Working On the Dance

I am at a point with my shoulder where I start to feel I can push things a bit but then I am reminded that there is still something very wrong with it. So, although I am doing more, I still have to be aware of what I can and what I can’t or shouldn’t do.

One area I am focusing on and have been working closely with Sifu Brinker on is the Lion Dance. Most of our one-on-ones have been focused on this. We are discussing techniques, strategies and aspects within the dance to focus on. We have had some great conversations and I am trying to pass this on to our current and future Lion Dancers.

My main reason for this and I have stated it before; is the major benefits you can get from practicing your lion dancing. A good example came from Saturday’s open training where Sifu Brinker was explaining a technique in a form and it was so similar to the wave in the Lion Dance. Just by practicing this, you would be practicing a part in the form. Anyway, I think it is important and I am hoping to get healed enough soon to start working more on my own Lion Dancing but until then< I will try to help our current dancers as much as I can.

Moving Forward

First an update on my doctor’s appointment. I have an ultrasound on my hips on July 13th and my shoulder on July 31st.I don’t expect much from the one on my hips beyond what the x-ray shows but hopefully from there, I can get in to see an orthopedic specialist to figure out a plan forward. The shoulder one is more frustrating as it will be over 10 weeks from the injury to the Ultrasound. And then there is still what the next steps are. However, I am trying not to dwell on it and continue to move forward.

I feel like as a team this year, we have quite a few members struggling with some fairly significant injuries. In the past I have sometimes not done as much as I should because of an injury but this year I am modifying what I do so I can continue to work on things.

Even in the past when I did modify it was to the extreme of eliminating certain things entirely. This time, I am still doing as many things as I can but smartly and safely. This includes still using weapons, still doing forms and still doing techniques. I am however unable to do my bench form due to the amount of strain it puts on my shoulder. However, I am still working on the sequence without the bench. Is it the same? No but it is allowing me to continue to work on it.

I still get frustrated sometimes as I can’t do certain things when I try them, but I am getting better at adapting and modifying how I do them so I can continue to work on it. It is not perfect but it is what I am able to do and what I will continue to do.

Numbers

I have a follow up appoitment with my doctor tomorrow to see what the next steps are. I will blog about this later but until then I am going to post my numbers to the end of May

Push-Ups and Sit-Ups - 14,980 (2,520 of the pish-ups are modified due to my shoulder)

KM's - 444

Sparring - 174

Lao Gar - 245

Bench - 60 (have not been able to do since injury - still working on the footwork but not counting these reps)

Blog -14

AOK - 387

An Answer Hopefully.

I finally was able to see a doctor about my hips and shoulder. Of course, the first thing that was scheduled was x rays. I didn’t thin k this would show anything but it was the first step he said and we would then go from there to an ultrasound most likely. I received my results yesterday and the results were eye opening to say the least.

First the shoulder, not much to report there except some mild osteoarthritis in the AC joint. Not surprised by this but it doesn’t explain my sudden problems so waiting for follow up with the doctor for next steps here as it is still painful and nit right. The hips are where it gets interesting. The thing that stands out here is I have a shortened left femoral neck which is either congenital or posttraumatic and it could be either as I did some things when I was younger that could have damaged it (involved a springboard and a hard gym floor).

To be honest, I had no idea what this was so I had to look it up. The main symptoms are limping, pain and limited mobility. The pain can radiate down to the knee and it worsens with repetitive exercises. It also weakens the hip abductor along with the hip joint itself. A shortening of 5mm or more is associated with inferior hip function and chronic pain. Pretty much everything that I am feeling is here.

The treatment at this point is unknown as I will have to follow up with an orthopedic specialist and see what my options are. There may be physical therapy options, orthopedic devices or in extreme cases, surgery. I have no idea where I am at and what my options are, but at least I feel like I am finally on a path to getting some kind of a solution at least.