Pain in my butt

Straight from Wikipedia: (since I'm not allowed on WebMD anymore :)

Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve is compressed or otherwise irritated by the piriformis muscle causing pain, tingling and numbness in the buttocks and along the path of thesciatic nerve descending down the lower thigh and into the leg.

Runners, bicyclists and other athletes engaging in forward-moving activities are particularly susceptible to developing piriformis syndrome if they do not engage in lateral stretching and strengthening exercises. When not balanced by lateral movement of the legs, repeated forward movements can lead to disproportionately weak hip abductors and tight adductors.^[8] Thus, disproportionately weak hip abductors/gluteus medius muscles, combined with very tight adductor muscles, can cause the piriformis muscle to shorten and severely contract. Upon a 40% increase in piriformis size, sciatic nerve impingement is inevitable. This means the abductors on the outside cannot work properly and strain is put on the piriformis.

Well, I am still on this journey of healing. I guess we all stay on the journey, it just changes from day to day. Well, one day, I decided that it was time to get a second opinion. Or maybe just even an opinion. The sports medicine doctor I went to previously felt my glute and said, "hmm it's probably sciatica and gave me prednisone crazy pills." I love doctors, but I paid him $170 to tell me that.

So I went to another doctor, highly recommended in "diagnosing" things and finding out what is wrong. Not to mention two floors down from the other sports medicine doctor. He knew what I had almost before he did a physical exam. I told him I had gone to a physical therapist self referred and he told me I have a pelvis that is out of alignment. He said first I would have pain with that and second it wasn't and wouldn't cause numbness.

"You have Piriformis Syndrome. You are a classic case."

Not going to lie, I had never even known I had a piriformis muscle until now. But it all made perfect sense. I did all the things to cause it, and through my spine MRI they showed no indications of sciatica but I have almost the exact same symptoms.

He referred to me to the Hand and Orthopedic Rehab Clinic in Murray. I love it already. My therapist is very knowledgeable and very optimistic at me getting better... Which is great. Someone has to be. Slowly but surely, I feel progress...

Trying to move forward.

Well, if there is one thing the last month and a half has taught me, among the hundreds of things I have learned, is to slow down. Kimber, slow down? I know. But really, I heard a great quote the other day. Travel to fast and you miss all that you are traveling for.

The current status of my leg is myofascilar pain in my gluteus medius and my SI Joint is irritated because my right pelvis is set slightly forward from my left. So that is what I am working on healing right now. My physical therapist is really nice. He gave me three options to fix my pelvis. Two were kind of violent, so I am going the slow stretching route. We'll be positive that that method will be the method for me. . . :)

With that, every doctor I have seen.... too many to count, have strongly encouraged me getting active again, starting out with the bike and walking. I have also joined a yoga center. Two months ago, you would not have guessed Kimber would be at Yoga, but I am. And it is nice not only for your body, but for your mind.

My goal, carrot, and happy place at the end of the tunnel is the SoCal Ragnar in April. I have one of the easiest courses so I am being optimistic about being strong and ready for the race.

You can never say never, but I'm not sure if a marathon is in the cards for me again. I have worked my body a little too hard, and as all of you have injuries know, injuries are terrifying. Especially if running is your life blood. But this experience has taught me what really needs to be my life blood. And for that, I am grateful.

Thank you all for continuing to be tolerant of me, and most of all, praying for me. It hasn't been easy, but I am grateful for the trial. Without any storms, the grass would never grow.

My ride on the elliptical

This post has no pictures.

I think I'm writing about it to remind myself of what I have been through and to help me through the road ahead. So read along if you wish.

Four weeks ago Tuesday, I decided to go to the gym. With the inversion setting in combined with my deep hate for the treadmill, I decided to maybe jump on the elliptical for once. I did a few small stretches, leaned over to tie my shoes and jumped on. I was on for 25 minutes. I watched a little football and a little of the Kardashians.

When I stepped off, my legs felt different. Numb would be the best way to describe it. I couldn't feel the resistance you normally feel as you walk on your legs. Sometimes my feet go numb on the elliptical so I decided to go try to walk it off on the treadmill, but it didn't help too much.

