After all of my blood work came back normal (thyroid, vitamin b-12 and d, iron, CBC, etc...), I had to start thinking of other possibilities for the weird way that I've been feeling.
A couple of nights ago, I had the thought that it might have to do with a fall I had shortly after my knee surgery. I lost my balance in the kitchen (while on crutches, still) and fell backwards, catching myself on the oven door, but not before smacking my lower back on the handle of the oven, and slamming my arms down to brake my fall.
I started to wonder if I had a pinched nerve in my lower back, or in another spot in my torso/neck area. I ended up asking my physical therapist about it early Monday morning with at therapy, and the symptoms I described to him made him immediately think of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Basically it is a compressed nerve in the collarbone/shoulder blade area.
Thankfully the symptoms are very mild (comparatively) and I know it is a little early to really say for a surety that that is what it is, but when I did the exercises that he instructed me to do, I didn't have any of the sensations at all during the entire day! It wasn't until I laid down in my bed at night to go to sleep that I had just a little of the sensation in my arms.
My physical therapist said it is very common for mothers with infants to have this happen because we haunch over our babies (breastfeeding, changing diapers, looking at them...etc). Also, the work I do on the computer exacerbates the problem (having poor posture while designing).
I'm hoping that during this week, as I continue to do the stretching exercises, the symptoms will start to disappear. If they don't, I will probably end up going to a chiropractor for an adjustment. Hopefully that will do the trick and I'll start feeling like me again!
4 comments:
This does not sound fun. I you are feeling better soon!
Im glad to hear that your PT's advice seems to be working. Hopefully you'll be back in racing condition this spring so you can break in your new bike. :)
I hope that the stretches keep helping. Nursing always gives me carpel tunnel.....
I was just talking to Scott about how unfair (even though I hate that word..) it is that things like this are happening to you! I know people who don't take care of themselves in the least and who never have and haven't had any health troubles to speak of (nothing serious anyway) and here you are.. you DO take care of yourself and you're very active.
Yeah I was whining about that to him just a bit ago. I feel for you, Julie, and I hope you continue to get better and back to your active life!
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