Those of you that have followed me for a long time will know I have spoken about a chronic shoulder/neck problem that has plagued me for around 9 or 10 years.

I refer to it as a shoulder problem, when actually it really isn’t. It is a problem with a triangular section of muscles and nerves which have become extremely shortened. This pulls the first rib out of alignment, causing chronic pain in the shoulder and arm.

Now there have been times where I have become more mobile and had less pain. This has usually been when I am on holiday, less stressed or when I have been exercising.

Whether this is due to lazy sunny days swimming, relaxing and eating good food or things are a little easier at work, I don’t really know.

But logic says that if you are sat at a desk for 9 hours a day, with rubbish rounded posture and stress causing your neck to tighten up, then the end result will be exactly what I am dealing with.

Anyway, I digress.

My local GP happens to have specialised in Osteopathy. A chance visit to him around six years ago diagnosed my problem after many years of being passed from pillar to post.

Normally I can self manage the issue, but recent months have been especially stressful and I had a few spectacular flare ups. I saw him a couple of months ago and he was surprised to see me back in the clinic.

Sadly that particular relapse was bad enough that I needed to have a cortisone injection straight into my shoulder and further medication.

One of the topics I raised with him was exercise.

Would I benefit from undertaking an exercise program such as swimming, yoga or pilates?

To be honest he didn’t really have an answer. He said for some it helped. For some it made it worse.

It was a simple case of ‘Suck it and See’

J D Williams Leisure/Gym Wear

It so happened that Baby Bear had been to our local Bannatynes Health Club which was around a 5 minute drive from home. I could probably walk it in 15 minutes but sadly it is on a duel carriageway with nowhere to walk.

She said how great it was, what a lovely pool they had and it was so clean and welcoming. Well, it would be silly not to go and have a look around.

And that was precisely what I did.

I paid for one month only membership. I didn’t want to get tied into a contract and then find that my shoulder couldn’t cope with it. I thought four weeks would be enough time to see what the results would be.

My plan was to start off slow and concentrate on swimming. Then as and when/if my shoulder strengthened up, have a go at yoga and Pilates.

My first afternoon of swimming I managed to swim 600m. On one hand I was very proud of myself as I hadn’t swum for around four years. But equally I know I am a much better swimmer than that and I was a little shocked.

My wonderful Ewa Michalak St Tropez Bikini

However, I told myself not to be disheartened and to work at building up and up until I got to a distance that I was happy with.

The second visit I managed the same distance before my shoulder started to ache. But once I got home I was happy to report that I was left with no pain at all.

Bonus.

The third trip was on Good Friday when I was conned into going along to the Gym first. Along with Little Chick

How thrilled does she look?

To be honest I actually really enjoyed it. I went on the treadmill at quite a pace for 20 minutes. I even jogged the last minute (any  longer and I would have needed oxygen). I did some rowing and some step work and felt really good about it.

Me. On a Treadmill

Heading to the pool with Little Chick for a swim, Baby Bear said she would join us after the rest of her workout.

We hit the pool and after 4 lengths Little Chick declared herself starving and tired. She got out and went to the cafe which overlooks the pool area.

J D Williams Swimwear

I carried on swimming. I hit my 600m and there was still no sign of Baby Bear.  I didn’t want her to be on her own.

So I kept swimming. I hit 880m and glanced across.

There was Baby Bear in the cafe with her twin, having a lovely time!

I carried on until I hit 1000m.

Not a great look

I was very chuffed with myself and vowed to continue in that amount as I could clearly do it.

My shoulder so far, is in the best condition it has been in for a long time. I am not waking up, spending all day in pain and going to bed in the same state.

J D Williams again

Throughout this I have been asked the question;

‘Am I suddenly going to shed lots of weight and change my stance on Plus Size?’

Hell no, I love my food and my body too much to contemplate that; however I genuinely feel it helps so I will carry on doing whatever it takes to help/solve the chronic pain.

Crop Top

This is where the tale takes a turn for the worst.

Easter Saturday evening found us all at home having a few drinks and watching Saturday night TV. I fell asleep quite early, whilst sitting on the floor and didn’t realise when everyone went outside to sit in the garden.

Fast forward a few hours later and upon trying to get into bed, I tripped over an extension cable and face-planted the floor.

Not just the face, but my left wrist, right breast and right knee were quite badly hurt. As I had consumed a couple of drinks, I didn’t even look at them and just got into bed.

Easter Sunday I woke up and peeled back the duvet sleepily.

Ouch! Why the hell was my wrist hurting?

So comfortable and a great price point

Then I went to put  my foot down and realised something wasn’t quite right. Pain shot up my leg into my knee and I nearly hit the ground again.

Going into the bathroom for a quick wee, I glanced in the mirror. I looked like I had been fighting; a graze on the bridge of my nose, a bruise on my brow bone and more.

What a mess!

The downside to this though is that I am struggling to walk; I am limping heavily and in quite a bit of pain.

Did I go and get it checked out then?

A bit cheeky but I love it

Of course not!

Since then I have been to the pool twice. I have only managed to do 400m on each trip as by that point my knee has started to give me some extreme pain.

I haven’t pushed it further than that. I sit in the Jacuzzi and the sauna and hope this will help with the soft tissue damage (which is all I hoped it was).

Sadly after three weeks of pain I finally went to the Doctor who told me it was bruised and gave me some painkillers. With instructions to come back in two weeks if it was no better.

Fast forward two more weeks and if anything the pain was getting worse and worse. Going back to the surgery I was lucky enough to see the Bone specialist who had actually diagnosed my shoulder.

Rear of the Year?

He poked and prodded and I almost vomited. He finally sat me down with a real knee bone to show me just what he thinks I have done. The words he used as he patted my hand were ‘I am not going to lie, I think it is bad’

According to him he thinks I have had a catastrophic knee injury similar to when someone is in a car crash and their knees hit the dashboard at speed and force.

Terrific.

He also told me not to go to the Gym.

Out of my comfort zone

Gutted.

Until I get the MRI sorted I am not going to chance anything, apart from the fact that I am in too much pain.

But once I get it sorted, I intend to be right back at it.

Yoga, anyone?

Till next time

SPSG xxx