I was told to stand up straight by my own mother, and NOW by a doctor. As a child, I could ignore this, but as an adult I have to pay attention – lest I want to try to “work-it” with hunched over shoulders in my 30’s.

Ugh….so where is this stand-up straight business coming from? Well, having two babies since 2009 and not really “training” to get back into shape for volleyball and basketball, led me to attempt to play like I could in my glory days. Hunching over to pick up and nurse my babies, and working at a desk (when I was still working full time) did little to strengthen my upper back, so I was overcompensating with other muscle groups, leading to the tendon “impingement,” or rotator cuff tendonitis. This is my second go-around with this delightful over-use injury. I first experienced shoulder pain when my daughter was about 4 months old from playing volleyball, basketball, and shoveling snow (yes, I live in Wisconsin). This time around it is more difficult to rest my arm when I have one 20lb. baby boy and another 30lb. little girl to care for all day long. It is not fun being an injured mama.

The good news – my rehab includes stretches, exercises and massage!  I’ll have Daddy O. try to assist, but I also am going in for the real deal at a local Aveda spa.  All moms deserve some pampering, and I feel a little more justified indulging in a massage now that I have an injury to help heal.  In a few weeks, I hope to be myself again: standing straight and tall, shooting the J or slamming the ball at the opposing team as a regular “lady killer.”

Have you ever had an injury or sickness that made it difficult to take care of your kiddos?  How did you get through it?

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This article reminded me of what my doctor and physical therapist explained.  Check it out if you want more info.