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June 23, 2008
The Amazing Human Body
I wish I knew more about how the human body works. I'm good with the basics — stuff goes in one end and typically comes out the other — but aside from that a lot of what goes on is a big puzzle to me. [I've also noticed that things coming out of the body, regardless of the mode of egress, typically feel a lot better than things going in. Blood is the exception.]
Not long ago I did something to my lower left side, just beneath the last rib. I don't know if I bruised a rib, separated a rib, or cracked a rib off so that it was sort of pointy and poking whatever internal-organ thing might be behind it.
It hurt a fair amount whenever I did something to aggravate it but as the aggravation-type things seemed to be few there wasn't much to complain about. After a few days I'd determined that running, coughing and doing sit-ups/crunches were the things that hurt most (and sit-ups/crunches the most by far)… so I tried not to do those things.
The sit-up-crunches were very easy not to do.
You'll recall I'd talked to a couple of doctors about this and we'd decided to see how things felt after a few days. And, generally speaking, things felt better day after day.
When I went to bed Friday night I noticed the pain as I put my head on my pillow. This was new, I thought, but I attributed it to having my pillow puffed up a bit much. Saturday morning things hurt a good deal more in that way things will hurt when your body acknowledges that your doctor is closed and your only chance to see a medical professional involves Urgent Care or an ER. Not that I'd go to Urgent Care or an ER for it — the pain wasn't that bad — I was just enjoying the irony. And I'd decided if it hurt that much on Monday I'd certainly see my primary care physician then.
It hurt enough that when I'd lay back on a bench while lifting my eyes would water a little and getting up off the bench required that I sort of roll onto my right side and push off with my shoulder. You've probably seen that move in the Olympics.
Several times over the course of the day I'd lift my shirt and look at the area in pain as I figured there should be some sort of bruise, maybe some swelling, or a glow-in-the-dark patch of skin right around the painful area. Something! But there was never anything there.
And then, Sunday, I could do situps. It hurt a little. But just a little.
The photo on this page is an old schoolhouse I rode past last summer. I've probably posted the picture before but this time I've used the Insert Flickr Photo tool from Linear (formerly Ecto) to place the image.
Technorati Tags: Cycling, Flickr, Health, Injuries, Working out
Posted by delmer at June 23, 2008 4:40 PM
Comments
Things like this always fascinate me too. I've got no idea why my wrist is totally banged up on the inside but there are no visible marks on the skin. And...why did this happen when I did nothing to it all weekend?
The mind reels...
Posted by: Hilly at June 23, 2008 3:58 PM
Delmer,
There's a great book that I have just finished "reading" (I put that in quotes because I do all of my reading via audio book...I'm a single mom...I never have time to sit and actually read, so I listen to books during rush hour), and I think you'd really like it, it's called, "You: The Owner's Manual" by Dr. Michael Roizen & Dr. Mehmet Oz. These guys go through every system in the body...they can actually make digestion sound exciting! Even though I took physiology in high school, I learned a lot from this book. It also gives great advice on what to eat to help your organs work optimally. Great book.
Posted by: Ginger at June 23, 2008 8:06 PM
hope your rib stops bothering you soon. no body parts are permitted to revolt, dammit!
i woke up with a HUGE bruise on my knee. must have been when my not short self tried to get into the driver's seat of britt's not tall self's convertible mustang. yeah, i musta whacked it hard coz the bruise is blue and purple and red and black. NOT pretty! strange part...it doesn't hurt. you and i seem to have issues, my friend!
Posted by: hello haha narf at June 23, 2008 8:46 PM
so are you gonna find out what's wrong or just whine about it. I like whining about stuff. I'm good at it.
Posted by: libragirl/Rachel at June 23, 2008 9:00 PM
Hilly: It would be a big help if our injuries were accompanied by a bruise in the shape of whatever caused the injury. That way we'd know what to avoid in the future.
Ginger: But it's summertime ... I don't want to learn anything useful. I want to play in the sun.
HHN: I sensed Britt had it in for you at TQ. As for the issues ... my blog isn't big enough to list all of mine.
LibraGirl: But I think I'm healed now. (I'm sort of wondering if I didn't stretch things out and make them better on Saturday.)
Posted by: delmer at June 23, 2008 9:42 PM
I have that book that Ginger is talking about and I love it. I am fascinated with learning about how things work in our bodies (that sounds totally weird, but I'm hoping you will understand what I mean).
Posted by: radioactive tori at June 24, 2008 5:28 PM
Tori: I thought women only read things that had muscular, shirtless, guys on the cover -- with long, flowing hair. You and Ginger are busting my what-do-females-read bubble.
Posted by: delmer at June 25, 2008 9:08 AM