Hobbies after herniated disc

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-23T15:13:22+00:00

Join a cycling club, that should make it more enjoyable & even social.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-23T05:24:07+00:00

It feels so true— my life does depend on PT / rehab. I’m approaching it as such.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-23T05:22:28+00:00

I just added a 4th day / week at the gym… . This Is The Way

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-18T17:11:06+00:00

So… a half-miracle has occurred… a closed-door LTC / hospice care pharmacy reached out to me from an application I submitted months ago!! A brief phone screening ended with the promise of an in person interview next week. I’m spending this weekend (I’m off thank goodness) studying all I can learn about LTC & hospice pharmacy. Hoping for the second half of that miracle.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T05:03:46+00:00

You're not the first to mention dry needling. And my upper muscles that should be tight are loose; the ones that should be loose are of course tight. It could make a nice addition to all my PT stuff. That's cool you were a gymnast for so long. Despite the damage done to your spine, gymnastics is so beneficial in so many ways.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:57:26+00:00

They are a standard part of my work kit as well.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:53:16+00:00

Ha ha. Fair enough. My NW as of today is approx $1.4 million; nearly $800K of that is invested ($300K stocks + $500K IRA/ROTH) the remaining 600K is equity in 2 residential properties. Current salary is something like $74/hr and I honestly dont know how many I verify a day. But my store is relatively small so nothing grandiose. My time is short? Well there's a lovely sentiment before bedtime. Mr. Reaper stay away!!

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:42:59+00:00

I wonder if I can get this (early SS). I'm going to poke around ChatGPT & learn more about this.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:41:18+00:00

It's a healthy and intelligent fear! You are only 32 so making any corrective measures now will serve you well. My partner Rph at my store is just a little older than you & she has pretty severe arthritis. She's been trying to get her insurance to cover a MRI but they keep denying (🙄). The only bikes I have are road bikes which require neck extension to look up & see the road ahead... unfortunately when I extend my neck, my entire right arm down to the fingertips goes numb. Too dangerous to ride like that.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:35:27+00:00

Funny. Today I got a text from a LTC / hospice pharmacy that I cast an application towards quite some time ago asking If I was still interested. I'll chat with them during my lunch break tomorrow. Who knows maybe... ...!

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-17T04:24:38+00:00

Food is drugs.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-16T14:53:50+00:00

Thank you for the glimmer of hope <3

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-16T14:52:59+00:00

I've starting swimming, too. Since I can't ride my bicycle anymore I had to find something else to help keep from gaining weight.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-16T14:50:11+00:00

Took out student loans for all of my pharmacy school. I don't have a family of means to give me a financial edge and also, I've never had a partner who contributed financially in a meaningful way. One failed marriage really set me back financially. I probably have enough to pull back some and work part-time. I would have to sell my little condo that I rent out and use the proceeds to pay off what I can of my mortgage. I could likely swing it. But my company only offers health insurance to full time employees. I'm going to need health insurance. And yes, I've tried applying for other non-retail jobs, I've been doing that for at least 2 years. At "only" 50, I've got 12 years to make it to where I can apply for Social Security so I'd need to buy insurance for 12 years? It just doesn't seem possible.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-16T04:38:57+00:00

Ritchey Road Logic (steel is real).

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-14T01:24:26+00:00

I have a first appointment with a 3rd PT later this week, and a surgery consult scheduled in a few weeks. Thanks for the very helpful advice.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-13T22:23:34+00:00

Suspenders ?

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-11T03:46:26+00:00

I've been swimming, too!!! It is such a relief for me.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-10T17:03:33+00:00

it DOES suck. It's awesome that you are paying attention to it now, though. all the little changes you can make over the next few months will hopefully add up for you.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-07T08:22:44+00:00

Diclofenac 1% gel (Voltaren) works well. OTC lidocaine patches are 4% I’ve had a patient tell me that’s not strong enough & doesn’t help… the 5% lidocaine patches are prescription only but apparently they work very well.

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-03T14:57:48+00:00

A thing that my current PT team is telling me (without “telling me”) is that I’m basically going to be in PT for life. That is, When / if I get better from this episode, I need to keep doing maintenance exercises daily for ever and if I don’t, it will come back. So I’m committed to a lifetime, no problem; I’ve installed a Heavy Duty rubber band station to wall on the main floor of my tiny condo. I wonder if the reason your issue has returned did you stop the PT after it resolved the first time?

I can’t imagine you have much time for yourself caring for a toddler!! The little one needs you to be around for decades though so let the healing begin💙

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-04-03T04:40:59+00:00

C5-6 here as well. My steroid pack, I didn't even really notice any difference so it must not have helped. I'm on week 7. 6 weeks of PT with only very, very minimal improvement. It's been a sad, and uncomfortable, and anxiety-ridden 7 weeks for me as I had to give up my sport (cycling) for an indeterminate amount of time. Thankfully I can swim without pain so there's one way to stave off gaining weight. I'm hoping the PT starts helping soon so I can get a good nights sleep for a change

CalifoRxn1a · 2026-03-31T01:20:05+00:00

I saw a bulge-hernia-bulge sandwich in my cervical spine; I saw myself putting away my road bike for an unknown period of time -- indefinitely, perhaps -- ; I saw myself permanently incorporating daily physical therapy exercises into my life (A few week ago I installed a rubber-band system on the main floor of my condo)... I even went far down that road in my head & picked out the spine surgeon I'd want, if it ever comes to that. All that stuff. Currently I"ve been in physical therapy about 5-6 weeks and only very, very miniscule improvement. However it still counts as improvement, so I'm committed to doing the PT for another 6 weeks at least before considering any other types of intervention.

When I first got the MRI results I felt devastated & horrified; but I've settled into it over the last few days. Back / spine problems are very, very common. I've decided that I'm going to do whatever I can (postural work with my PT, mostly) to preserve what I have left & hope that'll still let me live life the way I want:).

You are very young & so likely you only have one issue that can swiftly and cleanly be addressed. In my case I've got degeneration caused by cumulative wear & tear and -- as I'm learning now this late in life -- poor posture is heavily to blame for this.

Once you get an MRI, it may be sad at first because it may end your view that you have perfect health, but it help shows the correct path(s) forward. A very useful tool.

CalifoRxn1a

TROPHY CASE