I've decided that if I had to choose between being injured and getting dumped by a boyfriend, I'd choose the latter. Not that anyone's giving me that choice... I'm just sayin'. I was reading some articles on dealing with injuries this week, and one of them talked about the grieving process that athletes go through when they get injured. It made me feel slightly less crazy and more normal. At least there are other athletes out there who have as much trouble with this emotionally as I do!
I'm now at 6 weeks of PT, with no running, cycling, walking, elliptical, etc. You get the picture. So I've been swimming with the pull buoy and doing lots of core and upper body weights. I'm still having a LOT of low back pain, and long with pain in the right hip area. So, so frustrating. Some days it's better, some days it's worse, and I can't seem to figure out the pattern. Back to the doctor next week.
Everything I've read says staying positive helps you recover faster, so I'm TRYING with all my emotional might to stay positive. It takes a lot of effort sometimes!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Lessons from an Injury...
So, the last time I posted I was headed for hip surgery. Things took another turn, and instead I was told no exercise from the waist down and sent to six weeks of PT. I'm now three and a half weeks into this recovery journey, and I can feel a huge improvement in my hip. I still have residual soreness in the piriformis and low back that won't seem to go away. Not sure what's going on with that.
I am such a dork, but PT is one of the highlights of my week. I get to do lower body exercises there that strengthen my glutes, quads, hamstrings, and hip flexors. My PT has me do a 10 min. warm up on the stationary bike, so I've started taking my ipod and pretending like it's a mini spin class for me. Pathetic, I know - but hey, I'll take what I can get. ;)
The Hungry Runner Girl recently wrote a post about self worth, and how for athletes it's often tied to our ability to perform. I could totally relate. I was not aware how much my self worth was tied to my ability to do long bike rides, run and swim, and overall work towards higher levels of fitness.
The first two weeks of no exercise were super tough. I kept seeing the flowers blooming outside and the spring breezes blowing the trees, and I longed to be out on my bike experiencing it with my cycling friends! And then there was the "now what do I do with all this extra time I have?" question.
So after 24 days of resting, I've learned som lessons. Lesson 1 - I've learned that when I'm depressed, the absolute best way to deal with it is to find ways to serve other people. Not rocket science, I know - it was just something I have really lived and experienced these past couple of weeks.
Lesson 2: I push too hard. I ride too hard, swim too hard (not run too hard because i haven't done that for several months), and don't rest enough. I LOVE going anaerobic on workouts... but apparently one is not supposed to do that 5-6 days a week. :p
Lesson 3 - I've experienced more of God's love and grace these past weeks. I wish I leaned as heavily on Him when everything is great as I do when I'm hurting, but I'm not that spiritually mature yet.
Lesson 4 - the ability to be active is a HUGE gift that I too often took for granted. Having it taken away from me for a little while gives me a new appreciation. I intend to give this more respect and gratitude in the future.
So, bottom line - until I can get back to being super active, there are many, many other ways to enjoy the time, to find meaning in life, and to invest in others. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Rejoice and be glad - ok, Lord, I'm ready!
I am such a dork, but PT is one of the highlights of my week. I get to do lower body exercises there that strengthen my glutes, quads, hamstrings, and hip flexors. My PT has me do a 10 min. warm up on the stationary bike, so I've started taking my ipod and pretending like it's a mini spin class for me. Pathetic, I know - but hey, I'll take what I can get. ;)
The Hungry Runner Girl recently wrote a post about self worth, and how for athletes it's often tied to our ability to perform. I could totally relate. I was not aware how much my self worth was tied to my ability to do long bike rides, run and swim, and overall work towards higher levels of fitness.
The first two weeks of no exercise were super tough. I kept seeing the flowers blooming outside and the spring breezes blowing the trees, and I longed to be out on my bike experiencing it with my cycling friends! And then there was the "now what do I do with all this extra time I have?" question.
So after 24 days of resting, I've learned som lessons. Lesson 1 - I've learned that when I'm depressed, the absolute best way to deal with it is to find ways to serve other people. Not rocket science, I know - it was just something I have really lived and experienced these past couple of weeks.
Lesson 2: I push too hard. I ride too hard, swim too hard (not run too hard because i haven't done that for several months), and don't rest enough. I LOVE going anaerobic on workouts... but apparently one is not supposed to do that 5-6 days a week. :p
Lesson 3 - I've experienced more of God's love and grace these past weeks. I wish I leaned as heavily on Him when everything is great as I do when I'm hurting, but I'm not that spiritually mature yet.
