Today I shall be Mainly...

[Marilyn]

Thankyou...something to try! I have printed it off...
Feeling much better. did another morning of Ancestry, but must get moving now and find something physical to do.

[Stanley]

Maz Lordosis is the natural curve of the lower back (lumbar) area of the spine. If you straighten your back you'll feel it curve inwards slightly. Hope Sue's exercise helps.
I shall be in the shed working on the steam valve, at last I have got those glands done!

[Marilyn]

I know what Lordosis is and to be honest, I don’t think there is owt wrong with mine. I don’t get back pain, just Sciatica...

[Cathy]

Does it help with Restless Leg Syndrome as well? Marilyn print me one too . I couldn’t do the last position, my leg would feel like it was about to explode. Not really sure that I could do any of them actually, but I’d give them a go.

[Stanley]

Yes Maz but you also know that sciatica is largely phantom pain caused by pressure on the nerves where they exit the spine. That doesn't mean the pain itself isn't serious but what it does mean that in many cases if you can find a way to relieve the pressure on the nerves you can get relief, and adjusting your spine curvature can be one way to do it in some cases.

[Sue]

Does it help with Restless Leg Syndrome as well? Marilyn print me one too . I couldn’t do the last position, my leg would feel like it was about to explode. Not really sure that I could do any of them actually, but I’d give them a go.

It takes time, practice a few minutes daily . In the third one its not the height of the leg that is important, just cross it under you and lean as far forward as you can for 5- 10 seconds and build on it. Believe me with practice it gets easier and it works. Sometimes I get sciatica after a long sit in the car but its rare. In such cases I was told to move the affected leg across the body. Ie sit down and cross the leg in 90 degrees above the knee and hold for as long as possible. It does relieve it. As well as pilates and yoga these are the same exercises my physio gave me, and sorry no as a lifetime ( and I mean lifetime, ) sufferer of restless leg, it doesn’t but medication does. Pramipexole I think it is, I get it on prescription.


Just waiting to board the ferry

[Sue]

Yes Maz but you also know that sciatica is largely phantom pain caused by pressure on the nerves where they exit the spine. That doesn't mean the pain itself isn't serious but what it does mean that in many cases if you can find a way to relieve the pressure on the nerves you can get relief, and adjusting your spine curvature can be one way to do it in some cases.

Pressure is often by the piriforma muscle going into spasm and these exercises work on this muscle to stop the spasm. By getting the muscle to relax properly it does not bulge and thus reduces the pressure

[Cathy]

Thanks Sue

[Marilyn]

I am told by MRI that my Sciatic pain is due to narrowing of the spinal cord and two nerves pressing against 2 out of 4 bulging discs ( one bulging to the point of rupture) as a result. I can’t really believe ( with the greatest of respect) that any amount of stretching or exercise can help a narrowed spinal cord. BUT...I am always willing to try. I did the exercises this afternoon.

I do have an open mind. I would face East and hum on a mat if it would help.
I am struggling along without drugs...but honestly...there has to be an easier route. ( Neurosurgeon will not intervene until next disc “pops”. I dread THAT day...)

[PanBiker]

Similar to my incorrect diagnosis of spinal stenosis. A condition of narrowing of the channel that the nerves are routed from the bottom of the spine through the hips to the legs. The physio said that the exercises helped to keep the channel supple. Worst case scenario would be surgery to enlarge the route for the nerves, surgical intervention used when folk present paralysed or otherwise extremely debilitated. I committed to a range of exercises which did appear to ease my symptoms but I reckon that was just a slight improvement of suppleness in my lower back. I kept those up until the main event presented then all became clear. I still have some of the same routines to aid recovery from the surgery trauma.

[Marilyn]

I did try the exercises again tonight but they were not as comfortable as when I did them this afternoon. Couldn’t get my leg over at all.
Will try again tomorrow.
( I was warned about paraplegia, Panbiker, but dodged a bullet I think.)

[Sue]

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I am told by MRI that my Sciatic pain is due to narrowing of the spinal cord and two nerves pressing against 2 out of 4 bulging discs ( one bulging to the point of rupture) as a result. I can’t really believe ( with the greatest of respect) that any amount of stretching or exercise can help a narrowed spinal cord. BUT...I am always willing to try. I did the exercises this afternoon.

I do have an open mind. I would face East and hum on a mat if it would help.
I am struggling along without drugs...but honestly...there has to be an easier route. ( Neurosurgeon will not intervene until next disc “pops”. I dread THAT day...)

That as well, Maz, but often it is the spasm of this muscle that traps the nerve. This is often mis diagnosed. You and I both have the spinal nerve cause that traps the nerve, but the exercises help in both cases.

