Day 64

Well, I'm still dinking around with back problems. The muscles in question are the quadratus lumborum (QL), a huge, deep, vertical muscle that runs alongside the spine with the job of keeping us upright; and the iliopsoas ("psoas"), a vertical muscle that runs vertically alongside the spine deep within in the lower abdomen. The two connect somewhere around L5, which can cause sciatica and leg numbness, and the two have the ability to stress each other, thus keeping up the dynamic of the dysfunctional relationship.

I awaken in the morning feeling pretty good, until I walk a few steps. Then the muscle spasms begin. It takes a great deal of time on the heating pad, along with popping pills, to get everything settled down. On PT days I don't take the pain meds, and I suffer through the session, which involves deep pressure point massage and exercises. I am trying to pay close attention to the exercises that hurt--and there are a few of them that I can't do right now. Needless to say, I am resentful and angry because my knees are practically shouting to GO! DO STUFF!!! But the rest of me is just not strong enough. Yet.

What causes injury to these muscles? Well, sitting without lumbar support is one; habitual overuse of the muscles will cause "knots" (adhesions) that must be worked out over time. The iliopsoas becomes shortened with too much sitting, and of course, I was in bed for how many weeks? So it all makes sense. It's just frustrating.

Knees are great. They make this little "clucking" noise when I bend them, but there is no pain, no weakness, no buckling, no problems. I'm thrilled with their recovery.