Early bird walkin'

Getting well into middle age has has its pleasures and its issues. One of the issues I've been dealing with lately is some pretty severe lower back pain. I've been seeing a chirpractor since early February with mixed results.

We finally decided I should go in for x-rays to see if there was a reason that the results have been so hit and miss. The good news is that there's nothing serious. But as usual, my body is not factory-spec, either. Two things are probably giving me the most issues. First, my lowest vertebrae is mostly fused to my tailbone. And probably the biggest culprit is that the final nerve canal at the base of the vertebrae is significantly smaller than the other ones, and is likely pinching on the nerves that are causing me the most pain.

So what's the cure? There really isn't one, but there are things you can do to relieve pressure. And of course number one on the list is lose weight. Seems the answer to every issue in my life is to lose weight. So on the days that I am in less pain, I have started pulling myself out of bed to walk a couple of miles before the work day starts with my neighbor, Handy Granny. Handy Granny has come up with a great idea on exercise. Instead of hiring repairmen to do the chores around her house, she is doing them herself. She moves more, and gets exercise at the same time. Go Granny!

Some days I'm in better shape than others to walk, but she brings me coffee and we go at my pace. I managed four out of five days this past week. When we're done, I'm up and ready to get going with my day. And like Handy Granny, I'm moving more.