My back diagnosis and back pain help.

I've been receiving emails from friends and family about my appointment with the neurosurgeon yesterday. Thank you for all your prayers, emails and concerns. I really appreciate it.

So the results are two things.

One, that curve (from side-to-side) that my chiropractor first found on x-ray, which the neurosurgeon also saw on the CT scan, is Scoliosis. I guess it's more predominant in women (2%) than in men, and for some people, like myself, I have it and it's unexplained. Ugh. So I have a curved spine which could be the culprit behind my back pain. He's unsure. But he does know that I have a herniated disk in my upper back, which is rare in the thoracic spine, but it's there. Ugh again. Good thing is, he doesn't think surgery is necessary because I'm not in excruciating pain and it's been slowly "herniating" (for lack of a better word) for a long time. It's just an annoying all-the-time dull aching pain which really is a pain. That's all. Some days are worse than others and I have noticed it hurts a lot more after a day working at my desk (in my very uncomfortable chair).

Thankfully the results aren't any worse than they are because I would be freaking out right now if I were to have back surgery. Good grief, I'm only 32. Neil's question was, "what now? Do we just wait for it to get bad?". And my answer was "I don't know?". I didn't ask that question. I guess I should have but when you're there and in shock after being told what you were just told, all the appropriate questions don't just pop into your head at that time like they should. But he said that if/when the pain gets worse, to see him. (Ugh again.)

At least I have answers now. It just doesn't seem right that I have to deal with this pain, but the flip-side of that is surgery and I do not ever want that. The doctor said at this point surgery would be worse than better for me. So I'll just deal. At least it's not a tumor or infection, which the doctor pointed out that that is not what this is. Thank God.

Speaking of all this, did any of you see the report on Good Morning America this morning on neck alignment and blood pressure? The report was on the very thing that I talked about a while back with my own neck and how it's at a -2 degree when it should be at a 45 degree angle. (Imagine a banana being pulled backwards -- that's my neck!) The chiro thinks my headaches, sinus infections all the time, etc., are a cause of my neck being so extremely out-of-whack. That is exactly what this report was about this morning. Made me realize that my chiro himself is not wacko (like some doctors seem to think) and that I'm there for the right reason. Hopefully I'll get my neck back into place sooner than later (and my back, too!). Here is the report.

Then I also found some other articles which, if you suffer from back pain, you might want to read:

This one was the most intriguing for me! How Your Chair Could be The Culprit
Three Minutes a Day to Keep Back Pain Away
Herbal Cures for Back Pain
Back Pain? Don't Sit Up Straight

The doctor gave me a copy of my CT scan on CD but I can't seem to get it to work. My computer is not recognizing any of the files. I thought it would be fun to share my back with you all :c) I'll try it on Neil's PC.

Thanks again for your cares and prayers.

"Trail Mix"

We just had Easter (probably like most of you) yesterday afternoon on Neil's mom's side. It was really nice. Lots of kiddos. I made fruit pizza which was too pretty not to take a picture of! I had a piece for breakfast this morning. Mmmmmm . . . (All the food and conversation was very good! Hope you all had nice Easter celebrations as well.)

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Remember my face pain a week ago? It turned out to be a sinus infection! I have 2 or 3 more days left of my antibiotic. I feel sooooo much better. That was absolutely no fun at all (and very scary)!

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Today I finally see a doctor for my back pain. I'm now seeing a neurosurgeon. Hopefully it will all go okay. I'm not really nervous because I don't think it's anything serious. I just want to get it fixed and the chiro isn't helping that area of my back at all which tells me it's not mechanical?? I'm just ready for today to be over with already. (I also have my "yearly". Blech.)

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Last week was a really successful week for us with potty training. We went all week long wearing big girl undies with no training pants or the like! We either went bare booty or underwear. (Maia, not me! I always try to be clothed!) Night time is a bit harder, so we're wearing diapers to bed still. But I know we're on the right track because this is how it went down with Noah. Noah was trained when he was ready, and I think Maia is following in his same "I'll do it when I'm ready" pattern. Yayyyyyyyy!!! What will we do with all that extra diaper money?!

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The kids got an Easter package in the mail from their cousins,
Ella and Adi. And guess what?! Mommy got a little treat, too, from Chel. It's the cutest little giftie ever and I can't wait to plant the seeds :c) Thank you, darlin'!

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My weddings start back up in 3 weeks!