Scared, I immediately left.

Over the next few days, the numbness subsided in my left leg, but not my right. My right leg just felt so tired. It was numb and almost hard to carry around.

And this is where my mind came into play.

My grandmother was diagnosed with M.S. when she was 40. I know the prevalence of getting it is stronger in a parent or a sibling but it still scared me.

I went to the doctor to get my normal check up. He sent me back the lab results. Good blood tests results.

I decided to go to the sports medicine doctor. As much as my mind wanted to think it was MS, I kept telling myself, would you really contract the disease in the span of 25 minutes on the elliptical?

The sports medicine doctor looked at me and said it might be my sciatic nerve and prescribed me prednisone for the next two weeks.

And then it got worse.

Prednisone is a steroid that helps with inflamed muscle and tissue. But it also does something else very interesting. Literally makes you go crazy. I was so nervous everyday. I couldn't sit still. And I sent myself into an anxiety whirlwind. Soon my hands started to feel numb on and off, and it made me even more anxious thinking I had something severely wrong with me.

So I went to the emergency room and the doctor prescribed me anti-anxiety medication and ordered me an MRI of my brain.

The MRI came back normal with no signs of MS. Good news right?

To a sound mind yes. To someone on strong steroids also taking anti-anxiety medication, no.

I cried everyday at work. I cried everyday at home. The only thing that made me feel better was holding my nephew. The day before Christmas Eve I took off of work. I took my last prednisone sooo excited that it would soon be over as I had already gone through two weeks of making myself crazy. Two hours later, the nervousness kicked in, and I developed parenthesia over my entire body within minutes. Numb everywhere. I could not feel myself scratch my skin. My face, my arms, my legs. The sensation was completely gone. At this point, I had no idea that you can hyperventilate so much you can cause this. But with prednisone in my system, I once again went to the worst thing.

I tried to sleep that night but I woke up in the middle of the night completely numb and scared as ever, I had my dad take me to the emergency room. There I laid with an IV in my arm, next to my dad, watching Christmas movies that were on the TV. I sat there and thought why I was being tested. I thought about how tired I was. I thought about how much I missed my husband... Thought of everything.

They decided to order an MRI of my entire spine which is a 90 minute procedure. The result. Normal upper spine, normal lower spine, normal middle spine. Normal.

The next few days were full of the same nervousness but coming off the medicine it was a little better. However, I had made a chiropractor appt. despite my dad saying I didn't need to. I thought I would just go since I had forgot to cancel it. The doctor said he could probably help me.

I got a small adjustment on Wednesday morning. Later that day I went back to the sports medicine doctor and he looked at my spine MRI report. "They don't even make any comments at all on this MRI." It looks like you have a bad case of anxiety.

That day I started feeling better, but then my back started hurting from the chiropractic adjustment. And the irrational behavior started all over again. What if I did something to my spine and now it isn't perfect. Do I need to get the MRI again? I had put myself back to square one.

Friday was a hard day. I went to the chiropractor bawling worrying that my back would never be the same again. He helped reassure me that it is normal to be sore and that my spine may have moved mm's. But the guilt set in that I hadn't listened to my dad. That I wanted immediate results, wasn't rationally thinking and now I have caused myself damage.

My dad took me to lunch that day and tried to bring me back down to Earth. He reminded me of my lack of sleep, of the medication I was on, and so on and so on. I went back to work that afternoon, functioned as much as I possibly could until 4:30, and then left. Went to my parents house and collapsed on their couch. I started feeling sorry for myself. How could I have let things get so bad? Why was my body so tired and so mad at me?

Kade came over and suggested we watch a documentary that his mom had suggested called, "The Secret," as I'm sure most of you have heard of. With swollen eyes, I watched that documentary, went home, and got into bed.

That night, I slept better than I had in probably a week. I decided yesterday I was going to use "The Secret" and see what it could do for me that day. In one day, Kade and I went out to lunch, went car shopping, and went over to his parents house all night for a new year's party. I wasn't tired. I didn't think about my leg. I didn't have anxiety.

