Here we go again...

So, remember in my last post I talked about how excited I was to start running again? That's all down the toilet now...

I came home from work last Wednesday from a long stressful night. I was getting ready for bed, doing the usual routine in the bathroom...was face, brush teeth, ect...when the cat knocked something over in the livingroom. I turned suddenly, hoping that the noise hadn't awakened my sleeping husband. When I turned, there was a horrifying pop/crunch/pop in my right knee and an even bigger pop in my right hip. The muscles in the right side of my back spasmed in sync with the popping and crunching. It took all I had to not scream.

Needless to say, the noises my knee made were due to overstreching a small ligament and popping my patella out and then back in. My hip is much more complicated. I stretched my hip abductor which has since over-tightened and pulled other muscles out of alignment (namely my gluteus medius). I most likely have bursitis in my hip as well. I'm hoping it's not going to take needle aspiration to fix the bursitis. As for everything else? You guessed it. More therapy. Bah.

Maybe I'll post more tomorrow. Right now I'm tired and cranky...

Sedentary doesn't suit me...

Ok, so it's been a very long time since I've posted anything. Here'ds an update.

I have been out of therapy 2 months now. YAY! My new running shoes just came in yesterday and it would be an understatement to say I'm EXCITED! I'm going to take the plunge and start running in the next week or so after a few more core sessions. Unfortunately, I bought some "everyday" shoes that irritated my back again so that's why I'm holding off. New Balance used to be great until I hurt my back...now I'm afraid to wear anything but Asics. Pretty sad when your year-old running shoes feel brand new compared to the month-old shoes you just bought. What a waste of $30. A new set of insoles and last years Asics will be good for another 6 months or when I finally breakdown and buy a new pair :-)

Anyway, goals...well I know it's a little early to be setting goals, but I have begun. I'm running a 5K on my birthday in July as my "come back" race. Last year I ran it in a horrifying 33:15. This year, I plan to be around the 25:00 mark. Why? Because I'm turning 25. Silly way to make a goal, but it's a goal nonetheless. I'm running another race in September with my best friend, Jennie, and some other college friends. I was hoping to make the half marathon, but I'm not going to kill myself again, so I'm sticking with the 4 mile. I would love to medal in my age group in the birthday race...just so I can send my therapist a picture to say "I DID IT!". She'd be proud. Thanks a million, Donna :-)

Well, enough typing and more working needs to be done. Until next time, ciao!

Give up? Never!

For those of you who don't know, I'm in therapy another month due to a digression in my condition. However, I'm doing anything but giving up on my goal to be in the Topeka 5K race on my birthday. I will be in that race whether I'm running, walking, crawling, or wheeling around in a wheelchair. This post is staying short and sweet due to a lack of time...but I will update again after my therapy appointment on Friday. God bless!

New therapy...

Yesterday, I met with Donna again. The extension is working a bit, but she decided to try a new therapy yet again. This time it was traction. Or what I now affectionately call "the stretcher". Needless to say, I loved it! It relieved the pressure that I feel in my spine and the muscles felt better after being stretched. After my treatment was over, I believe my words were "Can I just stay here?". Unfortunately, I had to work instead, but I am very happy to have found one thing that seems to be working. Praise the Lord!

Flexion? Extension? WHAT?!

Donna (my physical therapist) switched my treatment on Friday because the pain was not getting any better after Wednesday. The treatment plan she had me on was flexion. Apparently, only 20% of patients respond well to flexion, but I seemed to be one of the 20% when she assessed me last Monday. Now I'm on extension. That doesn't seem to be helping either, but I will do as Donna says and just record the symptoms til I see her on the 16th.

I think the hardest part of treatment is finding the treatment that works. Every person is different. Every injury is unique. As Donna said before, back injuries are the hardest to diagnose and I am not a textbook case. Until we find out what works, I'm pretty much going to be in constant pain.

There is some good news. Donna thinks that instead of it being my SI joint that's injured, it may just be a muscular injury. I hope she's right. If she is, PRAISE GOD! While that may mean I will recover faster, I will still need just as much perseverance and just as many prayers.

Missing sleep...

The past week has been anything but fabulous. The pain in my back has crept into my hip...and sleep has been hit and miss. Mostly miss.

I haven't been getting relief from my therapeutic stretches since Wednesday. I'm hoping that my therapist can think of something quick. If I don't get some real, restful sleep soon things will get pretty ugly around here.

One stride at a time...

It's human nature to feel out of control when options are taken away from you.



That's exactly how I feel. I was beginning my running career in the spring when I injured my back. I still ran through July and competed in two 5K races before my back hurt too much to continue running. I thought taking a few months off would help, but the pain continues. I finally broke down and went to a physical therapist on Monday. Now they tell me I won't be running for a minimum of 5-6 months. I feel out of control. And I don't like it.



I know deep down that's not true...I am in control. I control whether or not I do my therapeutic stretches. I'm in control of whether or not I choose to meet with my therapist. I haven't lost control of my ability to get better, I've only let myself feel out of control.



I started this blog to get me through the therapy. Running was my stress reliever. Now that I'm not running for a long time, I need a different outlet.



So I'm taking it one stride at a time...