Lesson 4 - the ability to be active is a HUGE gift that I too often took for granted. Having it taken away from me for a little while gives me a new appreciation. I intend to give this more respect and gratitude in the future.
So, bottom line - until I can get back to being super active, there are many, many other ways to enjoy the time, to find meaning in life, and to invest in others. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Rejoice and be glad - ok, Lord, I'm ready!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Change of Plans
For the past two months, since Ironstar, I've been telling myself that I'm "recovering." "Recovering" from the run in which what I thought was my IT band began hurting at mile 3 and never quit. The past 10 weeks have been full of physical therapy and functional exercises. The theory was my right hip pain is the result of weak hip flexors, lack of core strength, and weak pelvic floor muscles (who knew there was such a thing as a pelvic floor muscle?). My wonderful therapist has me doing exercises on the bosu ball that earn me pointed stares at the gym.
But last week, the diagnosis finally came back: femoral impingement and labrum tear. I haven't met with the surgeon yet, but my online research indicates the best remedy is surgery ... assuming I want to keep biking, swimming, and running.
Surgery. It's the word every athlete dreads hearing. It means weeks, maybe months, of inactivity, losing fitness, and starting from scratch. I worked so, so very hard to build my mileage up to a half marathon... and now I'm going to have to start all over. It seems so unfair.
The past week have had several moments of insight, though.
Last Sunday while riding with a good friend, we approached two athletes cycling in what looked like recumbant bikes. As we got closer, we could see that neither man had legs. They were out riding, using only their arms. Thank You, Father, that I have two functional legs that let me walk wherever I want.
Later on Sunday, the teacher talked about God's reckless love for us. "And we know that God works all things together for good, to them that love Him, and are called according to His purpose." Rom. 3:23. It's easy to believe that when life is going the way I want it to. But what about now, when I'm facing weeks, probably months of not being able to do the things I most love to do?
To be honest, when I first got the diagnosis, I thought maybe God was punishing me for spending too much time training. Maybe he was upset with how I spend my time. Maybe He didn't like me doing triathlons. My best friend reminded me that God created me to love sports and being active, and that He is not capricious or angry. So on Sunday, I decided I would choose to trust Him with this. I don't have to like it, but I can rest assured that He is not surprised, and He already has a plan to bring out of this. I can't see it now, but that's where faith comes in.
I've asked God for healing. Sometimes He heals; more often He does not. Either way, He is good.
So for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to fully enjoy the time I have left to ride and swim. There may not be many races for me this year. But when I'm on the other side of this, I'll be riding and swimming again. And for that, I am thankful.
But last week, the diagnosis finally came back: femoral impingement and labrum tear. I haven't met with the surgeon yet, but my online research indicates the best remedy is surgery ... assuming I want to keep biking, swimming, and running.
Surgery. It's the word every athlete dreads hearing. It means weeks, maybe months, of inactivity, losing fitness, and starting from scratch. I worked so, so very hard to build my mileage up to a half marathon... and now I'm going to have to start all over. It seems so unfair.
The past week have had several moments of insight, though.
Last Sunday while riding with a good friend, we approached two athletes cycling in what looked like recumbant bikes. As we got closer, we could see that neither man had legs. They were out riding, using only their arms. Thank You, Father, that I have two functional legs that let me walk wherever I want.
Later on Sunday, the teacher talked about God's reckless love for us. "And we know that God works all things together for good, to them that love Him, and are called according to His purpose." Rom. 3:23. It's easy to believe that when life is going the way I want it to. But what about now, when I'm facing weeks, probably months of not being able to do the things I most love to do?
To be honest, when I first got the diagnosis, I thought maybe God was punishing me for spending too much time training. Maybe he was upset with how I spend my time. Maybe He didn't like me doing triathlons. My best friend reminded me that God created me to love sports and being active, and that He is not capricious or angry. So on Sunday, I decided I would choose to trust Him with this. I don't have to like it, but I can rest assured that He is not surprised, and He already has a plan to bring out of this. I can't see it now, but that's where faith comes in.
I've asked God for healing. Sometimes He heals; more often He does not. Either way, He is good.
So for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to fully enjoy the time I have left to ride and swim. There may not be many races for me this year. But when I'm on the other side of this, I'll be riding and swimming again. And for that, I am thankful.
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