Boy, am I feeling the season.  I know I keep bringing up how my spine is compressed; so much so that it’s lost on people anymore.  They get it!!!  But what I should really be talking about is ergonomics; because that is what is actually happening to me – my poor ergonomic set up.

You shouldn’t take your spine for granted.  It’s the cabinet that holds all your body’s receptors and it can literally make or break you!!

If you have a pain running down your leg; you may call it Sciatica.  And you’d likely be right.  But what’s happening is somewhere; your spine is pinching the receptors and causing refered pain! (if you are a chiropractor, go easy on me….I’m not trained, I have just used your services forever!)

If you don’t think this is a big deal; chew on this; My neck has a bulging disk that was once measured at 5.2 mm.  It caused me so much pain I didn’t sleep through the night for 8 months.  I found a Chiropractor who did decompression combined with other therapies and many months later (and non surgically, thank you) I was feeling 100% better.

The result of this was the constant pain in my right arm – and as a result, my right arm actually measures smaller than my left.  Interesting, no?

Chances are my bulge was from some head trauma I had as a kid and exacerbated by my business of Photography.  I find that the way I carry my equipment; and the placement of my head (jutted forward) when I shoot has trained my spine to misalign.  And I have had to go through many corrective classes and therapies to help me be more conscious of my posture.

Posture is the best training to keep your spine aligned.  But as you are reading this; chances are you are slouching.  Tsk Tsk Tsk….. Bad Posture.

As I sit at my desk; my chair is hard and is meant for short stays not the 8-10 hour days I have been putting in.  As I sit, I feel my arms and neck jutting forward and I have to remind myself to sit straight.  After you go through months of therapy and pain at a level 9-10, the fear of going back there is enough to give value to good posture.

Some people don’t believe in chiropractic and that is okay.  The reason I appreciate it is because my chiropractors have cured me from pain (and illness) many times.

Now that said, I do agree with a friend of mine who is a Physical Therapist Assistant.  Chiropractic is the one part of building your muscles to make sure your spine stays in place.  I find when I strength train my core (Pilates is amazing) I feel myself sitting taller and stronger.  This helps me also be aware of my head and neck.

Why am I telling you all this???  Most of us take for granted our good health until its gone.  Be aware that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Also, I know people who have had surgery for bulging disc issues.  And to me, once they go in and start cutting up your original parts; you are never the same.

Either way; it all starts with AWARENESS!!!!

Happy Tuesday!!!