Today, is good but not as good as yesterday. It's just like that. Good days, and bad days. I have decided to run with the good days, and use as many coping mechanisms I can find to get through the bad days.

Yes, I have caused myself headaches and backaches from not being patient and running to the chiropractor.

I have caused myself numbness and weaknesses from literally panicking myself into illness.

And when it comes down to it, I may or may not simply just have an irritated piriformis.

I am getting a Nerve conduction study next week to double check how my nerves are working and I will get those results back a couple weeks after. So until then, I am trying so hard to be stronger than my mind. And I suggest that all of you do the same. Don't let your mind control you. It is no way to live. I have been through more in the last 3 weeks than I can really even remember in my previous 25 years.

To all of you who I know and love, I am sorry I have not been myself. I really try so hard to be that Kimber that laughs it all off and smiles. I know your prayers have already helped me so much get through this. And mostly, I am so grateful that I have a loving Heavenly Father that has stayed by my side through it all and has not left me once. I have received amazing priesthood blessings. I have been comforted. And I have learned invaluable lessons. Lessons I'm not sure would have been possible without this trial.

I am so grateful for my amazing husband and my amazing family. I am so blessed. Soo soo blessed. Kade has held my hand through panic attacks, through tears, through rough nights, through it all. I married the most amazing guy. And what a blessing it has been to come home and receive a priesthood blessing when I need it.

I love you all. And I need you all. I am grateful for the tests I have received thus far helping me convince myself that I am healthy. Don't ever jump to the worst case scenario. It is the rare occurence. Just deal with what you have to deal with in the moment. Take it all a day at a time.

The arrival of James Bradley

My sister was supposed to be induced on Sunday seeing as James was getting so big and had not come on his own. As the week went on and nothing had changed, my family had become comfortable with the fact we would be at the hospital on Sunday to see James come into the world...

But little Mr. James had other plans.

With the two families, everybody had something going on everyday this week but Friday. I told James earlier in the week that Friday was his only option. And like a champ, he listed to his auntie.

I was awakened by a phone call at 1:30 am on Friday. James came very fast. Fast for the circumstances. Hopefully that is genetic because my mom had us very fast as well. By 7:30 they were getting everything ready and having her push.

The parents to be who's lives are drastically about to change....

I love this picture. This is right when they were about to get ready to start having Chelsea push. Her mother-in-law realized she was moments away from being a grandma. Such a cute moment.

One of the greatest parts about having a sister is moments like these. My sister had asked me to be in the room awhile ago. I knew I wasn't going to miss it, but I was also nervous. I come from a strong family of hard to reach veins and people who easily pass out. Because of this, I stayed at my sister's head. Don't want to be peeling me off the floor when there is a baby to deliver.

Chelsea only pushed for a half hour and then he came. I wish I could describe to you that moment. One minute he wasn't here and the next minute he was. A beautiful new life. I started crying and it honestly felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. How can you love someone you just met? I can't even imagine what that moment will feel like as a parent. I am so grateful my sister let me share that moment with her.

James Bradley with his namesake, James Kingsley.

James is temporarily in the special care nursery while they monitor his blood sugars and wait until they return to normal. Because of this, when we see him, we have to wash up to our elbows. Today I got to go hold him.

Even though James complied with the schedule I set for him to come to this Earth, I ended up canceling my Vegas trip for the Rock'N'Roll Half Marathon. I guess Corral 19 will never know was fun they missed out of runner 19664.

I traded this....

For this....

No brainer.

Love you little one.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

This week I participated in many activities to get the Christmas season started. No, not Christmas shopping. I am a way better procrastinator than planner, and I intend to keep it that way. :)

It started out with the Festival of Trees. SOFT of Utah decorates a tree every year for Primary Children's Medical Center. It is a great tradition for my family and for our SOFT Family. It is an amazing festival. This year, my mom also did a small tree in memory of my grandma who passed away this year. It was titled, "We're blue without you." My friend Billie came with me to auction night. Because my parents are donators, they get two tickets to auction night and this year I was able to go. When we got there, both the SOFT Tree and my grandma's tree had sold!

