Using the Sunday blog to note other aspects of my fitness program.
1. Resting HR this morning was 46. This is a good thing, the best in the past 5 or 6 weeks.
2. Polymyalgia Rheumatica muscle disorder status. It has now officially been over 2 years since I started seeing muscle aching symptoms. The doctor said this disease normally goes away within 2 years, so I am very hopeful I can soon begin reducing my medication.
Six weeks ago I reduced my Prednisone medication down to 7 mg a day (4 mg in the morning and 3 mg at night). Two weeks later I reduced it down to 6 mg a day, 3 mg in the morning and 3 mg in the evening. Two weeks later I reduced it down to 5 mg a day, but after 5 days (March 21st) due to excess neck and high back muscle pain, I moved it back up to 6 mg a day. Still at 6 mg a day.
I visited the rheumatologist this past week and he basically said to hang in there and see where the recovery goes. He noted that some people actually have to go on long term taking a minimum dosage of prednisone, hmmmmmm, I don't like that. We will see.
3. Hopefully nothing to really mention, but for the past week or two after I run I notice a pain on the top of my right foot and some swelling from the base of the toes that goes half way up the foot. When I curl the toes or lift the toes "up" it puts a strain through the top of the foot where the swelling is. Hopefully this nuisance will go away if I ignore it and don't overdo the running.
4. Core strength training. Boy am I missing on this one. Nothing to report.
No situps, no crunches, no push-ups, nada. The lower back is probably to the point in healing that I can get started on the core now. | 