KD Jones
09-11-2006, 04:14 AM
Over the last few weeks I've been obsessing about a problem with my lower back. I've had problems with what I THOUGHT was my right hip for a very long time (possibly as far back as high school, just after humankind finished the first rough draft of the wheel).
I've also had a number of other issues on my right side. I've had orthotics made twice, due predominately to issues with the right foot and knee, and both times given up wearing them due to lack of effect. Due to what I always thought was strictly a knee issue (pain, and my knee dislocates laterally when straight), I've worn knee braces I've had an MRI on my right knee, that came up empty, puzzling the orthopedist and resulting in cortosone injection by default. I've had some issues with my lower back, occasional tightness, aching, that sort of thing.
Due, apparently, to a massive feat of denial, until recently I'd only seen these issues as being connected by accidents of location. I hadn't considered them as being mechanically related in any causal way.
Not long ago, as a result of my attempts to deepen my CST practice, I came to view the hip issues more seriously. The Four Corner Balance Drill was especially taxing to the right leg and hip. So, I had another MRI done by an orthopedist who found a "slight protrusion" of the disc between my S1 and L5 vertebrae which appears to be exerting some degree of pressure on the L5 nerve root.
The orthopedist said that CST was probably supplying me with all the relief I was likely to hope for, and that nothing further could be gained from Physical Therapy. I wasn't likely to make things worse by continuing martial training - though it might hurt - and that I should continue CST.
It was respectfully suggested to me by one of our CST tribesmen, who is also a Physical Therapist, that the idea that Physical Therapy would not help was probably "horse puckey." This was a situation in which horse puckey was a very attractive diagnosis, so I got me unto a PT.
What the PT saw immediately was a problem with hyperpronation in my right foot, that causes the right leg to shear (approximately, rotate) medially (inward), which was very likely to be causing strain on the structures of the pelvis and lower back in compensation. So, I'm back to wearing orthotics, and doing a series of prescribed stretches (which I am viewing as MOVEMENTS, thanks to CST), and prescribed exercises to stabilize the muscles of the lower back.
The effect of the orthotics is entirely different this time around as a result of my experimentation with CST. Rather than just passively relying on the orthotics, I've been trying to view them as a reminder to maintain my arches while walking. As much as possible, I try to stay above them (this is partly due to my fear that reliance on them might weaken the supporting muscles of my feet). I've been trying to consciously avoid hyperpronating, and experimenting with maintaining the arch while supinating (which currently requires a lot of conscious and muscular work) as a compensation.
Another benefit of CST is that this time I went in looking for connections. I could understand the potential effect of the medial shear on the knee due to the inward grinding against the knees natural range of motion, but couldn't piece the rest of the issues together satisfactorily.
Until two nights ago.
I was going through an anatomy book, looking at the nerves affected by the protruding disc. It struck me to look into the muscles in the area of my historical "knee pain." I have NO idea why I hadn't done this before; I suppose I'd just chalked it up to the wierd, bendy knee, and left it at that. Oops.
This time I found that the area of the "knee pain" (just below the knee to the outside) was the approximate location of the extensor digitorum longus, peroneus longus, and the tibialis anterior, ALL of which are innervated by the common peroneal nerve, ALL of which evert the foot - MOVING IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF HYPERPRONATION - and to of which plantar flex (extend) the foot, which also works in opposition to the motion caused by the collapse of the arch in hyperpronation.
I could have written the previous paragraph fully in CAPS for my own purposes. It was a major epiphany for me, my head almost came off when it began to make sense. Since my wife is out of town on a business trip, I was forced to tell my six-year-old daughter about it, who thankfully has a considerable interest in anatomy, and some patience.
Since this, this process has truly become a rabbit hole. I'm finding more possible connections between nerves, movements and bones than anyone could ever chase down, given a hundred lives.
