2015-12-02

darkoshi: (Default)
2015-12-02 12:29 am

sore sitting muscles

For over 4 months now, I've had an odd ailment.

My legs (only the bottom side of the upper thighs) and my butt have been feeling sore/achy/stiff/strained. Sometimes I feel the nerves tingling. Not the top of the thighs, not my calves, nor any other part of my body. Only the parts of my body that I sit on.

In the beginning, the soreness was worse lower down towards the knee - sitting in a car with the front edge of the seat pushing against the bottom of my thigh felt very uncomfortable. Now it is worse higher up near the butt joint.

The soreness is fairly symmetric in both legs, but not completely so. The left leg is stiffer than the right. During the last 4 months, the level of soreness has fluctuated, but has never gone completely away.

It may well be caused by sitting too much. It feels worst when sitting. But I don't understand why I've never had this problem before now. For the past 20 years, I've sat just as much. Maybe it is just old age, and I've passed some tipping point.

At least with how I've got my 2 monitors set up at work, when it gets too unbearable sitting down now, I can alternate between standing and sitting.

Have any of you heard of anyone else with similar symptoms? I've read about things like Piriformis Syndrome, but as my issue is in both legs, it seems different.

During my leave, I may try to find myself a primary care doctor. If so, I'll ask them about it. But so far, it doesn't seem worth going to a doctor for.
darkoshi: (Default)
2015-12-02 10:52 pm

refugee resettlement loans

Faith-based groups earn millions on refugee loan commissions - whether that is somewhat unethical, I'm not sure. But I did find this part interesting:
The loans, which are interest-free and extended by the federal government, do not go directly to the refugees. Instead the loans are intended to cover the costs of bringing the refugees to the U.S. and can run up to $6,000 for a large family. Refugees are expected to repay the loans and, when they do, the government takes 75 percent, letting the agency have the other 25 percent.

and
Collectors assess no penalties for late payments, and they work with refugees to adjust timetables as needed. Most refugees take five or six years to pay off their loans.


So if I'm understanding that right, the government pays about 25% of the cost of resettling refugees. I wasn't aware of there being loans which the refugees have to pay back.