Injured

Last week, during pilates, something went popcrunch. Not all that unusual, but usually it's in a joint, not at / near the juncture of my neck and shoulder. I ignored it, as it didn't particularly hurt, and went on with my life. The next day it felt vaguely as though something were hot and swollen under the skin but not particularly painful or noticeable to my touch, but ... there.

By this past Tuesday I was officially in pain, so I went to the clinic we have at work. The PA checked my range of motion and attempted to recreate the pain by external pressure, commenting one of my muscles on my shoulder was a giant knot. 

I'm tentatively diagnosed with a herniated disc in my neck, and was given a course of steroids and muscle relaxants to take. That was working for the first day or so, not so much today. Over the past few days as the muscle unknotted, other joints I hadn't even noticed getting stiff have been popping and relaxing. Super nice. Today, however, I think it feels like my neck needs to pop, so I keep stretching it without thinking ... which keeps aggravating the nerve / disc and causing the muscle in my shoulder to knot.

On the other hand ... I feel like it's enough better to be basically in the same state my shoulders sometimes get when I've been exercising regularly and then stop. Like it just needs to be stretched out and worked. I'm giving it another day off, but I'm back to the gym tomorrow. I can't take it anymore!

I think also, however, that if I wake up again in the night with my shoulder & my calf trying to do charley horses, like happened last night, I'm going to go ahead and take the pill and just deal with the upset tummy and headache. 

Countdowns and Greece and Insurance, Oh My!

Greece is in 29 days! Greece is in 29 days! Exciting!


Also, my last day is in 73 days, I'll be working 35 more days, and, no, I still haven't bought my plane ticket. But! My bank account information finally came through, which means I can buy my health insurance.


Speaking of insurance, I was talking with a co-worker who lived abroad for a couple of years (she went to Russia as a missionary!), and she said she wasn't able to keep her insurance - she had to transfer ownership of her car to her mother. While I didn't really think I'd have similar issues, I decided that, if I did, I want to know now so I can make plans to sell the car.


And so, I called USAA. Man they're awesome. Yes, I can keep my insurance. I will designate a custodian (need to provide name, DOB, whether they're a US citizen, FL licence #) and provide the garaging info. I'll also change the annual miles driven, drop my rental car reimbursement and towing coverage and raise my deductables. Overall, I know my rates will drop some, and expect they'll drop at least $100 per 6-month period.


I also found out about renter's insurance. Even without lowering my coverage (currently $32,000), moving to Hanover and putting my stuff in storage here will save me around $80 per 6-month. Since I'm getting rid of a LOT of stuff, I expect my savings will be close to double that. Woohoo!


AND there is a toll-free number I'll be able to call while in Germany, and apparently there are call centers in Britain & the US, and there is an adjustment office in Frankfurt, so I'll have no trouble getting in touch, should I need to. 


The one thing they don't seem to offer is health insurance, so it looks like I'll still be going through the recommended company. Probably. 


I'm also starting to look at storage. I've pretty much given up on Pods, I think. I think it makes more sense for me to pay the lower storage costs (and get the free moving truck) at a U-Store location, and just figure it out when I come back to the States. I'm still not sure how much space I'll need: I'm getting rid of all my bookshelves, and books, and CDs, and dining room table & chairs, and bed, and chest, hopefully the recliner. So I'll be left with kitchen stuff, school stuff, the couches & coffee tables, the cedar chest ... knick-knacks, dishes, pictures (in frames), maybe the shadow-boxes, the TV, maybe the stereo, the table lamps, bathroom towels, spare pillows .... and that's about it, right? hmmmmm.