Not So Simple

Okay so maybe the blog title is a little deceptive as I am finding the changes needed harder to make than I expected. I guess I spent so many years without a complete understanding of what was going on with me that I really don't know how to make effective changes anymore. 

If that doesn't make sense, well, I'm just starting to work it out for myself. One analogy could be with my heartburn and reflux. I've had that since childhood but for years it went untreated because I thought it happened to everyone. As I got older I realized there were things I could take for it and that helped. I used to eat Rolaids like crazy, tried liquids, you name it and there was very temporary relief. Finally I thought to say something to the doctor and started on real medicine for chronic sufferers and that made all the difference. 

It was the same with the sacroiliac joint dysfunction. I made allowances for the 'discomfort' and changed how I stood, when and for how long without realizing there was a reason behind it. My back troubles I have always had as well. It's seems odd when I look back that I didn't realize what was happening. I stopped doing some activities because they caused pain without really understanding what was happening. 

I've become very sedentary over the years; which wasn't the goal. Now I see it. Now I realize what's happened. Now I have to change it. The big question is how. How do I make positive changes and turn chores into habits into something I don't even think about and can just do. 

Before I go anywhere I have to stop and think... will there be someplace I can sit? Not just anywhere but someplace that will keep my back from killing me later. I have to plan an exit strategy if my back starts to grab or give out. If I have to stand too long my hips start to ache, even swaying doesn't offer much relief. My back starts to grab and twist. 

So let's say I've found somewhere to sit or a way to stand at wherever it is I am going. We can now add edema to the mix. Sitting or standing, if my feet stay down, they start to swell, then my ankles on up. it's gotten bad enough that when the swelling goes down, the skin around my ankles starts to pucker like a balloon that's been overfilled and rubber puckers after the air is let out. At one point my legs stayed so swollen that hair stopped growing. A plus for sure but for a very bad reason.

I hope it doesn't take much longer to figure out the formula to make the changes I need. They say recognizing a problem if the first step. Well, I see quite a few. There's a way to make it work.