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Remember how I said I wasn't going to do anymore weddings or else very little?! Well, I really do have a hard time saying no. I have nine. Totally better than 15+ which is what I did every year for a few years. But it's still too many. I really seriously am not taking any next year. (PLEASE hold me to this, friends!) Neil and I both decided last night that it would be a good idea. Now if you're a friend or someone who has lots of really different fun ideas, I might possibly be swayed. (hehe)

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Next weekend I get to see Corie! She's coming home for her BABY SHOWER! Then 2 weeks after that I get to do her maternity photos!! (She'll be such a beautiful subject, too. Okay, so will Keith, her hubby, but I think Corie's going to be glowing a teeny-tiny bit more?)

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Over the weekend I got my hair cut (only like a 1/2 inch) but I also got it colored and thinned out. I have soooooo much hair so thinning it out totally changed how it looks and feels. I love it. Noah told me I looked "pretty". If that doesn't make a mommy feel good, I'm not sure what else would! He's such a sweet boy.

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Neil and I rented our first movie in probably 2 years . . . the Holiday. I remember Corie and Keith telling me about it a while back, so that was the one I chose. I can't wait to see it. The last time I saw a movie at the theater was with Alexis and Jamie. How long ago was that, girls?! Well over a year, wasn't it?

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I was about to buy this chair last night, but then thought I'd ask your opinions on it. I always feel confident in my purchases when it comes to cameras or lenses or clothes or paint colors. But a desk chair which could change the way my back feels forever because I practically live in it, well, that's a different story! I tried out a whole bunch after my hair cut at Office Depot and Staples on Saturday. I definitely do not like the big frumpy cushy executive chairs because they are not made for sitting at a desk staring at a computer screen for hours on end kind-of-work. At least not for me and my back. I need high lumbar support big time. I hope this one will work. I want to order it online because it's free shipping and I have a $30 off coupon when ordering online. (at Staples) You can't beat that. Any suggestions or advice? Why am I so nervous about this purchase?

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Oh, and I forgot to add that I hope to post an entry this week on something photography-related! Alexis's gizillion trillion questions to me when about to purchase her new (awesome DSLR Nikon) camera a while back stemmed an idea in my head to turn those questions and answers into an informative post for you. So look for that this week!!

What's your color memory and office chair suggestions?

Can you do this??

45

On my first try I got 45. I think that's probably considered good, but being I was an Visual Communication Design art major (a.k.a. Graphic Design), I'm kinda disappointed in myself! See what you can do and tell me what you got because I'm really curious!

So I have a question. I'm assuming that a lot of desk-job women are coming by here. My question is, what kind of chair do you use at your desk?

My chiropractor thinks that some of my back issues stem from the desk chair I use and the fact that I sit at my desk for hours and hours. On weekends I sometimes spend 10 hours in my chair. I guess I never thought about how graphic design (which I get to use now with my digital photography job) would one day mean that I would stare hours on end at a computer screen and probably develop bad posture.

The chiro said it's very important about the placement of my computer screen. He said that it should be directly in front of me and not at the side and that I shouldn't be looking down at the screen. He said if I need to put books under it to lift it up, to do that. So I've done all his suggestions. I do, however, think the biggest culprit in my back troubles is my chair, which I got in November (it was my grandfather's).

My back pain didn't begin until this year and I've never had this sort of back pain before. (I broke my tailbone playing softball in high school and had major lower back spasms, but that was a pain which stemmed from a known injury.) We also have a new mattress which I question, too, but I want to concentrate on the chair first since it's the least expensive to replace!

I would love to get an ergonomical chair, especially an Aeron one (seen to the left). But holy cow, are they expensive (-- over a thousand dollars expensive)! Are they worth that? If I had the money I would buy one in a heartbeat. My chiropractor suggested it, but he also said there are a lot of spin-offs of it now too, which are much much cheaper.

What do you suggest for me?

My husband and I are going to start looking. But as we all know, the best people to give you shopping advice are those who have had positive experiences with the product! My mom may be able to help me since she works at a bank. Mom . . . what do you bank people recommend? I really need something with good lower and upper back support, something that can be adjusted up and down and forwards and backwards.

I thought about one of these to the right because they encourage sitting up straight, but I've had two people say "ehh, I don't think you'd be happy with that." So it's been vetoed. And you must remember, I live 2-1/2 hours from Chicago so I don't go there all that often. I live near Decatur (where I was born) so office chair shopping is pretty limited for me. I'll probably have to shop in an Office Max or Staples. So keep that in mind. I'd rather not order online if I can help it!

Whatcha think? I need some major help. My back will thank you over and over. I loooove my chiro but man, he is EXPENSIVE!!! I'd rather love something more that costs me less!

Wah wah wah . . . wee wee wee!

