So yes I am back from my conference, and while it went well, (no, I did not end up running in the hotel gym at all, shocker), I returned with major back, hip, and leg pain. Well, I was on my feet for 14 hours a day or more for 6 days straight, BUT this was worse than that would have caused. I've probably underplayed my pain issues on here b/c I didn't want to sound like a whiner (I've been doing enough of that in person), but I haven't seemed to make a lot of progress with running b/c of it...pain in my hips, feet, legs....which did get slightly better with the new fitted shoes but the kicker on this was the migraines I was getting that I swear start in my traps and work their way up my neck. So I've mentioned before that I have an autoimmune or "connective tissue" disease, which does make me have inflammation around my joints and even a little arthritis, but it's (knock on wood) minor compared to a lot of people with systemic diseases. I could tell this "flare up" was going down hill fast, and after an unproductive visit with my rheumatologist, ("stay the course on your medicine, blah blah blah") I decided I was desperate enough to try a chiropractor. (I've always kinda thought they were hokey....though I know some people are believers). So I chose a guy my insurance would cover based on the fact that his website indicated he takes a look at the whole picture- nutrition, illness, pain, nervous system. And I went, and I think I may be a believer even though I'm in terrible pain today after my first "adjustment". My xrays revealed some serious damage to my spine that's probably developed over a long time and (surprise!) has been causing progressive pain, and progressive decrease in range of motion. My neck is straight where it should be curved, and my back is excessively curved where it should be only slightly curved. My pelvis is literally twisted and my right hip is higher than my left hip. I also have THREE compressed (herniated) discs! yikes. If it sounds bad, it is. But at least I know that I'm not some crazy whining about pain that doesn't have a cause. I found (at least some) of the cause! And the chiro doc is all about the central nervous system and how my spinal issues could be affecting me- and that maybe some of my other symptoms could be alleviated if my spine gets better. wooo hooo I'm all for it. So, what does this mean for training? Well, he thinks if I follow all of the instructions, from physical to nutritional, I can still do the triathlon by the end of August. I have to go there everyday this week, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, 2 a week for 4 weeks, and so on. At 12 weeks they'll redo the exam and the xrays to see if it's working. Hopefully I can avoid the orthopedic doc if it starts working.
I taught spin last night (before I had this information) and tried to do a 5 K on the treadmill afterward. I ran 5 minutes before the pain made me walk, so I ended up walking two minutes, running three, walking, etc. By the time I got to mile 2, a weird sensation came over me and I literally couldn't run straight. I kinda started looking like this guy. All out of control. So from 2.4 to the end I walked. I stretched out really well and felt ok today. However, after being "adjusted" at the chiro tonight and then going to teach again, I'm in PAIN and all ice packed up. I'll be taking a week off to go to the beach next week but I will be trying to swim since that is something I can do without causing more damage. So we'll see. I'm determined to do this triathlon and I still plan to go up for the test run at the end of july (can't remember if I mentioned this yet, but basically you get to test out the swim and run course and they give you the rules, etiquitte, etc. for race day). Hopefully this "set back" will put me back on track to go even further, and improve my overall health. I'm still a wannabe triathlete for now but I know that this will take me a step closer to being a triathlete. I don't want to beat myself up too badly in the process!
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