Fall is Here

Anybody else love fall? Like a real Canadian, I just love the change of the seasons each year. Specifically fall means biking, hiking, running etc... in the amazing colours of the season. It also means football is getting serious and things are picking up.

As the kids head back to school (and karate, dancing, hockey etc...), make sure that you pick something that gets your juices flowing as well! Get into a new activity, make a date, get a hobby. Don't fall into the trap of sitting around every night watching reality tv (blech) while chowing down on god knows what.

It is a great time of year. Enjoy!

That's Better!

I just got some more news about my shoulders. They have been improving greatly over the last 2- 3 weeks, so my Doctor (who also happens to work with the Hamilton Bulldogs) felt that surgery would not be necessary! Yay. I have been cleared to simply "work through it". In time, if improvement stalls, I may need a cortisone injection, but, that is not for sure either.

Like I said, both shoulders have gotten way better recently. To the point that I am pain-free at night and can even sleep on my stomach again! I have been trying to figure out what has helped the most and I think that I have improved from a combination of things.

Firstly, total rest! (really hard for a restless type- A guy).
Secondly, I started taking an herbal supplement specifically for joint pain (I have never been into this stuff, but, figured it couldn't hurt).
Thirdly, after a couple of weeks of rest, I started working out using rubber resistance tubing in every possible angle involving the chest, shoulders, back and arms within a pain-free range of motion.
Lastly, I have been seeing my RMT (Linda Valconi) for work on loosening up the shoulders, upper back, neck and trapezius area.

It would make a terrible research study because there are so many variables, but, it seems to be working. Next week I am going to increase the intensity, cross my fingers and see what happens!

Ouch.

Well, I just got the results from the ultrasound exams on my shoulders (see blog below). It turns out that I have tears in the rotator cuffs in BOTH shoulders! Ouch. Sleeping has turned into a real adventure I tell you.

I am now waiting to see my doctor to find out if I need surgery or if therapy can take care of them.

In the meantime, I have been training in "unique" ways to at least maintain my fitness level without causing further damage to the joints. I have been using our new invention, the Aqua Ball! It is a stability ball partially filled with water (19lbs.) that is used for core training and stabilization work. Believe me, it works. It kind of feels like you are trying to wrestle a dog into the bath that REALLY doesn't like water because of the water continually sloshing inside the ball with each movement.

After the Aqua Ball, I have been doing interval work on the bike, elliptical trainer and I have been doing intervals on the treadmill.

The point is....You do what you can!