One of my HUGE pet peeves is when people use social media to relay symptoms. "I'm tired, sick, sleepy, hurt" blah blah blah. I always think to myself, "so is everyone at some point." However, I'm writing this under duress, and I'm not using this post to garner sympathy or attention, but the facts are the facts. Muscle spasms in my back are preventing me from doing much, so I've put hours of thought into what I SHOULD, COULD or WOULD be doing.
This is Day 4 of living horizontally, not because of a crazy social life, but because I didn't stop when I should have. I didn't listen to that inner voice that was clanging bells trying to get my attention, and the dang dead lifts temporarily deadened my lower back. Because I spent the entire weekend on the couch, and Monday isn't looking too different, I've had a lot of time to think. Mostly I've thought about things like food shopping, what the temperature in Florida is like right now, what I would cook for myself if I felt like standing in the kitchen, or how I've yet to see a manatee in real life. I've read 3 novels. I've watched 3 movies. And, gasp, I watched the Daytona 500, which most people really only watch looking for a wreck, and this one did not disappoint.
The main problem about a physical problem is that my brain is even more hyperactive because my usual hyperactive body is temporarily letting me down. I feel like if Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, were to come here right now, he would say that I'm so dysfunctional and I want to bite people because I need to be walked. He's right. However, I'm taking a forced vacation. There is much speculation around the fitness world of what to do when one is sick or injured, and although it probably depends on the circumstances, I'm taking the time to rest. With an injured knee or ankle, one can still work on upper body and core strength while resting the injured limb. When someone is sick, they need to rest the whole body so that it can heal. Back injuries are a tricky thing, and something I'm not much used to.
Right now, I'm doing nothing physical because I don't think I could even drive safely with muscle spasms. When that passes, I will ease back into it. The point is, listen to your body. Push if you can, but rest when it's required. I just watched 2 videos, one of RG 3 doing inchworms to rehab his knee, and the other of Lindsay Vonn using a medicine ball to keep her core strong while her knee rehabs. They are inspiring, but I'm a few days away from that. If you are pushing your physical limits, at some point you will face injury. Hopefully you have those around you that will bring you your coffee, grab your reading glasses, and actually make a food plate for you.
Each day, I hope that it will be the day where my movement increases. I'm optimistic, but I also know that I need to let myself heal so that I can work and earn my keep. Stretching and rest is my plan for the day, and will be until my back heals. Take my advice: if something hurts, besides the average sore quads, butt, abs and arms, then rest it. Sometimes a day of rest is all you need, sometimes it's longer. Since I didn't listen to my body while I was injuring it, I'm listening to it now.
Now, if I just had one of those hand-grabbie things that would reach all the way to the refrigerator, I would be all set. The biggest down-side of this whole thing is that my enabling husband filled the fridge with Hail Merry chocolate treats, and I've eaten about 8 of them. They are paleo, so technically I'm being good, but I just found out that each stupid tart is 3 servings. As far as I can tell, the score is Hail Merry 24 - Workout 0. Even a caveman would tell you that's not a good ratio.
2 comments:
Hope you get better soon, Angela.
I agree it is important to rest, especially with a back injury. I'm still waiting for my shoulder to return to normal after some sloppy ring dips during Nasty Girls almost 4 weeks ago.
I would encourage you, and anyone else who is injured but can make it to the Box, to get in there, regardless of your ailment.
The coaches are great about coming up with scaled movement for nearly any restriction you may have and I've been given some great techniques for increasing my strength in the injured area, without hurting the shoulder more. I wouldn't have gotten these tips had I remained at home.
Yeah, it sucks not being able to lift heavy or do any overhead stuff right now, but we all know what a Samson Stretch feels like after not having done one in a while if you miss a week due to vacation or whatever, and I don't want to have to go through that if I don't have to.
Bottom line for everyone, rest as you need to, but get back in the Box as soon as you can. They will work with you to speed your recovery without doing more harm.
thanks Geoff. Yours was the voice I needed to hear. The bit about the Sampson Stretch scared me a little. I'm going in tomorrow. Not sure what I will accomplish, but I will go through the door. thank you.
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