And this suddenly more visceral and intellectual sense of the complexity of the system calls to mind another CST inspired thought: I am one, big, slightly mangled TENSEGRITY BALL.
I can't wait until I can bounce back up off the floor.
I've also had a number of other issues on my right side. I've had orthotics made twice, due predominately to issues with the right foot and knee, and both times given up wearing them due to lack of effect. Due to what I always thought was strictly a knee issue (pain, and my knee dislocates laterally when straight), I've worn knee braces I've had an MRI on my right knee, that came up empty, puzzling the orthopedist and resulting in cortosone injection by default. I've had some issues with my lower back, occasional tightness, aching, that sort of thing.
Due, apparently, to a massive feat of denial, until recently I'd only seen these issues as being connected by accidents of location. I hadn't considered them as being mechanically related in any causal way.
Not long ago, as a result of my attempts to deepen my CST practice, I came to view the hip issues more seriously. The Four Corner Balance Drill was especially taxing to the right leg and hip. So, I had another MRI done by an orthopedist who found a "slight protrusion" of the disc between my S1 and L5 vertebrae which appears to be exerting some degree of pressure on the L5 nerve root.
The orthopedist said that CST was probably supplying me with all the relief I was likely to hope for, and that nothing further could be gained from Physical Therapy. I wasn't likely to make things worse by continuing martial training - though it might hurt - and that I should continue CST.
It was respectfully suggested to me by one of our CST tribesmen, who is also a Physical Therapist, that the idea that Physical Therapy would not help was probably "horse puckey." This was a situation in which horse puckey was a very attractive diagnosis, so I got me unto a PT.
What the PT saw immediately was a problem with hyperpronation in my right foot, that causes the right leg to shear (approximately, rotate) medially (inward), which was very likely to be causing strain on the structures of the pelvis and lower back in compensation. So, I'm back to wearing orthotics, and doing a series of prescribed stretches (which I am viewing as MOVEMENTS, thanks to CST), and prescribed exercises to stabilize the muscles of the lower back.
The effect of the orthotics is entirely different this time around as a result of my experimentation with CST. Rather than just passively relying on the orthotics, I've been trying to view them as a reminder to maintain my arches while walking. As much as possible, I try to stay above them (this is partly due to my fear that reliance on them might weaken the supporting muscles of my feet). I've been trying to consciously avoid hyperpronating, and experimenting with maintaining the arch while supinating (which currently requires a lot of conscious and muscular work) as a compensation.
Another benefit of CST is that this time I went in looking for connections. I could understand the potential effect of the medial shear on the knee due to the inward grinding against the knees natural range of motion, but couldn't piece the rest of the issues together satisfactorily.
Until two nights ago.
I was going through an anatomy book, looking at the nerves affected by the protruding disc. It struck me to look into the muscles in the area of my historical "knee pain." I have NO idea why I hadn't done this before; I suppose I'd just chalked it up to the wierd, bendy knee, and left it at that. Oops.
This time I found that the area of the "knee pain" (just below the knee to the outside) was the approximate location of the extensor digitorum longus, peroneus longus, and the tibialis anterior, ALL of which are innervated by the common peroneal nerve, ALL of which evert the foot - MOVING IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF HYPERPRONATION - and to of which plantar flex (extend) the foot, which also works in opposition to the motion caused by the collapse of the arch in hyperpronation.
I could have written the previous paragraph fully in CAPS for my own purposes. It was a major epiphany for me, my head almost came off when it began to make sense. Since my wife is out of town on a business trip, I was forced to tell my six-year-old daughter about it, who thankfully has a considerable interest in anatomy, and some patience.
Since this, this process has truly become a rabbit hole. I'm finding more possible connections between nerves, movements and bones than anyone could ever chase down, given a hundred lives.
And this suddenly more visceral and intellectual sense of the complexity of the system calls to mind another CST inspired thought: I am one, big, slightly mangled TENSEGRITY BALL.
I can't wait until I can bounce back up off the floor.