Wednesday, November 20, 2013

the yin and yang of days

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know that one of my passions is healthy
 cooking and eating. I'm also a strong believer in exercise to keep one healthy, 
but I still really struggle with that one -  as in getting enough exercise. I also know
 that no matter how well we take care of our bodies, something is going to go wrong
 once in awhile. Last month, I started having some shoulder pain. I didn't really
 think anything of it. It'd come and go. But then it started to get worse, especially when 
moving my arm behind me, like to put on my seat belt or when getting dressed.
The pain was mostly in the front part of my shoulder and a little down my arm. 


I saw an orthopedic doctor yesterday and had x-rays and an exam. I was diagnosed
 with rotator cuff impingement. Common in people that do a lot of overhead work 
or swimmers and pitchers (I am neither), but also common in middle-aged people.
 I'll be starting physical therapy tomorrow and I have to go 2-3 days/week for six
 weeks. I've been to physical therapy in past years for my back. It is not fun. And it
 takes up  a lot of time. I'm feeling pretty bummed about this. I also want to get acupuncture 
treatments (I'm a strong believer in holistic and non-drug treatment whenever possible) 
but Brian's insurance doesn't cover acupuncture anymore. Doesn't that figure? I love
 how these insurance companies will pay for drug treatment (don't get me started on 
Big Pharma!) but not alternative, non-harmful treatments that actually cure the problem 
instead of just masking it. Of course I know why - neither drug companies nor 
health insurance companies benefit financially. Off my soap box now...long story short,
 I found an acupuncture place that might be able to work with me on a sliding scale. 
It just might be doable. I also have some other medical tests coming up and so
does Brian, so I've been feeling a bit bummed about all this lately. But, enough of
that stuff...I do not want to dwell on the negative.

So! Now for some happy news: Jemma is hosting a Tis The Season Blog Tour 
coming up December 9-14 and I will be one of the blogs on that tour!  Each day
 will feature a different blogger - some of whom you may be familiar with; others
 may be new to you. I think it'll be fun to see different homes, pretty Christmas 
decor, perhaps some holiday recipes, and to make some new blogger friends. 


And around my home today...remember the bland cork board in my kitchen where
I wanted to do something with vintage recipes? I had thought of putting criss-cross
 ribbon on the bulletin board, but then had a better idea.
 

 I covered it with scrapbook paper! Much better, yes? The colors are
bright and cheery and match my kitchen. Something simple that even this
non-crafter could do!


Happy hump day, everyone. 
 

33 comments:

  1. I am sorry to hear about your shoulder. I had to have rotator cuff surgery a couple of years ago and it was very not a fun thing. I hope that your therapy will resolve your issue so it does not get worse. Sending you healing thoughts.

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    1. That's right, I remember when you had your shoulder surgery! I hope my shoulder problems don't lead to that! Thanks for the healing thoughts.

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  2. Sorry about the injury. No fun, I know. Not fun getting old either. Not for the faint of heart. Don't get me started on insurance either. I will be in bankruptcy court tomorrow because of those particular folks.
    Brenda

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    1. I know you know about injuries too, Brenda with all you've gone through - and are still going through - with your ankle. I am so sorry about you having to file bankruptcy because of insurance crap.

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  3. I feel so bad for you. I hope the PT and acupuncture helps. Is the acupuncture done by an M.D.? I know a good soak in epsom salts helps the pain, too. And I will keep you and Brian in my prayers with the additional medical problems you have been having.

    I like the board with the recipes! That scrapbook paper comes in handy!! And how neat you will be in the tour. Does this mean you will be decorating?! :)

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. Acupuncture isn't done by a MD - they would have no idea how to do that. Acupuncture is done by a certified acupuncturist. In this case with the shoulder impingement, a soak in epsom salts probably wouldn't help. They recommend ice instead. Thanks for the prayers! Yes, I will be decorating for Christmas. Not until December and not much though. ;-)

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  4. Melanie- So sorry to read about your shoulder. I had some issues last year with a frozen shoulder and had to have physical therapy. My mother is a big believer in acupuncture and I really want to give it a try too. I dropped in earlier when I found out you will be one of the bloggers participating in Tis The Season to follow you and am looking forward to seeing what you share. Feel better!

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    1. Acupuncture helped tremendously with my back problems and another time, some nerve/tingling problems in my wrist. I have several friends and relatives that have had acupuncture treatments for all sorts of problems. Give it a try if you get a chance!

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  5. I'm sorry to read about your shoulder. I've had physical therapy for an elbow injury and I agree, it's not fun. I hope you're good as new very soon. How exciting about the blog tour! That sounds like a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing your turn in the tour. The bulletin board looks great, I really love what you did with it.

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    1. Thanks for your compliments on my bulletin board and your sympathies on my shoulder. I think once December hits, I'll be more in the mood for Christmas, especially with the upcoming blog tour. I like that it'll feature some of us "smaller" bloggers.

