My back

So...I have talked about having back problems before and figured I would share some details. I wonder if anyone has gone through anything similar.

About 2 years ago I was reaching forward and felt something pull in my back and all of a sudden my back was in spasm. It was really painful and difficult to walk, but resolved itself after a week or so. The same thing happened in January during training for my half, but this time took at least 2 weeks before I was back to running.

After my half I started having back pain again, but not the same kind as before. I am a PT, but currently taking a few years off to stay home with the kids. I was able to successfully treat myself the first 2 times. This time I was just not seeing enough improvement and decided to go see a friend from school work is an orthopedic specialist and works with a lot of athletes.

He evaluated me and decided my problem was currently with my SI (sacroiliac) joint. I have a lot of weakness in my back, hips and abdominals and his theory is that after running a few miles I get the pain because my muscles are fatiguing and my form gets bad. He taped me and I went for a run and it helped a lot, but I found out I was allergic to the tape. :(

Right now I am wearing a soft brace for running and activity. I am doing a LOT of strengthening work for my hips, back and abdominals. When I go for PT, once a week, the PT stretches me and does some joint mobilization.

I do see an improvement, but I still get the pain at times. Speed work is difficult to do...I have to only speed up moderately or else the pain starts. I know it will take a while, but I am so not patient!!

Anyone else ever have to deal with back pain and a running injury???

New Read

I got my package from Amazon yesterday and these 2 books were in it....yeah for new running books! Has anyone read either?? I am trying to decide which to read first.

On the injury front, my back continues to improve every day. On Monday I tried to run very slowly on the treadmill and there was no way. The minute I started, I began to have pain. Instead I walked 30 minutes and even struggled with that. I have a disc problem with nerve root involvement, and the walking caused symptoms down my right leg.

I took off for 2 days and then walked tonight. I had no trouble walking and was able to do a full 30 minutes pain-free. I ran very slowly for the last two minutes and things felt o.k. At least I am making progress! Hopefully I will be back to full running in no time!

I hate walking!!

So..my back is slowly improving. I can do my day-to-day activities with little to no discomfort. I tried walking on the treadmill yesterday and had to walk pretty slow. When I tried to up the speed I started to feel some pressure right where I had injured my back. Today Bubby and I went mall walking and my back felt pretty good. My plan is to walk a but faster tomorrow and then hopefully try running the beginning of next week. I am desperate to get back to running, but smart enough to know I need to be very careful with this.

Not being able to run is HARD. It downright sucks like a Hoover (still love that one Tanya!). I keep telling myself that I need to be patient, but ya know what, I am just not a patient person!

I started thinking more about it, and I had gotten to where I was able to run and follow my training plan easily. If I had 8 miles on the schedule, I got out there and did 8 miles. Sometimes it was pure joy and other times I schlogged through it, but I did it. I was gradually increasing my mileage without much difficulty. But...I think it is times like this, dealing with an injury, that help me to become a tougher person. THIS is challenging. THIS helps me to grow and develop. THIS is character-building. But ya know what...THIS still stinks!

Thanks everyone for all of your sweet and positive comments...they have meant the world to me!

A Set-back

I have worked my butt off this month. I have my highest monthly mileage ever (73), have done lots of cross-training and lost 2 pounds. I was thrilled with my progress this month...until yesterday that is.

About 18 months ago I hurt my back. I was reaching forward when I felt something pull and ended up with awful back pain and muscle spasms. I healed from this and have been careful with my back ever since.

Yesterday I only had 5 miles planned, as it was to be my fall back week. After about 3 miles into it I felt some twinges in the right side of my lower back, the same place I had previously injured. They were not too bad, so I kept going and finished the 5. By the time I got home I could barely get out of the car, the pain and spasms were AWFUL!!

It is better today, still tight and a bit painful...but much improved over yesterday. I had to spend the day on the couch, which I despise. I am not someone who does well just sitting around.

So...right now I am just annoyed. This messes up my training for this week. I hope to do some walking in a day or 2 and then see how the running goes. I am concerned because I have no idea why this happened...I was just running along, slowly, when it started. Since I don't know what triggered it, I don't know how to prevent it in the future.

I am a physical therapist, but before I took a break to be a stay-at-home mom, I was working with kids with developmental disabilities...so orthopedics was not my area of focus. I am going to call a friend I went to school with who specializes in sports and see what he thinks. Hopefully I will be able to get around a bit more tomorrow...am trying to stay positive, but man is it hard!!