The Benefits of Tapping

I watched a reel on Instagram by @mikechangofficial in which he expounds on the benefits of tapping. Here is a link to the reel.

I tried it out briefly tonight and it felt good. I should incorporate into my daily exercise regime which is pretty much non-existent at the moment. First thing in the morning would be a good time to get myself kick-started. I have been doing a reasonable amount of gardening which I've found is an inadvertent way of exercising. The constant crouching down and getting up is equivalent to doing full squats and the pushing, pulling and digging is all beneficial. It's important that I keep doing that.

I've been applying a steroid cream to the persistent sore on my lower right back. It's troubled me for well over a year and I usually cover it with a band-aid and forget about it but I happened upon it as a possible remedy. So far I've been applying it for a few days and it's certainly become less sensitive. Here are some details regarding it (courtesy of Bard):

Mometasone furoate cream is a steroid cream that is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and allergic dermatitis. It works by reducing inflammation, itching, and redness.

Mometasone furoate cream is available in a variety of strengths, and the strength that is right for you will depend on the severity of your skin condition. It is important to use mometasone furoate cream as directed by your doctor, and to not use it for longer than you are prescribed.

Some of the common side effects of mometasone furoate cream include burning, stinging, itching, and dryness of the skin. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. However, if you experience any serious side effects, such as skin thinning, skin discoloration, or blistering, stop using the cream and contact your doctor.

Mometasone furoate cream is a safe and effective treatment for a variety of skin conditions. However, it is important to use it as directed by your doctor and to be aware of the potential side effects.

Mometasone furoate cream is usually applied once a day to the affected area of skin. The amount of cream you will need to use depends on the size of the affected area. A pea-sized amount is usually enough to treat an area the size of an adult hand.

You should wash your hands before and after applying the cream. Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area and rub it in gently until it is completely absorbed. Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or wrap.

Mometasone furoate cream is usually used for 2 to 4 weeks. However, if your skin condition does not improve after 2 weeks, or if it worsens, you should see your doctor.

Here are some additional tips for using mometasone furoate cream:

• Do not use more cream than you need. Using too much cream can increase your risk of side effects.
• Do not apply the cream to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Do not cover the treated area with a bandage or wrap unless your doctor tells you to.
• Do not use the cream for more than 4 weeks without talking to your doctor.

While I'm reluctant to use medications like this, I'm sure that this is what a doctor would have prescribed for me and fortunately I was able to obtain it over the counter at a local pharmacy. The sore is located in a site that is impossible to view and so I'm reliant on an outside observer to report on changes in its appearance.

Overall I'm feeling stronger than I when I first returned to Jakarta about three weeks ago. Soon after my arrival, I began cleaning up the back garden but found the heat and humidity very tiring. Perhaps I worked too hard for too long too soon. I've scaled back my efforts now and do a little each day.

The lifting of pots however, has irritated my  umbilicus but it's not too bad. I haven't done much walking but I don't want to overdo things. Gardening is enough at the moment. Once the garden has been tamed, I can resume some walking - ideally of a morning. I haven't weighed myself in a while but I feel "heavy" so I should begin monitoring it again.

Lumbago

For some reason, the word "lumbago" popped into my head to describe the condition that has afflicted me for some days now since I did some gardening work that involved my needing to bend forward continually while sitting on a low stool. Even while working, I had difficulty straitening up when I got up off the stool from time to time. This sustained strain on my lower back had its consequences and was exacerbated when I did some further gardening work that didn't involve bending forward but did put some strain on my lower back. 

I asked Bard to explain what lumbago was and it seems to describe my current ailment:

Lumbago is a common term for sudden or long-lasting pain in the lower back. It is often caused by muscle strain or injury, but it can also be caused by other conditions, such as arthritis, osteoporosis, or spinal stenosis.

The pain of lumbago is usually felt in the lower back, but it can sometimes radiate to the buttocks, thighs, or legs. The pain is often worse when standing up or bending over, and it can make it difficult to walk or move around.

Lumbago is usually not serious and goes away on its own within a few weeks. However, it can be very painful and debilitating while it lasts. Treatment for lumbago usually involves rest, pain medication, and physical therapy.

