Midget's Quest To Fix Her Back

[midgetcop]

Hi everyone..!

The last time I was on here, it was to announce my victory over my police fitness tests. So the inevitable question for myself is...."now what?"

It's been a few months since. My workouts have fallen off the face of my radar since my upper back started to act up. It took some time to get a diagnosis, but I discovered that I have developed arthritis in my upper back, in response to an old compression injury from years back. I was pretty upset about the news, because my first worry was that I wouldn't be up to snuff for police college this winter. I mean, arthritic at 26 years old?? My life has barely begun!

The next step: learn to live with it. My physio appointments are scheduled, and I've already gone back for my first CrossFit class. Despite the fact that I had a hard time navigating stairs for a few days afterwards, it did me a world of good. Both my back and my fragile emotional state are faring much better now.

I basically wanted to start a new journal to chronicle my back issues and the (hopeful) relclamation/maintenance of my physical self.

[.V.]

Wow MC, so sorry to hear that. I guess you know all about glucosamine, msm, chondroitin supplementation to slow or relieve that along with your sensible workouts.

Best wishes for controlling this.

[midgetcop]

Someone has mentioned glucosamine to me...but to be honest, I'm still confused as to what supplements to take/how often, etc. There's so much information that I can't make sense of it.

[minime]

hi midgetcop! that sucks about your back, i am sorry to hear it. Nice work getting back into crossfit again! I guess one of the great things about your job is that it doesn't really allow you to give up.

i take glucosamine chondroitin but i am bad at taking stuff, i take it sporadically just like multivitamins and calcium supplements. I hear good things about it though. i bought it from puritans pride, it is the cheapest place to get supplements.

[F_Mac]

Good luck with the rehab mc.

Glucosamine is one of the few supps I that I can say for sure that it works for me. If I stop taking it for any amount of time my joints start to ache. Once i'm back on it all of it goes away in a few weeks/months.

I take 2g per day, but your requirements will likey differ.

I have also heard awesome reports of high doses of fish and/or flax oil to help with arthritis.

[gymgirl]

just wanted to say welcome back midget! sorry about your back, take care of yourself!

[midgetcop]

A few days ago I went to CF, and the workout was as follows:

1 - 7 reps (meaning, do 1, then 1+2, then 1+2+3, etc, up to 7 and then in descending order) of

- db cleans (12 lbs)
- burpees

= 17:34

It felt a lot more brutal then it sounds, and I can totally tell that I'm not conditioned the way I used to be.

Yesterday I went to the gym and started up a fullbody routine that I was doing leading up to my police test. Picked it up again and made a few substitutes: no more squats, and (for now), no deadlifts. Instead I used a leg press machine and a back extension machine. Kinda sucks...but I'm not taking any chances at this point with the back.

I've been given a set of exercises to do by my physio. At first I thought it would be easy-peasy (look at me, miss-seasoned-weightlifter), but it's actually TOUGH STUFF. There's this one where I lay prone on a bed and squeeze my shoulder blades together, and raise my arms up and hold for 3-4 seconds. Easy enough, except that I have to do it *30 times*. Argh.

Bought some glucosamine. It could be my imagination, but it might be working already. Feel some tension gone from my back. Whatever works!

I'm glad I've taken charge of my body again....CrossFit again today! Can't wait.