I cannot believe it's been over a week since I posted. I'm not going to sugar coat it, I've not been feeling too dandy.

Long story short, I've been experiencing some upper back pain located between two vertebrae up near my shoulder blades. After a week I went to the doctor a month ago back when Neil was in China. They gave me motrin and told me to come back if it didn't get better. I wasn't happy with that answer so I talked to my friend who works for a chiropractor, something I had never sought out before. She thought I needed to come in. I did and had x-rays taken. It turns out my spine is not only curved, my neck is extremely curved. You know how a banana curves? Well, that is how a person's neck is suppose to be in it's natural state, at a 45 degree angle. Mine is at a -2. Can you imagine trying to pull back that banana backwards? Yeeks. And that's my neck.

Another long story short, I've suffered unexplained headaches for over 10 years now. I've had CT scans, MRI's, seen 3 neurologists, etc., and no one ever found the cause. It appears the chiropractor did. With my neck beginning to curve the opposite way, my spinal column is also being pushed the opposite way putting lots and lots of pressure in that area probably attributing to my headaches. It was a HUGE blessing in disguise. When he told me this I started to cry because for the first time I had an answer and it was at a time when I wasn't even looking for one. I had totally given up on finding a cure for my headaches. Bad news was, he didn't find anything around those vertebrae causing the pain. I've now started seeing the doctor 3 times a week and I definitely notice change in my neck area. Unfortunately not my back. So last week I went back to my general doctor and he seemed a bit worried this time. He lined me up with a CT scan of my back. I had that done on Thursday. I still haven't gotten those results back yet. I was incredibly worried - so much so that I haven't been myself, I've been on the verge of panic attacks and experienced a really bad migrane (wah wah wah). But I think I've realized this is out my hands. Hopefully today or tomorrow I will find what is wrong. Heck, maybe it's nothing?! But hopefully if it is something, it's treatable. That is why I haven't been around. I haven't had the energy emotionally or mentally to think about my blog. So that's my "wah wah wah" part of this post. I'm done with the "Wah-ing" and ready to move on for the time being. (yay me.)

This is the "wee wee wee" part.

I got two super neat-o packages in the mail last week!!! One from a very dear friend who moved away to MS. Jen sent me the yummiest package of cookies, which she beautifully made herself, as a super sweet surprise.

I think I am the only person she knows other than her mom who looooooves anise cookies. What's anise? You know . . . black licorice?? Mmmmmmmm . . . I can smell it just talking about it. Those yummy-to-my-tummy treats were gone in just 3 days all by myself. Oh my goodness are they the best. Jen and I are two black licorice peas-in-a-pod. We also crave and adore Good-N-Plenty's. Anyone else?!

Then a couple days later I received another box. This time when I picked it up, I really questioned it. "What is this?!" Well, as soon as I opened it up and saw a card inside with the logo of the product on it, I knew just what it was and who it was from. It made my day sparkle. Can you guess?!?!
I then
took out
the paper
and
inside the box
were
these 6
very pretty . . . .

{make sure you click on the picture to see what it says because it's been custom-designed and it's just way too cool!}

. . . SHARPIES from my friend, Amanda, my BBBF who sent me these as my winning prize at her (amazingly fabulously awesome) blog for .. . drumroll . . . this is kinda embarrassing . . . being her most commenting commenter! (I'm going into hiding now.) Really, though, it's SUCH an honor!!! I've had such fun at her blog over the past year and all the while I've grown to really known her and we've became the greatest friends, hence the "BBBF" which means Best Blogging Buddies Forever. We have so much alike all the way down to our love for VW's and Converse. Thanks, a, I really love you, friend! (Here is her prize-giving post!)

Lastly, two exciting bits. One is, I signed up Noah for summer t-ball last week! He wasn't so excited at first, but now that's all he talks about. I played softball for 8 years in school and then 2 more years once out of college. I looooove baseball and hope he acquires a love of it just like his mommy. His grandparents absolutely cannot wait to come see him play. It's going to be such a fun summer. I can't wait.

And lastly, I spent a lot of time during my not-myself days last week in back pain putting up pictures on my VWC blog. So check 'em out if you have time . . . there are a lot. And also, I wasn't going to say anything yet, but I might as well. At the end of May I am going to Chicago for a weekend to do shoots with some of my Chicago clients and if there is anyone else interested, let me know! The appointments are filling up quickly. I'm just in awe of the response and feeling really really really excited about it. It's going to be so so much fun shooting in downtown Chicago. It'll be a dream come true for me.

Okay, enough of my notorious rambling. I've missed you all and I hope next time I'm here, it's to give a (positive) back update.