Bionic Me
This past week, I had to brace myself for work more than usual. I started wearing a sacroiliac joint (SI) belt, which seems to be a life changer for me. It's less invasive-feeling to than the lumbosacral support I had been wearing to work for months, and because the compression is directly over my SI joints instead of distributed across my entire low back, it actually holds my pelvis in place.
My shoulder is still aggravated from whatever I did to it last week (still have no idea), so I've been wearing my new $150 shoulder stability brace. It helps me get through the work day, but I still do not trust my shoulder enough to test it on aerial silks - I even had to modify some of my PT exercises - so I've missed aerial now 2 weeks and counting.
For work, I always wear a brace on my left wrist, a ring splint on each hand, and an arch support directly on each foot.
So bionic me is actually feeling pretty okay this week. My back has been in very minimal pain, which is something I haven't experienced in months. It's actually awesome, and the SI belt may go down as my best purchase ever.
But then there's the emotions, and I don't have any braces to help with that.
My SI belt gives me the most massive love handles/muffin top I've ever seen on myself. The shoulder brace has an abdomen strap to hold it in place that pushes some more fat down toward the love handles, giving me a lovely belly pouch. I've spent my mornings struggling to find clothing that a) covers all the skin under the braces so that I don't break out in hives because that's still happening, b) covers the braces and fat distribution sufficiently that I don't panic every time I think about how I look or catch a glimpse in the mirror, and c) is comfortable and appropriate for work, preferably with pockets for stickers and small balls for the kids, and preferably that I don't overheat in with my very active job.
Compounded with the fact that I can't go to aerial with my shoulder and can't really think of good alternative activities I can do without aggravating my shoulder, I'm feeling pretty terrible and self conscious about my body. Getting dressed for work or active social activities is taking at least double my usual time, as I try to find something to wear that works with all the braces and does not look horrific. It's very frustrating to finally begin to feel physically better, but then to get hit with additional emotional challenges and self-consciousness simultaneously. I am trying to reduce sugar in my diet again, and changing my workout routine to include more (low-impact) cardio, so hopefully that will help me feel better about my body's appearance.
When it comes down to it, the benefit to my physical health that the SI belt provides outweighs the frustration and anxiety surrounding my appearance with it on. I've already accepted that I need to wear my super-de-duper cool backpack straps around my hips and sternum on my commute every day, so what's one more sacrifice of my external appearance in favor of feeling physically good now and ensuring the longevity of my career. Bionic me is certainly more ready to take on the world.
My shoulder is still aggravated from whatever I did to it last week (still have no idea), so I've been wearing my new $150 shoulder stability brace. It helps me get through the work day, but I still do not trust my shoulder enough to test it on aerial silks - I even had to modify some of my PT exercises - so I've missed aerial now 2 weeks and counting.
For work, I always wear a brace on my left wrist, a ring splint on each hand, and an arch support directly on each foot.
So bionic me is actually feeling pretty okay this week. My back has been in very minimal pain, which is something I haven't experienced in months. It's actually awesome, and the SI belt may go down as my best purchase ever.
But then there's the emotions, and I don't have any braces to help with that.
My SI belt gives me the most massive love handles/muffin top I've ever seen on myself. The shoulder brace has an abdomen strap to hold it in place that pushes some more fat down toward the love handles, giving me a lovely belly pouch. I've spent my mornings struggling to find clothing that a) covers all the skin under the braces so that I don't break out in hives because that's still happening, b) covers the braces and fat distribution sufficiently that I don't panic every time I think about how I look or catch a glimpse in the mirror, and c) is comfortable and appropriate for work, preferably with pockets for stickers and small balls for the kids, and preferably that I don't overheat in with my very active job.
Compounded with the fact that I can't go to aerial with my shoulder and can't really think of good alternative activities I can do without aggravating my shoulder, I'm feeling pretty terrible and self conscious about my body. Getting dressed for work or active social activities is taking at least double my usual time, as I try to find something to wear that works with all the braces and does not look horrific. It's very frustrating to finally begin to feel physically better, but then to get hit with additional emotional challenges and self-consciousness simultaneously. I am trying to reduce sugar in my diet again, and changing my workout routine to include more (low-impact) cardio, so hopefully that will help me feel better about my body's appearance.
When it comes down to it, the benefit to my physical health that the SI belt provides outweighs the frustration and anxiety surrounding my appearance with it on. I've already accepted that I need to wear my super-de-duper cool backpack straps around my hips and sternum on my commute every day, so what's one more sacrifice of my external appearance in favor of feeling physically good now and ensuring the longevity of my career. Bionic me is certainly more ready to take on the world.
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