Note
weight:114.4lbs
Well, Doc says I have a herniated disc in L4-5, one above where I had the surgery in 2006, and MRI report says "moderate to advanced disc disease / degenerative disc disease." Also a bunch of other stuff I can't understand, like neural foraminal stenosis and bilateral subarticular recess. Also I have a Tarlov cyst in my sacrum, which must be nothing to worry about since he didn't even mention it. Also some cortical thinning on my kidney that I will need an ultrasound to see properly.
Physical therapy and naproxen have been prescribed. Lifting anything over 25lbs is out of the question, though 10lbs is the max while I recup. Lifting anything incorrectly is out of the question (lifting+twisting the worst.) I am absorbing the info and thinking about what I want to do about my job, which is a lot of lifting all the time in both the floral and gardening parts. I can "mitigate symptoms and slow more wear and tear changes" by core exercises and proper lifting/avoiding lifting, but this is what I have to work with for the rest of my life. Time to start playing the lottery?
Doc gave me the eyebrow lift when I said, "and most importantly, can I orienteer?" He thinks running on uneven surfaces is not a good idea for the time being. This means I have to walk while orienteering in the woods, and then I guess I can run when on a trail or road. But I am blessed to run on even surfaces, and encouraged to exercise as part of my therapy. Whew!!!