Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A Backup Date Back Update

I really wish I could articulate what I accomplished about a half hour before I sat to start writing this, but I know I cannot in the detail I would like.  Instead, I'll try to write out what I identified while trying to do the latest adjustment.

 - Both hip sockets are twisted out of alignment in the same direction such as to (a) cause the sensation of needing to twist in alternate directions, and (b) result in my right side of my core feeling as if it needed to be allowed to lift upwards, the left side downwards.

 - My lower spine's resting position feels as though it is too far back, as if the proper resting position would have my pelvis pushed further forward.  This may not actually be the spine that needs to move (or move much), as it could be the surrounding muscles or the angle of the hips from a pelvic thrust which becomes more aligned.

 - With lower spine pushed forwards, a backwards arch aids in finding muscle groups in need of alignment going from the core to points behind, in front, and seemingly within (a knot?) my right shoulder.

 - Current successful adjustments of the muscles tangling the right shoulder are linked very much to my chest's position, which I believe, at rest, is arched far too far backwards.

 - The at rest chest position, arched too far backwards, results in lungs NOT holding a proper resting volume of air.  The lungs are expanded, possibly a substantial amount more than one should at rest (at normal exhale), allowing a significant exhale when my back and shoulders are in a position I believe is much closer to their proper resting position.

This may explain a few things, like my inordinate breath capacity, even during times of constricted lungs needing Albuterol, where I could still make a breath gauge meter slap against the end of the measurement slide.  It may also be linked to the exhale/sigh/"ah" sound I used to make unknowingly as a youth, which I made after nearly any statement and was teased for as long as I can remember.

 - I believe muscles tangled around my right rib cage are responsible for the pushed out of position resting location of my chest and lungs.

*     *     *     *     *

Well, I made great progress in altering the resting position of my chest.  By the still kinked nature of my right shoulder, I believe I still have work to do, which also results in changes everywhere listed above, hopefully towards their proper positions (or maybe out of position in order to unlock a kink).

The most notable change afterwards was a clear improvement of my leverage in pulling my garbage cans out to the curb.  The sensation was overwhelmingly noticeable, especially with the heavy yard waste can.

*     *     *     *     *

As the above points imply, the number of points in needs of coordinated movement for a successful adjustment is rather complicated, and thus, hard to explain.

And yet, the sensations are becoming much easier to accomplish than ever.  It is still a challenge to get all needed done at the same time (forget one, and the "adjustment" results in something more like a stripped thread than an actual change in positions), but my successes create sensations of significant change from my jaw/face/neck down through my core to my hips and even then through the legs resulting in ankle changes (and even foot pad alterations).

Three cheers for progress.

No doubt, however, I'll know pain and/or dizziness later this evening as a result.

Monday, November 4, 2013

I'm Back, and Winter Is Coming with Me

I have so much I could try to explain.

The muscle development in my back, touched upon earlier, has continued at a rate which feels exponential.

One true positive occurred while meeting with my Rhuematologist.  I described the two portions of muscle I was becoming able of flexing in my lower back, one on each side of my spine, and she matter of factly stated in a 'continue, please' type tone, "as it should."

I nearly broke down in tears.

Let me be clear.  I have been as close to certain as one can be that I have been doing something right all these years.  I have been as close to certain as one can be that this latest muscle development in my lower back was right.  Yet, I did not know it was right.

I finally have some measure of confirmation.

*     *     *     *     *

This does not at all mean things have been rosy.  I am a mess.

The muscle development in my lower back has created slack (for lack of a better word) in both shoulders and hips.  It has lead to changes in my jaw, head, and face that I cannot keep up with.  Dizziness and ear aches are commonplace.  My swallowing difficulties reappear worse than ever for a day or two, then vanish entirely.

And it is starting to get cold . . . .

*     *     *     *     *

I am genuinely fearful of the months ahead.  When I do not continue to strengthen everywhere, parts get behind, things get very difficult, and I become riddled with pain and discomfort.

The colder it gets, the more difficult it is to relax and/or identify muscle groups needing work.

This is to say, when not cold, I can meditate my way from flexing these "new to me" back muscles to where they extend to by connections, my core, my limbs, my neck, even my groin.  Cold, I'm lucky to extend and work one area.  Others go unidentified, creating more unbalance, more . . . difficulties.

This is on top of just plain miserable physical conditions as the temperature drops.  Sleep becomes near impossible.

*     *     *     *     *

At the end of last Winter, I hoped I would not go through another while still adjusting.  It was a miserable experience.  Now, I face one with much more significant adjustments happening almost daily.

This will be bad, and I am having a hard time knowing it is on the horizon.