Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Learning when to take it easy

I don't know about you, but I find it easier to spread helpful knowledge and advice, than actually take and implement it.  I know, I know, the whole "practice what you preach" issue always comes to mind, but I just can't help it, I'm bull-headed, it's in my nature.

I am injured right now and there is no rhyme or reason to it.  I didn't fall or pick up something the wrong way, or even overwork something to the point of injury.



My back "went out on me" essentially, and I've been laid up since Monday.  It's the lower back where you get all of your balance from and use the most to sit down, stand up, lean over, well...everything.  Your whole body seems to be connected to these muscles and mine right now are pissed as hell!  It was so bad Monday that my hubby actually had to help me in and out of bed and putting on my socks took me 5 minutes.

I was so upset that I was injured and for no good reason or fault of my own.  I was even more upset because I'm finally getting excited about getting back into a running routine, only to be sidelined by a back issue.

Now if someone had asked me what to do about an injury like this, I would have a pleathora of information on how to help alleviate the pain and what to do to recover.  Did I take any of my own advice?

Nope.

Did my hubby have to forcefeed reasonable treatment and rest on me the past few days?

Yep.

Did I rebel and try to do things too soon and was horribly reminded by pain that I was still injured?

Yes indeed.

Will I ever learn to take it easy?

I really hope so.

Sometimes I feel like I don't give myself enough credit or allowance to give myself a break.  I push on because there are things that need to be done around the house, hours of work to be done at my workplace and miles that need to be logged in training for my next race.  But what about the vessel that allows me to do all these things that is hurting right now and yet I'm forcing it to do things that it OBVIOUSLY can't and shouldn't be doing right now?


It is so tough to take a step back and let your body rest when there is so much that you want to/need to do.  Your body is amazing in that most light injuries can be fixed by the body itself with only minimal work we need to do in assistance.  Yet we are too impatient with the healing process and tend to try and get back into the swing of things before we are fully recovered, thusly reinjuring ourselves, only worse this time.

I need to learn to embrace this recovery time and figure out ways to train and operate on a day-to-day basis that is better for my body, in order to keep from aggrivating or reinjuring myself.  Retraining is so tough but beneficial in the end when it helps to alleviate future injuries.

So the rest of this week, as much as it pains me (literally!), will be a rest week for me.  I am taking my own advice by resting and recouperating my sore back.  I'm sure it will thank me later.

Question for you:  Do you find it difficult to take it easy when you get injured?  Are you one that practices what they preach?

7 comments:

  1. I'm terrible at taking it easy, even when injured. My mind tells me I can do something, but my body says otherwise. Hopefully you take your own advice and heal quickly!

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    1. Thanks Kim. I am taking my advice now and being cautious about what I do to aid my recovery. It's not easy and I have to remind myself over and over, but I'm getting there.

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  2. Like you said, there are so many responsibilities to keep up with even when injured so it's guilt ridden if you take it easy...but in turn if you overdo it while injured, you're likely to be out more days. Tough call.

    It would be more difficult for me to "accept" an injury that didn't come with an explanation. I'm sorry you're out this week but get the rest you need and you'll be back to your amazing self again soon.

    I recently (FINALLY) took my husband's advice and went to his chiropractor, he specializes in sports medicine. I have gone twice and getting his professional advice and care is going to be key in taking care of me. (I love the fact he's also a runner.)

    Take it easy lady! Hugs!!!

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    1. An injury with no explanation has been tough to deal with, so this whole recovery thing has been really trying on my patience. I had a chiro that I went to for a couple of years, but haven't been to in over a year because I was feeling so much better, now I found out he left and the place closed down. So now I have to find a new chiro and start over from the beginning, I'm really not looking forward to that.

      Congrats on finding a sport med chiro, good ones of those are hard to find! I'd be interested to see if there are any special exercises or treatments he suggests during your training!

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  3. I suffered almost the same injury right before the 2012 Princess 1/2. I actually ran that race doped up on steroids and pain killers (is that legal?!? lol!). I refused to listen to my own good advice, the advice I had given to so many friends who were injured: "just take it easy, don't run, rest!" Nope! I kept running, and ran a few more races after the Princess, to the point where I could not sit, stand, bend, or relieve the pain in anyway!! It was awful, and caused me to have to quit running all together (for 8 months!!!). Right away when I started running again, I got some of the same pain, and it was very frustrating, but then I found Yoga, and now I am running pain-free!! Good luck Lena!! Take care of yourself, and don't push it!! As hard as that is, I wish I would have taken my own advice!!

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    1. Oh wow! 8 months!?! That's horrible. Now I used to do yoga, hot yoga actually, and was pleased with how my flexibility improved and my overall mood. Maybe it's time to start going back once or twice a week again.

      I am definitely taking it easy this week and will give my back as much time as it needs to heal.

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  4. Hi, Lena. Just wanted to let you know that I dealt with this SAME PROBLEM a few months ago (right in the middle of my Princess Half training, of course!) Out of nowhere, I started having severe back pain, no explanation...I couldn't bend over to pull milk out of the refrigerator or tie my shoes, and running or activity any kind was excruciating.

    I went to a chiropractor for a few weeks, and it took time, but the pain DID go away. I HATED having to be "lazy" and miss training runs and ice my back constantly and take it easy, but when everything was back to normal, I came back strong and I don't think my running suffered all that much...honestly, I think it was my body's way of telling me that I needed to take it down a notch, since I was so training so hard for my first half and was so terrified of not being able to finish that race.

    Take the time to listen to your body and let it heal...you'll come back strong, too! Sending good vibes your way!

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