My Tango Diaries

Thanks to Mardi Brown of Georgetown Tango , this morning was the first morning after a milonga I didn't feel like a 100 year old woman trying to hobble around the house. Her recommendation of Tacco metatarsal pads (added to cushioned foam insoles) was right on the money. I can't believe how much better my feet felt. I was really starting to wonder if capsulitis was going to win and I was going to have to either quit or severely limit my dancing. Anyone with pain in the ball of their feet should consider the Tacco line. You can get a few of their inserts, like the "drop-shaped" metatarsal pads at Austin Shoe Hospital , if you're in the area. You can also find them at FeetRelief.com . Also, please consult with your doctor if the pain in your feet is persistent, acute or if you get little to no relief from otc pain relievers. You can get more information about foot pain conditions at Foot-Pain-Explained.com as well, but this does not take the place of medical advice...

Some days I feel like my body is conspiring against me. First it was the heat . . . Friday night in the midst of the most wonderful dances, I felt suddenly too warm. Then hot. Then very, very hot. Not the kind of hot from a warm room filled with lots of people dancing - I mean radiating hot. This after making a concerted effort to relax all of the muscles that I could - to release tension. After reading Movement invites Movement's post . I decided to try a little conservation of energy as it were. And it was working. Releasing all of that tension that was keeping my muscle taut was making me feel cooler. Of course it helped that I was dancing primarily with favorite partners to favorite music -relaxed and comfortable. And suddenly I wasn't. At first I thought it's much too early for it to be that and then I checked my watch. Almost midnight. Never mind. It was right on time. (Warning: Like it wasn't bad enough that I wrote about bras and body odor - now I'm going t...

Sometimes I forget how little it takes. Or sometimes, that it takes nothing at all. It's 3am and the storm has passed. An hour ago, I was in bed with my eyes squeezed shut and my back bowed. The muscles from the top of my left shoulder to my hip cramped so hard that I could feel the spasms firing off like firecrackers under my skin. With the muscles pulled tight, breathing in deeply caused the pain to get worse. All of my non-drug pain relief measures require deep breathing to work. My jaw clenched so tight that I couldn't even call out for help. My husband was too far away to reach so I was on my own. Within minutes I was soaked in sweat, taking shallow breaths, and counting for distraction. I visualized each muscle (to the best of my ability), lengthening, relaxing, smoothing out. For 30 minutes that did precisely nothing . Surprisingly, I kept calm because there was nothing else I could do. Crying would hurt more. Moving would hurt more. So I stayed still. And waited. It...

It was bound to happen. Especially after an hour tango class, another hour practicing and watching the intermediate class, and then 2 hours of practica. Fast forward through dinner and short nap, to milonga the same night. I managed to dance in the endorphin buzz until just about midnight. And then Piazzolla. *sigh* I was too tired, and I knew it. But I couldn't resist Piazzolla - plus I would be dancing with one of my instructors, so I knew I was in good hands. All of perhaps 8 steps into the dance, my body just stopped . I tried to pivot, swivel for an ocho - and just couldn't. I locked up. At first, since there wasn't any pain, I was just bewildered, tried to keep going and walk it out. But anything that involved turning my hips just wouldn't happen. Frustrated, I made it through the one song, apologized profusely to my very patient (and probably somewhat confused) instructor, and made it back to my chair. As soon as I sat down, ironcially, the pain started. I wa...

Or, the hows and whys I became an a tango advocate . . . “When someone begins he can be dazzled by things that are external; the things of Tango are internal… A dancer arrives at the roots of the Tango when he falls in love…” - Eduardo Arquimba For those of you who already tango, I'm pretty sure this will be "preaching to the choir". For others who have not yet started tango, this is a bit about my journey and a bit more about what others are doing and saying about tango and pain management. Since I started this blog, I've had a dilemma. How much do I share of what is most personal about tango in my life. How much will my readers even care to know? After some discussion with a couple people in the tango community I've decided to share some of my personal experience as well as a few resources regarding how tango can have the power to change lives in one very specific way - in the management of chronic pain. Dance and music have always played a large role in my life...

Like anyone with a pain condition, I have a pretty sincere fear of injury. I can't help it. I just find myself being extra careful, eventually avoiding activities that might lead to getting hurt. Pain itself is less debilitating sometimes than the fear of pain. I'm dancing again, but I still have the fear of injury. The difference is now I'm afraid that I'll miss a dance class or won't be able to dance if I get hurt. Of course dancing makes everything feel better - while I'm doing it anyway. Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order. ~Samuel Beckett