Getting back to business
Hello Everyone,
I’m back! As my personal training clients know, I’ve suffered from chronic wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck pain for about ten years. I pushed through it. I dealt with it. I took a desk job and worked as an Epidemiologist during COVID-19 thinking that would solve the pain - I’d be putting less stress on my upper body. No change.
I thought ok, I’ll enter back into the health and wellness side of public health again because there’s no difference in the pain. And I didn’t take baby steps (do as I say, not as I do); I dove into the most physically demanding positions I’d ever been in. The pain only got worse, then it traveled to my back and I could not get out of bed for weeks.
I went to a regular appointment with my neurologist and mentioned the pain and how for years I’ve been told it’s carpal tunnel (LOTS MORE THOUGHTS ON THAT LATER) and tennis elbow. He agreed it might be carpal tunnel but maybe not, so he sent me for the carpal tunnel test (EMG) and to Occupational Therapy. The EMG and discussion with a specialist proved I do not have carpal tunnel.
Finally I went to Occupational Therapy and they listened to me and asked me one million questions, just like I ask you all during our personal training or health coaching sessions. The team agreed… it is not carpal tunnel. I was given homework. I removed all variables - I stayed off of my phone, the computer, exercised only as instructed, and the root of the problem became clear. It’s a spinal issue and after two weeks of therapy, I could use my hand again. It didn’t feel like my arm was going to fall out of my shoulder socket. It was about 2 months in that the therapist said ok, resume your regular activity and see what happens.
I was so excited that I cried. But then petrified, so I cried some more. I was scared. I decided the best way for me to exercise without fear was to take on a few of my waitlisted personal training clients. Now I’m taking baby steps. I still feel pain in my back if I don’t do the prescribed exercises. But I can use my hand without pain!
I guess my point is, there’s value in asking for help. Even though some might call me an expert in my field, it’s hard to apply knowledge to my own body. I learned that the really long and hard way. I hope sharing this story helps just one person. Because now I’m back doing things that make me happy. I can make jewelry, a major form of meditation for me, without feeling like my arm is going to fall off because I asked for and accepted help from others.