[Sue]

Ian the exercises have made me more or less pain free, but have little improvement in the range of movement in my lower back. My core is stronger that helps but there are. Any things I cannot do in pilates and yoga due to a removed disc and fused spine, but I don’t regret going to these classes at all. In general I am stronger, more flexible and relatively pain free.

[Marilyn]

I have a deep hot bath every morning and do stretching exercises in it. That helps immensely.

I put a knife through my Pilates ball and threw it away...I felt it could do more damage than good.

[Stanley]

Sue, muscle spasm.... Yes, I knew about that but forgot to mention it. Arthur told me that at the first sign of pain the muscle contracts to protect the spine and that spasm can automatically produce more pain. That's why for many years I took an enteric coated aspirin first thing every morning to counteract the tendency and I think it worked.



I shall be aiming for shed even though it's shopping and butcher's day. That hour in the shed is my version of Pilates!

[Marilyn]

Two sensations that drive me nuts...one is the constant feeling like I have my shoe laced up way too tight across the top of my foot ( I get this sensation even when barefoot). The other is that I have a wide constrictive band around my (same) knee, compressing behind the knee. There is no relief from it. There is nothing wrong with my knee or foot, but nerves have their own agenda and there isn’t a place you can press or scratch or rub to alleviate it.

[Sue]

Two sensations that drive me nuts...one is the constant feeling like I have my shoe laced up way too tight across the top of my foot ( I get this sensation even when barefoot). The other is that I have a wide constrictive band around my (same) knee, compressing behind the knee. There is no relief from it. There is nothing wrong with my knee or foot, but nerves have their own agenda and there isn’t a place you can press or scratch or rub to alleviate it.

I know those feelings well. I used to get attacks like that often after a long trip in the car. Thats when my physio and pilates teacher told me to sit and put my leg at right angles above my knee as far as I could. It does relieve it. I don’t like the pilates ball, although the physio gave me some good exercises with it. I do my stretching exercises in the shower.

Today we shall try and shop for the week so we don’t have to go out much. We have a lot of gardening and cleaning in the house today and the forecast is fair to middling for the week. We don’t want to come in contact with too many people. Sun shining this morning.

[Stanley]

"We don’t want to come in contact with too many people."
That's my policy as well Sue. Almost a form of self-isolation. It's easy for me of course living as a singleton and no problem sticking to it.
It's brightened up here as well, coming daylight well before 6 this morning, such an improvement.
I think it's my imagination but I feel more tired than usual this morning. I shall take note and have an easy day! Better safe than sorry....
I've just realised it's Friday the 13th.....

[Marilyn]

We haven’t been out all week! We haven’t seen anyone either, except in the distance!
A pretty normal week for us...

[Sue]

Its easier here than at home Stanley. There are 5 houses in the hamlet which is 3 km to the nearest village and 5 to the supermarket. One house is empty, two houses we never ever see the people there ( one works in a residential home, the other no one speaks to ) that leaves us and our two sets of friendly neighbours, all sensible. We shall see them but not invite them round. We may not go to see Roland. We are invited to our English friends, so apart from the supermarket that is it for 10 days.

There were about 50 cars only on the ferry and nearly everyone stayed in their cabins, including us but that was because it was rough and Bob got a mild dose of sea sickness and he is better lying down

[Stanley]

Sounds about right Sue. Hard luck Bob, I am lucky it's never happened to me.

[Marilyn]

You may find your travel back restricted Sue.
Australia had just released a “ no travel unless strictly needed” ban.

[Marilyn]

Hubby and I have just had the most hilarious conversations ( 5 in total...when we both went into the bathroom giggling about left and right ... about mirrors and reflections.) We are not in the same head-space.
I filmed the last discussion but won’t share it just yet. I have been doubled up in laughter trying to work out his thinking.
I love how we both question the world together at times, we find it a good laugh but rarely agree.
I love this man.

[Sue]

You may find your travel back restricted Sue.
Australia had just released a “ no travel unless strictly needed” ban.

We have been expecting it ever since we planned to come. If we are not ill, and we hope not there are plenty of jobs in both places to keep us busy, plus my book to write. We packed a months supply of medication when we came just in case. At the moment neither France nor the UK are restricting travel to each others country. One big problem may be that our ferry is stopped on economic grounds. They can’t afford to run long on only a few lorries and 50 cars per trip.



There is no toilet roll shortage here, the shelves are full and I just bought my usual 16 pack, which usually lasts until into the summer assuming our normal visits and lengths of stay. The shelves are empty of hand wash and soap though.

[Big Kev]

Today, I donned a cunning disguise to pass myself off as a giant to a class of 5 year olds. I think I pulled it off

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