Pain in the Neck

[mamculuna]

For the last couple of days I've had a deep ache that moved from my shoulder blade on Tuesday down to my forearm by last night. So today I went to my wonderful Dr. Li, who does chiropracty and acupuncture, and did western medecine in China. He looked and prodded and took X-rays, and says I have degenerative arthritis in my neck. I could see the little sharp edges on the C4 and C5 vertebrae. They aren't kind when they press on the nerve that comes out of the spine between them.

He recommends not standing on my head. Guess I'll finally get motivated to do some more work on Pincha Mayurasana (like headstand balanced on your forearms, only holding your head up).

Otherwise, he said to keep doing yoga and take glucosamine, etc. And I have to say I was glad not to have an impingement (I guess those degenerative vertebrae aren't impingements) or something nastier. I've see other people in family, other generations, who were in much more trouble from arthritis by my age--this doesn't bother me in itself, just when the nerve gets hurt. I think exercise and nutrition and good health care in general really make a difference in bodies in my generation, compared to my parents and certainly their parents.

Comments

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

I think it's wise to recognize that yes, we are getting to that stage when things are getting a tad worn, and be proactive about it. It's kind of humbling, I admit...I hate to admit that I'm not 16! But as you say, exercise and good nutrition are our friends. I think that we are much younger and healthier at our ages than our parents were.
Good luck with the modified headstand!