In a Pinch

It's the old "between a rock and a hard place" that I find in myself these days. No, I meant it that way, in myself. It's not anything epic, like the decision whether to order Coke or Pepsi at lunch. By the way, I informed the waiter yesterday that I would take a Diet Coke or a Diet Pepsi. That's noteworthy because I am in Atlanta at the moment. He did not throw me out, but just acknowledged it would be Coke. Of all the faux pax's!

Getting back to this issue of the bind that was revealed clearly on the MRI I had a couple of weeks ago. Both hip and back pain have been dogging me this year and it became clear that professional help was needed. As said professional reviewed the images, she used the phrase "as we mature" quite often to explain the general lay of land, so to speak. But there were two noticeable irregularities (the reason I am never having my head examined). Seems I have a slightly bulging disk and a cyst at just about the same location down my back. They conspire to pinch the nerves resulting in a big "OUCH." Here they are in one of the MRI images:

In addition, I have arthritis in my hip. So, we are in the early phases of dealing with the findings. Cortisone has been involved and for now, it has helped a lot. But, as I continue to "mature," I imagine there will more new and exciting things to deal with. Good news? I'll probably not run out of material for the blog!

And there is this: I can still ride. If anything, cycling the hills and highways around western Wisconsin as proven that if there is any effect at all, it is therapeutic. It's sort of like having a walker you can ride.