SOFT Tree

In front of Nonnie's tree

"We're Blue Without You"

Thursday night we had our corporate Christmas party for work. However, corporate is 40 miles north in Layton. I borrowed my mom's trailblazer and eight of us jumped in and laughed the whole way there and back. The wind was soo bad driving there and back. When we walked into the conference center all the decorations blew over from how bad the wind gust was. Guess we made a grand entrance.

Later in the evening the CEO of the bank got up and started a flash mob to "Rockin around the Christmas Tree." It was amazing... I was so excited. And for all of you out there, I would love to be invited to a flash mob one day! Would absolutely love it. Just throwing that out there.... Call me. :)

Enjoy!!

Christmas 1998 Style.

Once upon a time, these five were the biggest stars on the planet and I was in love! Now only one of them is the biggest star on the planet. Way to be Justin for making it! :) I still listen to this c.d. (I confess) Today it's getting me in the Christmas spirit. And also slightly making me feel like I am 12 again.

Wow am I getting old.....

Turkey Day weekend.

Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays at the Walton household. Not too much stress(I guess that will change when I am the mom, so I should enjoy it) and just great time with family. This year we started out our day with the traditional Cottonwood Heights Thanksgiving Day 5k. Over 1,700 people did it this year. Craziness. That many people running through a neighborhood up by Brighton High School. I did it with my friend from work, Caitlin, and Kade. He ran this race pretty fast at 28 minutes. I got these cramps that I get every now and then, that I can't run through but they go away after the first 3 miles. Doesn't exactly work when you are only going 3 miles. I ran through those as best as a I could and finished at 32 minutes. Still under an 11 minute mile even with the cramps. Small victories for me. I am turtle slow.

We ran into my best friend Maddi and her mom Stori. I was so close to wearing the same top as Maddi...Would have been funny...

Caitlin and I looking sexy. We got a ribbon because we beat the councilman. Hey, any gratification I can take, I will.

I also ran into my cousin Mike and my cousin Jon's wife. I tell ya, the C.Wood Heights 5 k is where it's at. Gotta love Mike's Movember stache.

Later in the day we went over to my parentals. This year, we ordered Marie Callender's, not knowing if we were going to be eating it at LDS hospital or not. Well, James has yet to show himself :( I keep telling James I miss him. I know I have technically never met him, but it seems to be the first thing that comes out when I talk to him. I felt him the other day and he moved just for me. Come out baby!!!

The bird

Zoey eating her Thanksgiving Turkey.

In the evening, we went over to Kade's Grandma Anderson's and played games. We had a blast. We kept getting really bad letters, but we made lemonade with lemons and killed the second round winning everybody else by 40 points. Those Z's are worth a lot of points.

Friday, I was lucky enough to have the day off. I went to the last game of the season with my friend Sara. It was a super sad game. We had a lot of our players get hurt and we missed a lot of FG's. :( Also, Colorado is an obnoxious team. Way way cocky and not the most ethical. I got a CU sweatshirt when I was in Colorado for a SOFT conference, Pre-PAC 12. Contemplating burning that sweatshirt!

Injury on the field. Player was taken to the hospital.

Wait, we might tie the game. We just have to get a 48 yard field goal!!

Boo...... Didn't get it.

After the game, Kade and I surprised Dana for his birthday and showed up at the Grand America Hotel where him and Michele were staying. Michele had us pick up PF Chang's and we sat in a big suite and had dinner, cake, and played Apples to Apples. Fun night. Happy 60th birthday Dana. You don't act or look a day over 40.

Saturday, Kade and I ran a bijillion errands, so at night we decided we would do our traditional put up the tree and watch Elf and Christmas Story. It was a great night. We don't have chill nights that often so it was nice. Here is the final product.

Don't you love Zoey's little stocking?

Merry Christmas season everyone!! Now we head into the craziness... :)