Mar 22, 2013

Why I Spent Most of My Day in Bed

I am more than bummed to share that I may be having a small setback with my training. I woke up with a pain in the lower left side of my back a few days ago. The pain does not bother me at all when I walk or run but it's there and I am thinking that continuing to running could make it worse.

I decided to make an appointment with my doctor to have it checked and he seems to think I have a lower back/lumbar muscle strain. He asked me to take a few days off from running, rest and ice the area. WHAT? I looked at him like he was crazy and asked him how many days is a few. He knows that I run and we always talk running when I see him. He used to run too so I am pretty sure he gets it when I look at him like he is nuts. I can only think of one way that this happened. Last Sunday I reached over the side of the four foot exercise pen, as seen below, that I keep the puppies in to grab something and I almost fell in. I guess I should have opened the door and entered the correct way! The pain dissipated and then a couple days later it was back and it was much worse.
I was planning my long run for tomorrow but it is on hold for now. I spent most of the day resting and icing my back in hopes that it will go away. The doctor gave me some anti-inflammatory pills but I am trying not to take them since they have a lot of side effects. I am hoping to be able to run on Sunday but if the pain is still there then I will go out of my mind and want to kill myself for missing my long run won't run. I really don't want to take a break but I know it is probably the best thing for me. It sucks that I may have an injury that was not brought on by running. I will take it one day at a time and see what happens. 

Have you ever had a lower back strain? Any advice?

18 comments:

  1. rest up and you will be running pain free in no time!

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    1. Resting is a hard thing to do but I will behave and listen to the doctor's orders.

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  2. Bummer! Sucks that it isn't running related, but then again that's good, right? Get well soon!

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    1. Thank you Christy. It is always something for me. I just want to kick myself sometimes!

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  3. Have you tried to roll it on the foam roll
    I have done that and it helps
    I hope you will be better soon

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    1. Thank you for the foam rolling idea. I am going to try it and see if it helps. I hope this is short term or I am in big trouble!

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  4. Hope you feel better soon! Having to take a break from running when you don't want to is TORTURE!

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    1. TORTURE is right! I am going to be smart though even if it means taking a short break. Thank you for the well wishes.

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  5. Rest up! I know it's not easy, but allow yourself time to bounce back. Hang in there! :) Thinking positive thoughts!

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    1. Thank you Megan. I am taking my own advice that I have been giving you :) It feels much better so I am trying to remain positive before I have a breakdown!

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  6. Anonymous3/23/2013

    Rest up, take a few days off, I think you will be glad you did...but I know exactly what you mean when they tell you to take time off..crazy people, don't they know you need your running like air! lol

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    1. I know. What the heck is wrong with my doctor? Rest? What does that mean? LOL!

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  7. I know it stinks, but you really really don't want to mess with back stuff (I know from direct experience!). The advice above about foam rolling is good. If it's a strain, it should dissipate with rest--just don't let it become chronic.

    Good luck, Sandy!

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    1. I agree Terzah. I am going to try to foam roll and see if that helps. The joys of getting old!

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  8. Sorry to hear :( I've definitely aggravated my lower back shoveling snow, but nothing that didn't work itself out before I got too worried.

    I wish that for you!

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    1. Thank You Lisa. It feels much better today so I hope by tomorrow I ran run.

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  9. Oh no! SOrry to hear about the strain! At least you didn't do it running. I hope you're all healed up soon!

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    1. Thank you for the well wishes. I have taken some time off and hope that I will be running again soon.

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