A few days ago I decided to have my back checked out because my piriformis syndrome was not easing up and I had some other mystery pain in the middle of my back. I normally ignore pain, in fact my lower back has been at different levels of pain for over two years now. If I am making an appointment for the doctor it is usually for reassurance I am on and the pain bothering me is not lethal. I don’t like medications, recouperation or failure. I do not like wekaness of any sort on my own part, physical or otherwise–I just don’t.
Well, my doctor did not offer me the comfort of my woes. Instead he mumbled words like “compression fractures” , “spinal stenosis“, “why do you lift so heavy?” and I am sure the rest of this I have blocked out. I am to take 8 weeks off from heavy loads, then try a 50% load after that. Avoid everything that causes pain and to grow up and stop acting like I am a kid. Whatever. I won’t kick the puppy because of this–but just tap the puppy with my toe right now contemplating my dilema. Kicking it would actually result in some pain and I am not permitted pain at the moment.
My first day after hearing this news I layed around the house on pain medication and remorse. Not for the injury I have but for actually going and having it looked at. If I did not know I would still be on plan for the June meet and well on my way to Nationals in August–wheel chair ready and waiting to accept me after I placed in the top 5. I have no idea who to be if I am not a strength athlete. I have no idea what to even do if my mind is not planning my workouts or my numbers. Some people suggested I begin a diet to take my mind off the “plan of recovery” while I wait these 8 weeks out. Ok, skinny is so out–it just is. I am not sure what loopholes we have to go through in order to alert the media that skinny is out–but someone needs to get the ball rolling. Though, honestly, a diet was my initial thought too. My calorie intake cannot be what it was in order to move mountains and boulders. I am able to move remotes and car doors, I wonder how many calories that will be? Bird seed and coffee anyone?
On my third day, in the afternoon when I normally would be planning my arrival time at the gym, I laid down on the couch to rest my back and watch–Oprah. Yeah, Oprah. Allow me to prevent anyone else from watching Oprah because it was ridiculously boring. My oldest son saw me laying there watching the TV and let me know just because I am injured I do not need to get fat again. Touche. So, no more Oprah for me–I can Tivo it if it seems like it may be a good episode anyway.
Right now, I have no direction or plan for the recovery at all. I have some simple hip exercises I can do but nothing with any substance or physical challenge. Nothing that makes me feel like an athlete, more like an aging woman with bone disease who spends hours a day watching game shows and talking to her cats. I don’t like our cats and I don’t want to watch game shows. So, what am I suppose to do now?
I don’t have a solution or a punch line or a bold new idea to placate me while I sit down and ponder what 8 weeks will be like–let alone the entire future of my strength if I am not able to return to what it is I love so much. Iron is my love and my doctor is the angry parent set to keep us apart.
For now, I can do bench pressing, pull ups and hip work. I can’t bend or twist etc unless it is without resistance and with no loading. Meaning, I can turn to put on my seat belt but I cannot swing a sledge hammer. I do have somne course work to go over for my certificate in sports nutrition that I can focus on–but it is so hard to focus on books when all you want to do is play outside. I am sure my 6 year old can relate to my pleas here!
So, today is day 3 of my injury. 7 weeks and 4 days left to go, right?
Recent Comments