Update on my ES Journey

The past half year or so has been hard, with alot off stuff going on both physically and mentally.

It has been a ride for sure, and i’ve become stronger than ever both mentally and physically.

I’ve been struggeling alot after the surgery with nerve pain and severe lower and mid back pain aswell as shoulder and neck pain, this has now resolved.

The solution has been going to therapy for mental illness aswell as going trough a program at a chiropractic center.

With lots off running, workout and the like it has been a major impact for the aftermath after surgery.

Im fully back at work, working three jobs and also travelling alot.

The past half year i’ve been training for half marathon wich i took part in the last weekend in may, i finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Not the best time, i was hoping for 2 hours and 25 minutes but it was my first half marathon ever.

Next up i will compete in 10k run in late september.

I must say, getting back to running has made a huge difference in my life both for ES and my mental health.

Take care everyone!

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Hi where did you have your operation?

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My surgery was at St.Olavs Hospital in Trondheim Norway :saluting_face:

@Henrik Well done!

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Wow, you have been busy! I’m glad that your pain has improved, you’ve been able to get back to running, & that it’s improved your mental health as well as your physical health…
Thank you for your update and hope that you keep getting stronger :folded_hands:

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@Henrik - So good to hear from you! You look GREAT!!

What an accomplishment to have trained for & run a half marathon!! I know from experience how much time training takes & the joy of completing the event regardless of the finish time. You also got a great bib number!! Mine were always some series of numbers I couldn’t remember. :joy: CONGRATULATIONS!! :partying_face: :clap: :confetti_ball:

Working 3 jobs! That’s a huge accomplishment & amazing progress. I hope you don’t wear yourself out between work & training for your runs. :man_running:

I’m so glad your pain is gone & you’re feeling so much better. You worked hard to recover and now you’re reaping the benefits. I’m really happy for you! :hugs:

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Thank you !

I was in tears off joy and relief when i crossed the finish line. The interesting part off running long distances is how much you have to work with yourself, talk to yourself alot and just push trough regardless off how sore your legs and muscles are. The real heavy work is not the running itself, it is the mental part and also the planning off preserving power and energy before and during the race.

You kind off learn the way off being your own “boss”.

And i noticed how much the cheering from the crowd helped in certain segments off the run, i have never thought about how much that really means.

The bib number yeah hahaha, the secretariat told me i got a good number :rofl:

And the post-marathon hunger, oh my days how much i could eat the hours after. Good thing that my family had a barbeque at the camp site near the race :rofl:

I mostly work rotation now, almost like offshore-rotation. So that will be 14 days on job and 21 days off the jobb(free) so if i have to or feel it is necessary to take some days offf in between jobs it is kind off no problem.

The only thing is when im travelling in between jobs, i notice that sometimes the stress from travelling can trigger some pain, but it rearly become seriouse enough and it lasts for a couple off hours, and i mostly stay at hotels that is well equiped with good beds and pillows.

Offcorse regarding ES symptoms, there is still some days i have pain and it gets triggered somehow, but it lasts just for a day or two. Im still seeing a chiropractor, the program im going trough is every 4th week. With lightly adjusting the spine and the neck, and also lightly manipulations off shoulder and neck muscles.

We have worked alot with different muscles around the neck, jaw and shoulder mostly.

There is one muscle we always try to work alot with and that helps with jaw and ear pressure, i guess it is the media pterygoid and lateral pterygoid. Wich my chiropractor have to go from the inside off my mouth with his thumb or little finger and make some sort off pressure to “realese” the tension off these muscles, it is quite painfull but after 5 minutes the tension starts to go away aswell as the ear pressure. I guess the tension off these muscles can also be a factor for headaches and migrenes aswell as tension in the eyes.

We do also some kind off breathing excercises to realese tension from the mid and lower back muscles, i can’t exactly explain how this is going on practically, im going to ask him next time if i can get a hold on one off his reports wich can tell you what he is actually doing. He is very good and highly trained.

We do also work alot wit the temporalis and masseter muscles, he uses a pressure gun and that will decrease the tension.

Every time we also chek for rotational problems off the neck before we start.

Thank you! I guess i can recomend that you have to chek your mental state, because i think alot off my problems got better after dealing with the mess and state i was in. Mental stress creates alot off cortisol, and high levels off cortisol is not a good combination with imflamation everywhere else in your body, it just keeps it worse.

And i have learned the hard way, sometimes you have to let something go to be able to grow and make space for new things and new people to come into your life, you’ll be suprised i tell you!

That is just life in a nutshell! :saluting_face:

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Hi, congratulations on your achievements! Both mentally and physically. I am having a lot of the same pains post surgery - the pain travels with a few days or weeks in my mid and lower spine, then it moves to my cervical spine and base of skull, then my shoulder etc etc. I have a week or so with little pain and then it all starts back up again. I’m wondering if this is part of recovery…?
Are you able to tell me when you had your surgeries? I’m 6 months post op.
Thank you

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I totally agree w/ this. I found that after I’d done a few races (I was slow but could go the distance), my mind knew I could do it so the mental part became easier. I think challenging ourselves physically does help build our mental & physical endurance not just for athletic events but also for hard things that happen in our lives (like ES). It can help us have physical & mental perseverance to some extent.

Your job sounds exhausting but interesting. I’m glad you get a block of time off to recover. I can imagine the stress of traveling for work & having to sleep in different beds than your own could trigger some old ES pain. I have found that I’m still experiencing nerve recovery 10 years after my surgeries. It’s amazing how our bodies keep working to heal & help us thrive.

I have had chiropractic work in my mouth like you’re describing, but never even thought to ask what muscles were being worked on. I agree it’s quite painful but the end results are good. Mine was less for ES & more due to worn out TM joints which affect my bite. Getting the pterygoid muscles worked on always helped for a month or more.

I also have experienced this & completely agree with you, @Henrik! I’m glad you’re on a new & healthier path. :blush:

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