Survival of the Fitness

Nearly 23 months ago, I noted that I was not in great shape. After 3 months of working out and eating healthy, I made substantial progress.

However, that progress came with a price of its own, as my various leg problems started right around that same time.

In the 2 years since, I've been to a half-dozen doctors and finally have something approaching a diagnosis - I have mild scoliosis. That means my spine is curved, and it turns out the curve is to my left side, through the L1-L3 vertebrae, which are likely pressing on or irritating the nerves for my left leg. (That image isn't my X-Ray, mine is in different places and is of a different degree.)

In all likelihood, this scoliosis is the result of breaking my left femur when I was about 3. My left leg is about 11 millimeters shorter than my right, which causes my pelvis to tilt down on the left side, which causes my spine to aim to the left. Let it sit like that for 36 years and add a bunch of weightlifting and running and you end up with scoliosis and some more wear on the right side of the vertebrae than you'd like - though miraculously the discs are all healthy and intact.

Unfortunately, there isn't much one can do for adult scoliosis. I've got some shoe inserts which seem to be helping a little bit (step 1 is level out the pelvis). My back muscles are really imbalanced now - the left side is huge and strong, the right is weak, short, and tight. Correcting that imbalance may help, but as the right side gets stronger, the left may try to overcompensate.

Beyond those basic changes, one enters the realm of the sort of voodoo which I generally avoid. (I've been given a "prescription" to try that, by the way).

Regardless, over the last 2 years I gained back all the weight I lost, in no small measure due to curtailing gym activity because of the pain and twitching in my leg. Time to get back on the horse (or in this case, the treadmill) and eat right.

I've also had a lot going on at work lately, most of it not good news. That said, I'm happy just to have a job (and health insurance) at this particular moment in history.

I've got a few new musical tools and some ideas, and once I can tear myself away from the latest computer games, I'll be back to composing and working on other projects.

I hope everyone else is doing OK. Drop me a line, let me know.