Motion is Lotion

Six years ago I began to develop severe lower back pain.  Severe arthritis was the culprit.  This was during Covid, and just before Ron passed away, so I had a lot of stress, which I thought might be a contributing factor.  After a little physical therapy with no significant improvement, I had two spinal injections.  It was like magic.  I had two injections, and no pain for five years.  Now it has begun again.

My first thought was to go right to the pain doctor and get steroid injections.  My primary doctor said, "Let's try physical therapy first."  I was skeptical, but I'm so glad I listened to him, because I met Jennifer.

My physical therapist, Jennifer, explained to me that my severe arthritis five years ago is now five years worse!  I first met and explained to Jennifer my symptoms, and how a 20 minute walk first thing in the morning seems to stretch out my back and make me almost pain free, she said, "Motion is lotion."  I had never heard that phrase before, but it makes perfect sense.  The joints and nerve endings have been sleeping all night and are stiff.  Walking loosens them up, gets things moving.  So, motion is a lubricant to get the stiffness out of my back.

Jennifer has me on a program of light stretching every day and a little strengthening for my lower back.  It seemed to work for a while, but over the last two weeks has worsened.  The pain doctor is going to do epidural injections again, with the hope that I will have the same great results I had the first time.  You just never know.  

I'm sorry the stretching and walking wasn't a complete fix, but I hope the injections will help.  I do know that walking and movement, at least for me, makes everything better.  Thank you Jennifer for teaching me that "Motion is lotion."