An Unexpected Injury (Wait... Aren't They All?)

Since starting my OTF classes and registering for all of these races I have been feeling really good about my fitness level, the way I feel mentally and physically, and my prospects of becoming healthier and faster in the future. My training took a turn for the worse, however, this past Wednesday. I'm not sure if it had anything to do with it or not, but we did deadlifts and squats during our OTF workout that morning - already making my back a bit sore. When I got to work I was still feeling a bit drained, rather than my normal, energized feeling after a workout. This may have been due to continued recovery from the weekend's half marathon along with this first workout since the race. In any case, I was one hour into the three hour psych group I facilitate at work when we went on our first break. I stood up from my chair and turned to my left to sit the legal pad and papers I had in my hands down on the chair before walking into my office and - SNAP! Something caught in my lower back and it was definitely uncomfortable and even somewhat painful. I walked slowly to unlock the door to let my patient's out into the courtyard and headed back over towards my office, all while cringing and playing out my physical impression of a 90 year-old-woman (although that latter part was not by choice). I began to feel nauseous and light-headed, and knew that if I didn't sit down soon the possibility of passing out and injuring myself further was very real. I literally laid down, on the laminate flooring, all the while donning a dress and heels while concerned co-workers asked me what had happened. I was hardly able to move, and began feeling anxious and concerned that I may have done something irreparable to myself (Notice how our minds always go to the worst case scenario? I seriously thought, just in those few moments, about having chronic pain for the rest of my life, needing pain management, never being able to run again, and all of those other ridiculous things that active people think of when injury strikes). The long and short of it is, I was able to get into a chiropractor right away, who determined that I had a compressed nerve (aka pinched nerve). He even did some x-rays to rule out anything more serious. That day alone I had a short lower back massage, an adjustment to my back, a topical pain medication that was supposed to help (but didn't), and was sent home with some exercises to do and to consider medication for inflammation, and to expect to return the following day. The next day came and went and I was still not feeling any better despite another round with the chiropractor, 800 mg of Ibuprofen and completing the stretches I was given. My biggest concern was being able to work out on Friday morning, followed by The Waterfront Challenge obstacle course 5k that I had signed up for on Saturday evening. The doctor said to give it another day of rest and to come back in on Saturday. I had previously scheduled a massage with my regular gal for Friday afternoon, so I kept that appointment hoping it might help. She focused mainly on the small of my back and my right glute, which she said was really tight. I left there feeling decent, but not great, and woke up on Saturday morning in even more consistent pain than I had been the day prior. Friday, I could at least walk around and get some relief after having stretched some after sitting for long periods of time. Saturday brought just a constant ache in my lower back, which was not helped at all by walking. I went back to the chiropractor at 10:45 that morning and told him what was going on. He was still concerned that I was not feeling better, did another round of the tens unit on my lower back, another adjustment, strongly advised again The Waterfront Challenge later that evening, and voiced a pre-emptive plan to contact my PCP if things still were not improved by the middle of next week. So.... I stumbled out of there with conflicting thoughts about whether I should, or should not, run the race. On one hand, the race was paid for, it was a fairly short course, it had a great medal, and I REALLY WANTED TO DO IT. On the other hand I didn't want to injure myself any further - although I was told by the Doc that I probably wouldn't injure it further, but that the healing time may be prolonged if I didn't just give it a rest, and while I may not feel anymore pain or discomfort during or after the race, the next day could prove to be brutal and why would I take that chance? Well, because I'm a hard-core athlete that's why. I went home and popped some more OTC anti-inflammatories, consistently did my stretches, sat with an ice-pack whenever I could, took a walk (and admittedly a small jog) around the block to test things out, and ultimately decided to do the race. I was pretty pumped up when I decided I was definitely in, and I think the adrenaline that was pumping through my body helped with the lack of discomfort I felt through the entire race. It was a stifling hot race (90 degrees, even at 6:45 p.m.) but I was just happy that I was going to be going through with it, albeit taking it a little easier than I normally would. The M.C. counted down the 6:45 wave and off we went. Had it not been so hot it would have been a fairly easy course. Lots of short, steep hills through the waterfront, climbing over flat beds and cars, hopping through and then carrying tires around part of the course, push-ups, lunges (okay, okay, so this was the one thing I didn't do as we were carrying water-filled PVC pipe on our shoulders and I didn't want to strain myself), and then finally down a large, inflatable, water slide to the finish. It was a great time. My official finishing time was 44:06 with Jim coming in just 10-15 seconds slower. He says that compared to last year he killed his time - probably due to the awesome workouts we've been getting at OTF. For the remainder of the evening, which mainly consisted of dinner and watching TV in bed, I felt good. Just prior to bed I took another round of meds, including half a muscle relaxer, and laid on the ice pack to reduce any additional inflammation I may have. In the morning - oddly enough - I felt great. I'd say 80% better than I had the previous morning. I'm not sure if that's the way my body would have healed regardless, or if getting out and getting some movement/exercise through the race helped, or what. But regardless, 25 hours after the end of the race I am still feeling fantastic. A little sore, which is to be expected after a race such as this, but as far as my lower back goes I'm walking again like the 37 year old fit woman that I am, I'm no longer having to take 10-15 seconds after standing up from a sitting position to stretch out my back with a scowl on my face. And I must say... I'm definitely happy that I went through with it, even against Doctors orders. Sometimes (well, most of the time) I think that we know our bodies better than the "professionals" do and know what we are capable of. Funny thing is, prior to the race last night I even had the thought that maybe the race would do me some good - physically - and so I just went for it. If I had any concern (or at least, more concern than I did) that I would have majorly injured myself or made things worse, I probably wouldn't have done the race. But... I was confident (and a little stubborn, I admit) that I could complete it AND possibly feel better. I'm glad I did. Next up, another round of OTF in the morning, and the possibility of a Warrior Dash sign up in September.