Anyone who knows me isn’t far from the truth when describing the steps I take as being connected to a total hypochondriac. He bumps his leg its must be broken. He chips a tooth forget calling the dentist; we need the entire Grey’s Anatomy staff.
I grew up in the bitter sweet extremely cold shivers that blanket the Big Sky Country of Montana—your entire life all anyone talks about is how they can feel it in their bones. Everything, including a mouse squeaking six blocks from the closest thing to privacy.
Chronic pain was once thought to be a disease and according to Dr. Norman Marcus the only way a person could make it through a day was to learn how to manage the pain rather than search for its cause.
Isn’t that what most of us do today? The right knee is killing you, the first effort of relief isn’t to buzz someone who’s been trained to recognize as well as help heal such uncomfortable situations but to fight our way through traffic to the nearest Wal-Mart because the giant box store has every pill imaginable fully capable of offering a good nights sleep.
Dr. Marcus believes muscles are the cause of chronic pain, stress being the leading cause or root to all evil. While under the big axe your body reacts…it become tense which totally takes out your surface level protection system leaving your steps forward in a state of, “Oh my God!”
Chronic pain isn’t a disease it’s a barometer of tension. What causes this collision of the senses? Stress, weakness, stiffness, spasms and trigger points—which at Wal-Mart is about hundred bucks of over the counter, unmeasured self serving pills gifting your life and style with about 32.4 ½ seconds of relief.
Dr. Marcus offers these drug free suggestions: Persistent pain always requires medical attention—don’t diagnose yourself. The first rule of thumb is to stop thinking of the pain as being a disease. Stop being afraid of movement, being inactive worsens the pain. The goal is to carry yourself through a normal day of work, love and laughter.
Begin a moderate exercise program. Don’t whip out the martial arts equipment and start banging your legs on a bag or shoving your hard headedness into a thick brick. Begin walking or swimming, take your time while taking in fall time in the Carolinas. Proper shapes of exercise always begin and end with relaxation. Don’t just limber up your legs and arms; get that ego involved as well…meditation is an incredible tool to keep in your exercise plan. The cool thing about it…it doesn’t weigh anything to carry it.
Warning: Dr. Marcus wants you to know your pain by documenting its behavior. If it’s associated with fever, chills, night sweats or headaches that’s a signal of there being something serious. Don’t hit the cheap earth friendly drugs at Wal-Mart call the doctor.
Not so ideal forms of exercise include those highly overpriced straight from a horror flick walking or exercise machines at the gym that shove your body into awkward positions. How about that new abdominal machine seen on late night television that allows your body to be swung to the left, then right, then left—I can’t wait to read the number of backs that are about to be tossed out of place. If you truly want to see what machines physically help the human body…spend a Saturday morning buzzing around the hood sneaking peaks of what’s being sold at garage sales. 90% of the time…if it’s in the driveway, it didn’t do a thing.
Dr. Marcus doesn’t want you to overdo muscle strengthening exercises. Sure the man and woman look great on that powdered drink you just purchased at GNC but nowhere on the label does it explain how they’re sleeping. Beautiful beefed up bodies require nourishment and water…lots of water—what’s the first thing we stop doing when trying to slim down…stop eating and mmmm I love me some power drinks fortified with 27 cups of sugar.
Stair step exercises at the gym in aerobics class or on the machine…they’re mean to your body, mind and spirit. The only mission they serve is to fulfill your love for chronic pain. No pain no gain right? When you have pain you have no reason to continue staying healthy. There are two major areas where people quit martial arts…white belt because it’s a different workout and green belt because at that level its beginning to affect your deeper muscles and tissues and boy howdy it messes with your mind and drive because working out is supposed to be fun not shaping the thought process of a having a winning attitude and spirit.
I know…lets get a treadmill! No way says Dr. Marcus! Its carpal tunnel of the legs—repetitive motion at the same pace beats the ba-jee-bees out of your day.
Walk outdoors; allow your mind to pass gas. Get natural and get yourself free by letting your body take its time rather than rushing. If your system of training flat out needs a bike and its snowing in October do the next best thing…a stationary bike is brilliant for your system. Cross country machines are another incredible step in the right direction. If done at a slow pace in the beginning with the idea of working your way to a longer period of time.
I have no problem talking to the pain in my knees, “Dude I’m not in the mood for you today.” Sometimes it listens and other days it’s ready to fight. Is it the shoes you wear? Be careful when you go there, mall stores live off spiffs and can’t wait to get your stinky toes in a nice pair of really expensive canvas. They've got money for Christmas and you ache horribly. Which is why I love martial arts…no shoes, no fancy space alien machines or weights I can barely lift…just 2,000 years of history that works no matter how bad the economy is.
I better stop writing…I’m becoming a chronic pain in your ***
Getting back to living…steal my art.
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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