To continue the story about my mismatched legs:
My chiropractor gave me a shoe lift insert today. He said to try that and see if it actually helps anything before pursuing anything more expensive. It's a piece of rubber, only about a quarter of an inch thick, but my body can tell the difference. My right hip is enthusiastically in favor. My entire left side seems skeptical so far. Guess we'll see how sore I am after a few days of this...
12 December 2007
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Hope it works. Surprised you don't have spine issues from having your pelvis tilted.
I have a great chiropractor. :) It was all zigzaggy before I started going - not enough to be noticeable, but there were a ton of tiny subtle things that didn't work quite right. There were also some really bizarre migraines. It was gradually getting worse, hence I decided maybe I better do something other than go to the pills-dispensing doctor who didn't see anything wrong.
Nowadays my main problem seems to be that I don't move much - but whenever I do, I end up sore for days. I'm still not sure what all else is subtly wrong - why I have no endurance whatsoever and never have, for example. I've been doing very short sprints for a couple years now, and I still can't run more than three minutes without collapsing. Then I can only do them once or twice a week because it takes a while to recuperate from the last run. I can see some improvement over time but it's glacial compared to normal people, and easily lost.
Hopefully the shoe lift will help with some of that. Or at least enlighten me on how else my body works...
I suppose on the bright side, I also don't gain weight. At all. I've been a stick since I was born. Heck, I bought a bathroom scale because I wanted to see if I was going to gain any muscle weight while I was ramping up on the exercise this year ... and ... nada. *sigh*
I hope that works out for you. Ortho shoes are really expensive.
Good, good. I'm glad to hear that things are moving in the right direction for you.
A friend of mine did something similar with her doc's advice, and in the long run it helped. It took about two weeks though, and in the interim it was a bit uncomfortable at times, she had to build up to full-time wear.
I hope it helps for you!
Spinal alignment can be a major cause of migraines. Also jaw alignment. (yeah, ask me about migraines - gah, I've got one lurking behind my eyes right now, took a pill, maybe it'll go away). I know a number of folks with similar problems, usually resulting from a broken leg that healed slightly shorter than the other, resulting in pelvic tilt and then back problems. That shoe lift device seemed to fix the problem though, amazing what a little hunk of rubber can do, eh?
How's it feeling now?
Have you tried a stationary bike, instead of running? I've got major knee problems (yeah, twenty years of sea duty, and jumping into small boats and out of helicopters with 60lbs on my back. Not good). The doc recommended either an elliptical machine or a stationary bike, no jarring impact on the joints and back. Seems to work pretty well, and I can watch TV, or surf the net while I'm doing it.
On a related note: I've known a couple of folks who's doctors recommended that they not put a wallet in their back pocket, because it caused them to sit off-kilter and again resulted in back problems. Weird, but there you have it.
I don't have any exercise equipment other than floorspace. There's a pool in the apartment complex, but it tends to be infested with small children at the same times as I want to use it.
At the moment I feel overall crummy, but I'm not sure if it's due to the piece of rubber or the chiropractor adjustment or the fact I attempted one too many (knee) pushups on Monday. Also I'm in dire need of some massage therapy.
Sorry to hear about the impending headache - hope the pill works(ed).
Thanks for the well-wishes, all.
No stamina? Have you had your hemoglobin checked? And no, low normal isn't necessarily 'good enough'.
They take out three vials of blood from my arm every year during my physical, I assume that means they've had ample opportunity to notice hemoglobin abnormalities. Nobody has mentioned anything. Someone noticed some temporary anemia about 15 years ago, but the reason for that was fairly obvious and went away when the reason did.
try walking/standing/running on the balls of your feet. It provides another lever point, making the difference in leg length arbitrary(your calf will make up for it) and relieves knee pressure. The hip being a ball/socket joint doesn't hold weight well but a double hinge does.
Note how all other animals essentially walk/stand with their heels in the air.
Also, try to make sure you do not roll in or out with your feet when you walk/run. Heel goes over toes. you'll probably be sore for a while when you first start and feel awkward. You're fighting a lot of natural muscle training. once you get used to, no aches and pains...
Hi Patrick. Welcome to my blog. :)
Have you ever actually tried walking that way yourself? It only sounds good on paper, trust me. :) And I've been sore for most of this year already, unfortunately - since starting with the chiropractor and all the stretching exercises. A bit more while relearning how to walk will probably (kill me) be no problem at all! :D
(Hrm. No strikeout allowed in comments!)
Actually, yes. Yes, it looks funny. And I have always run on my toes. my calves are pretty solid and I have no knee or ankle problems.
I'm also a big fan of the egoscue methods. http://www.egoscue.com/ I need to buy the book again. I lent it out and it never came back.
Hmm. Glad it works for you then. It didn't for me. Of course, my calf muscles are about on par for strength as every other muscle in my body, which probably has a lot to do with it.
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