Here are some of the causes of lumbago:

Muscle strain or injury: This is the most common cause of lumbago. It can happen when you lift something heavy, twist your back suddenly, or sit in a bad position for a long time.

Arthritis: This is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. It can affect the joints in your back and cause pain and stiffness.

Osteoporosis: This is a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle. It can make you more likely to suffer a back injury, which can lead to lumbago.

Spinal stenosis: This is a condition that narrows the spaces in your spine. It can put pressure on the nerves in your back and cause pain.

If you are experiencing lumbago, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any serious underlying conditions. Treatment for lumbago usually involves rest, pain medication, and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.

Here are some tips to help prevent lumbago:

Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight puts extra strain on your back.

Strengthen your core muscles: Strong core muscles help support your back and prevent injuries.

Stretch regularly: Stretching helps to keep your muscles flexible and reduce your risk of injury.

Lift with your legs, not your back: When lifting something heavy, bend your knees and keep your back straight.

Avoid sitting for long periods of time: Get up and move around every 20-30 minutes.

Use good posture: When standing or sitting, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.

The good news is that the pain is easing and I'm to move about more easily. I don't think I've done any permanent damage. My mistake was to do too much too soon. These lower back muscles were simply not ready for the sustained strain that I was putting on them. I still haven't learned the lesson that my body is no longer able to adapt suddenly to new stresses that are imposed upon it.

Here is a little about the etymology of the word "lumbago":

The word "lumbago" is derived from the Latin word "lumbus", which means "loins" or "lower back". It was first used in English in the 16th century to describe pain in the lower back.

The word "lumbus" is also the root of the word "lumbar", which refers to the lower back. The lumbar region is the part of the spine that is located between the thoracic region (the middle back) and the sacral region (the lower back).

I do need to allot some time to regular exercises that involve stretching of the muscles in the lumbar area but first I need to let the muscles in that area heal. 

Hitting 74

I continue to ignore this blog and have wracked up the following totals for the first quarter of 2023 on this and other blogs:

• Mathematical Meanderings: 43 posts
• Pedagogical Posturing: 12 posts
• Mystical Meanderings: 6 posts
• Alternative Media: 6 posts
• Astrological Meanderings: 4 posts
• AstroWatch: 3 posts
• Staying Healthy: 1 post

As usual, this blog relating to my physical health is rock bottom. So what's the state of play as regards my health? What am I doing to stay fit? What do I weigh? I've taken to walking around the block on most days. I should measure the distance and the time it takes as I used to do back in Oz, after my retirement and enforced stay in that former penal colony. 

I do my leg stretches using the same pantihose that I pilfered from Sabina some years ago now. I try to keep my neck muscles flexible and break up the little spurs to seem to sprouting from the vertebrae. I weigh around 73 kg which is OK. I do hand squeezes using a device to keep up the strength of my grip.

I spend a large part of my life sitting in front of my laptop but I do take breaks, keeping busy with taking out the garbage, gardening and household chores in general. I should be doing more but at least I'm doing something. 

One physical problem that has arisen recently is centered on my umbilicus which can feel very tender if any undue strain is put on it. Even lifting something moderately heavy can trigger it. I used to do abdominal exercises to strengthen this area but I stopped because of the emergence of this problem. I know the groin and umbilicus area weak areas of the human body where hernias can occur.

I think some damage was caused to the umbilical muscles during surgery for the removal of my gall bladder back in 2017. The feeling I get is not really painful but it is oddly disabling as I don't feel like doing anything except to lie down. I seem to get tired more easily these days even after minor physical activity. 

So now that I'm in my 75th year of life, what can I do to improve my physical health? Certainly continuing what I'm doing is a start. That means a brisk walk of about twenty minutes duration most days, leg strengthening exercises and head rotations. It would be good to spend some time each day in a regular exercise routine but I need a suitable environment. 

Ideally, I'd like to turn the downstairs room into an exercise centre, not with exercise machines or anything like that but just a space where I have a mat and maybe soft tiles on which to perform simple exercises. I could have some music playing, a little incense etc. Creating a welcoming vibe would encourage me to establish some sort of routine that might include breathing exercises and meditation.

More time in the garden is also important. Now that a garden seat is arriving, it could be the start of a garden renaissance. This activity is good for my mental as well as my physical health.