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  6. It's been almost two years since I had a couple of months' worth of PT, and I still do the exercises they taught me when I feel things tightening up again. Hope your therapy goes well and solves the problem.
    I'm looking forward to the Christmas blog tour you're participating in!

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  7. 1. so sorry about your shoulder. Steve had to have a complete shoulder replacement and is still recuperating in terms of mobility after nearly a year.
    2. congratulations on being on the home tour - can't wait to see it all.

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    1. I remember when you talked about Steve having the shoulder surgery. OW. Thanks for the congrats!

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  8. My husband had the same problem with his shoulder. Some PT and at home exercises have helped. It sure it better than the surgery. I have heard that is a tough one to recuperate from

    I like the scrapbook paper on the cork board. It looks really cute.

    Debbi

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    1. Wow, from all the comments, it sounds like shoulder problems are really common! I guess it goes along with knee problems as we age too, huh?

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    2. Oh Yes! My husband has had both knees replaced. Not fun!

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  9. Hello Melanie,
    So nice to meet you. I will stop on by to visit you during the blog tour. It should be fun.

    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

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  10. That is so cute with the scrapbook paper!

    I hope your shoulder heals quickly. I always had alot of back pain when I was young and of course back then health insurance did not pay for chiropractic which was what helped at the time.

    I'll visit your tour :)





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    1. I've had chiropractic treatment for back pain - for many years! And three different chiros. Hope you'll like the tour...I think it'll be fun.

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  11. Shoulder injuries are no fun (says the woman who separated first one, then the other--just two months later!) PT was a lifesaver--inconvenient, and expensive, for sure. BUT definitely beat developing frozen shoulder and then needing surgery! Do your PT exercises!!!

    I love your old recipes displayed, but I'd worry about them fading being near the window.

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    1. Thanks for the heads-up on the shoulder exercises! I certainly will be a "good girl" and do them - I definitely don't want surgery! Thanks also for the warning about the recipes...never even thought about that. I think I'll spray them with a sealer.

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  12. I hope you'll feel better soon. In France as well, natural remedies are not covered, and it really seem stupid to me, as they keep telling us we shouldn't take too many pills!

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    1. It is really stupid, Magali - and makes no sense except for the fact that Big Pharma controls everything and the bottom line is lining their pockets. If people followed more alternative, natural treatments, the drug companies would lose money!

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  13. Hi Melanie,

    How did this happen to you? You are not part of that target group who are prone to such injuries, don't get it! Interestingly, I, too, have been suffering from aches and pains, not in my shoulder like you, but my left wrist, all the way up my arm, and especially around my elbow. It may be due to the extra hours of blogging I have been doing recently, I don't know. So, I decided to BACK AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER, a little, to see how things go. My husband bought me a wrist support, which seemed to help. Also, I had been doing extra cleaning for a couple of days and I think all that ringing out of dishcloths, rags, etc., may have been too much! I hope you get better fast as it can be so very painful.

    Looking forward to our Tis the Season Blog Tour!

    Happy Thanksgiving next week!

    Poppy

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    1. How did this happen to me? Simply put, middle-age. Parts start to wear out!

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  14. Melanie,
    So sorry about your shoulder, it's not a lot of fun! Hope you feel better soon! Your bulletin board turned out so cute, love the paper you chose, perfect for a kitchen!
    Looking forward to the holiday tour. Thanks for stopping by!
    Rebecca

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    1. Glad you like the bulletin board - the colors on that paper go well in my kitchen, too!

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  15. Hi Melanie,
    I saw that you're one of the Tis the Season tour and wanted to meet you. I'm so excited about being a part of it. I'm sorry that you're having this shoulder problem and hope that something helps. I like to go the natural way too. It constantly amazes me that insurance would pay for the Lyrica my doctor tried to give me, with all the dangerous side effects, but it will not pay for the prescription vitamin Metnax that I take instead, at $200 for 3 months, with no dangerous side effects.

    I'm glad that your mother and sister are okay after their frightening accident. That is something to be very thankful for. I started to follow you and then saw that I must have previously followed you. I won't lose you this time so I'm adding you to my blogroll now.

    See you on the tour,
    Dewena

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    1. Hi Dewena - it's nice to meet you, too! I'm not surprised at all to hear about what your insurance will pay for (that Lyrica is a "nasty" drug - like you said, it has a lot of dangerous side effects). It's because the insurance companies and doctors get kick-backs from prescription drugs. I've not only done a lot of research on this topic, but I used to work for a major drug company in the sales department and saw first-hand how it was all about the marketing and profit-making, consumer be damned. I look forward to getting to know you better and seeing what you come up with for the blog tour!

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    2. *AND I used to work for....not "but". Typo.

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  16. Love the cork board! It looks really really nice.

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Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind comment - I read and appreciate each one!