If my few readers (it's okay to laugh at that), have wondered where I disappeared to, it is a technical glitch. I have been unable to post photos from my phone. And, since almost any story is better with illustrations, I haven't been updating the blog when I post to my Year of Living Purposefully Facebook page.

So, what have you missed?

First, I hurt my back two weeks ago doing burpees (http://www.usabestadvisor.com/how-to-do-a-burpee-10-steps/. ) It wasn't Josh's fault. He called me on the over extension on my jump back as soon as I did it. He said, "Don't over extend like that and keep your back straight or you'll hurt yourself." To which I replied, "I already have."

At first the pain wasn't that much different in intensity than my usual hip pain on my right side...more on that later....but, a few days later, I was reaching for something on a high shelf and over extended again. I felt the injury instantly. That was on Saturday night; I barely got out of bed on Sunday or Monday. Sitting and standing made the pain much worse. I did force myself to go workout with Josh on Tuesday. I told him about the pain and he put me through a warm up that really seemed to help but when we got into our workout, we had kettle bell swings as one of the movements in the set. It hurt and I should have let Josh know right away but I soldiered through and I felt better after the workout for a while. That is that post workout high, even if you're exhausted, you feel great when your blood is pumping. I came home, grabbed a water and a post workout protein snack and sat down on the bed to watch the afternoon news. I thought I wouldn't be there over 20 minutes but I never got back up, at least not that day.

Kettle Bell Swings

I wasn't just hurting in my lower back now. There is a spot in my groin area that has bothered me for at least nine months. At first, I was concerned that it had something to do with the surgery I had to remove my cancerous uterus two years ago. I saw my oncologist in February and asked him about it. When I described it, he said he thought it was orthopedic and related to my spine or back. I went to my primary with it and she just tested me for a urinary tract infection and let it go once that came back clear. A few weeks after that, I had a colonoscopy which turned out great so it wasn't a GI problem. It wasn't a terrible pain and I chose to ignore it after that. Then I hurt my back and after my workout with Josh, Tuesday of last week, it really started hurting. It was a pain that was throbbing and deep and almost burning and it was very localized. My friend thought it might be appendicitis and my husband, Steve, wanted to take me to the ER. I refused but by the next night, I did want him to call our old doctor, Jan Hahn, who is practicing again after taking a break to teach for awhile. I trust this man more than any doctor I know and I knew he'd get to the bottom of the problem...and he did.

He saw me the very next day. He listened intently while I described my problem and he took notes and asked questions. Then he x-rayed my hip where he pointed out some arthritis in the hip joint. He had me move in various directions and ways and then he examined me physically. His conclusion, the main problem is my sacroilliac joint. I seriously thought that was a made up word. To me, it sounded like something Bugs Bunny would say, "Sufferin' Succotash! It's her Sacroilliac!" But it is a real thing and injury or problems with it are more common in women than me. It's the place your hip joins your spine and it isn't fused because we'd walk stiffly like a robot if it were. It has actually bothered me my entire life to some degree but I always thought it was my hip joint. I was so wrong.

The good news is, it is very treatable with over the counter anti-inflammatories and the right exercises...and not doing any exercise that will exacerbate the problem...like kettle bell swings and burpees. Josh is on top of that so no worries there. I trust him just like I trust Dr Hahn. We actually have already had a lengthy discussion about what we will do and not do until this is better and we went through a very satisfying workout that left me feeling better than I have in two weeks...or maybe longer. He's also recommended that I make bird-dogs and every day activity. But I'm getting ahead of myself because there were three stressful, worry filled (and ice cream and french fries and my first beers in five years which got me quickly drunk since I've lost all tolerance but made me feel much better) days over the weekend because Dr Hahn thought the pain in my groin might be a hernia and would require surgery. The surgery terrified me because of the two months post that I wouldn't be allowed to workout or lift anything over five pounds. I've worked so hard to get myself in shape for these last four months with Josh and I saw that all going out the window. I thought, I'll be starting from scratch two months from now.

So, I made an appointment with the surgeon Dr. Hahn recommended and went to see him Tuesday morning anticipating a quickly scheduled surgery and all that down time. I was not a happy camper despite the two Negra Modelos I had with dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant the night before...which did make me feel happy and pain free for a few blissful hours, lol. The doctor talked to me and examined me and he gave me some good and hopeful news. He's not a 100% certain that I have a hernia since I have no bulge. He thinks that my pain may actually be from my back injury and he would rather wait and see if the groin pain goes away with the back pain. He said, if the pain intensifies or other signs appear, I should come back immediately but if and until that happens, he will not cut on me without being certain he has a reason, too....and for that, I'm very grateful.

I met with Josh yesterday afternoon and like I said above, I was certain he'd know what to do and he did. That kid is just the best! Here are the
stretches and exercises he has me doing to help my sacroiliac (Sufferin' Sucotash!)

Bird Dogs

Child's Pose

Planks