyn´s last blog ..Session two =-.
Sorry you are having so much trouble! It will pass, though. Probably just needs time to heal.
I’ve struggled with sciatic pain for 17 years. Started out with a muscle pull bad enough to send me to the emergency room, and devolved into a chronic issue which has causes pretty much constant (but very low-grade) pain. I was really out of shape and have degenerative back issues anyway, so I think my experience is pretty extreme.
It really sucks, though. It’s a very frustrating and awful (esp. when acute) type of pain.
.-= Laura (G.G.)´s last blog ..Boxing and Tire Flips? Who, Me? =-.
Well that sucks being laid up longer than a few days! Hope it’s not too long.
.-= John´s last blog ..Sleeping Beauty =-.
Oh man, I was thinking of you this past weekend but just got back online since Friday so wanted to check in. had sciatica with two of my pregnancies although I am *sure* you are in much more pain 🙁
All my best for a speedy recovery!
I am so sorry about your injury – that truly stinks! But please don’t worry about gaining weight – you will be fine. As much as you have been working out, your body can take a few days off.
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