Day 19: I No Longer Had Back/ Knee Pain

11 year old me with my brother Brian.

90% of upper and lower back pain can be cured by strengthening your back muscles and losing weight. 

My knee pain started when I was 12.  "Osgood Schlatters" is what the doctor called it.  One put me in a full leg brace for 3 months.  Now think about that.  I'm a plus sized soon to be teenager with a full leg brace.  Try explaining that one to any peer without BEING MADE FUN OF. Really what it was was my weight had increase so rapidly my knees couldn't handle the stress.  I continued to deal with the pain until I started walking and dropped "A James." One day I realized that the pain that had been with me for 20 years was gone.  The year before that I had started having lower back pain.  That was gone, too.

James weighs 60 lbs and Toby 30.  They like to play "Beaver Sandwich" and pile on top of me.  Sometimes I lay there flattened to the floor with my nose pressed against the wood and think, "I lost 2 Toby's and a James- wow!"  Or, "Oh my gawd I carried this around every day!" On summer mornings I strap the 2 boys in the bike trailer and pedal down to the park.  Sure, it's like dressing a monkey in a tu tu, they submit to being on top of each other and we take off.   Inevitably it will get to the point that I want to get off and walk the bike.  That's when the poundage that I lost creeps into my head. 

Weight causes stress on all parts of your body.  If the pain is too bad, get in the pool.  I did, there are several aquatic classes out there tailored to people w/ joint pain.  Aqua jog was one I tried, it was pretty fun.  Cycling is another great option!  There are yoga and Pilate's dvd's for neck/back pain.  Sure, it will be hard at first but give something a try.



My first day of high school 2 years later. 
Margie is 1 year older than me and I believe Kevin is repeating "Freshman", probably because it drove me flipping nuts.