Kyle has Obliques!

Oh yes I do. And how did I discover this, you might ask? Because they are SORE!! I am also pretty darn sure I have quads and gluts for the same reason. Regardless if I manage turn learn a language or anything new at all about theatre I can guarantee you that I will walk away with a killer midriff and butt. Might not be as helpful on a resume, but I bet it could help me get a job.

So yes, Advil and Tylenol have become very good friends of mine. Luckily, the ole back is behaving itself for the most part and the pain is all good pain. Classes continue to be highly enjoyable and interesting. My favorite moment of the day was after an improv I was involved in my teacher turns to me and asks me a question about...well...something, and all I could was smile and say "Desole. Je ne comprends pas." Fortunately he laughed, than just continued on. I got it translated later and which point he came over and continued to discuss what he was talking about via translator. You gotta love international schools.

Alors, because this entry needs some pictures, I'm gonna catch everyone up on something. I herniated a disc in my back not too many months ago. A little over a week before my flight here I re-screwed it up trying to tie my shoes (yes, I know, I live my life on the wild side) and wound up having to get two epidural shots. Woot! Now how in the heck did the American medical system manage to move so quickly that I was able to get a referral, my consultation appointment with the pain management specialist, and then the shot all within one week (the last two steps taking a mere 6 hours)? Because apparently my MRI films show that my back is REALLY herniated. The pain management team was sorta surprise they didn't operate. How bad is it? Well I'll let you be the judge. Below, in IMAX 3D are my MRI films (and when I say IMAX 3D, actually I'm just lying - but it's sorta like low-res jpegs).

The first shot is a side view of my spine. See if you can tell which disc is L5-S1, which is where the problem is. Can anyone say "One of these is not like the others?"


The next shot is of a normal cross section of one of my discs. See the normal roundish white shape of the nerve column? See how nobody is giving it any trouble?


Finally we have a cross section of L5-S1. Can anyone see the problem?


So now I've showed you mine, and you know what that means.