Awareness

Pretty awesome experience I had today. Over the past couple of years, my body has gone through a few different things. One, I developed leg pain in my Fibula and Tibia (shin bone) as well as pain in my knee, about a year ago. The pain seemed to progress so I decided to go see a Doctor. The did an X-Ray and she discovered that I had had what she called a Benign Occifying Fibroma, which is commonly found in children under the age of 10, weird, I know. She also discovered I had some deterioration in my knee, she said, most likely due to being overweight. It flares up on occasion and hurts like a bitch!

Moving along to two months ago, I woke up with extreme lower back and pelvic pain. So bad, I couldn't get out of bed for 2 days. I had started my monthly that same day, so I automatically put the two together as one. I made an appointment with an OB, had a pap done and she discovered I had what she called Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, stating to me that women who may have had some kind of traumatic past experience (rape, or some type of sexual abuse) usually are the candidates for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. It made perfect sense, considering I had been raped, and have never in my life been able to enjoy actual sexual intercourse without pain. She said my abdominal and pelvic muscles were extremely tight, and she could clearly see that I held a lot of stress in this area....and recommended Physical Therapy. I'm not going to lie, I got emotional finding this diagnosis out. I had finally accepted the fact that I'd never have a normal sex life, and maybe I actually was crazy about the pain I felt, but turns out....I'm not.  She also thought I may have had cysts, because of so much blood and abnormal bleeding, so I also had an ultrasound done. Ultrasound came back

"fairly normal", whatever that means...haha. I was still in pain, so I decided to go see a Chiropractor.

Went to see him, and he diagnosed me with Sacroiliitis, and that my left leg was an inch shorter than my right, and that my pelvis had been severely lopsided. He popped me, and I felt relief, but not completely. He recommended I continue to come back. I ended up going to see this Chiropractor 10 times in one month. 75% was better, but I was still in pain. After all the cracking, I realized my muscles needed to be stretched after being so tight causing this Sacroiliitis. I started going to Yoga classes, doing more stretching at home and resting and using less intensity in my classes and workouts. Pain STILL there.

A week ago, I started my journey with an Acupuncturist. I will admit, the next day my lower back and butt muscles had felt pummeled, and the pain was still there, but giving it the benefit of the doubt, I decided to go back. Here's where my awesome experience today began.

I went in and we discussed how life has been in the past week. Well, honestly, not much had changed (he was kinda bummed about that...haha), but I didn't expect a miracle...it's not my first rodeo. But this morning I woke up with my leg, knee, hip and glute in a ton of pain, and I also started getting a sore throat after teaching class in 45 degree weather last night :/...(I know, bad).....so I told him, quite honestly, not sure if it was because of my leg pain, but my back wasn't bothering me too badly today. So, he still wanted to focus on my back and pelvic issue, but also wanted to work on my leg pain and get rid of the cold headed my direction. So....needles were inserted into my lower ab muscles, my right Hip flexor, glute, fibia, knee and ankle...as well as in my hands to target my throat. Man...initially this hurt...my muscles are just crazy tight, but miraculously, as soon as those needles went into my hands, my throat pain went away! I could NOT believe it. He also said the area around my Fibula was swollen, and putting those needles in was a ton of fun...same with my ab muscles...HA! 

But, as I layed there....I kind of went in to a meditative state and automatically started thanking my body. (I sound like a crazy person, I know). Just as if I was praying to God or Higher Power, I started thanking my body for all that it does and has done for me. I made a promise I would take care of it, love it, feed it right, and honor it. 

Now don't leave...I'm not a spiritual maniac, I promise, but I did feel I had a spiritual moment with myself....and for good reason. We never get much time, or a chance to sit down and think about what our bodies do for us. What we put them through, and we ESPECIALLY do not realize we are NOT invincible, and if we do not take the time out that our bodies need, it will eventually take the time on its own, without our consent, and that is not always a good thing. Being a Health and Fitness professional, as well as going through my own journey, we normally, and should, develop more of an awareness with our bodies. The Acupuncturist actually said this himself after I thought it laying there, and he called me an Athlete. That felt good, I had never been called that before....haha. And I never looked at myself that way, but I guess I kind of am.

Learning to love ourselves and listen when it's telling us to stop or rest, and then thanking our bodies....yes actually saying "thank you body, for everything you've done", does not make us crazy. It actually helps us in the long run.

Spirituality can also be awareness, and that is an awesome thing. I encourage it.

Much love,

Wendi