Breath Diedre. I am calm. I am happy. I am calm. I am happy. Let's try this one... I am healthy. I am strong. I am healthy. I am strong.
When you think of patience, my name is not usually the first one that would be thought of for an example. I have adapted well to today's society of 'must have it now'; however, thru running, I have started to learn and understand patience. That I will get stronger in time, the trail will dry out soon, this hill will have a peak, or I can make it to the bathroom at the gas station four blocks away.
This is what I started to write about over a month ago, almost six weeks. I had been dealing with some hip, leg and lower back issues for about 4 months (at that time). The pain was progressively getting worse in my lower back and becoming more focused as the alignment issues in my hip and pelvic area were being fixed (and are now). I was feeling so frustrated! I was doing all the stretches, all of the core strengthening exercises, and still no improvement. My PT was checking my alignment, able to do adjustments if needed, and all was well, and in its proper place. Still, the pain persists...
Then, about two weeks ago, the numbness started in my left leg. All the way to my toes. Back to the doctor I went and straight for an MRI. Well, almost straight and four days later, plus another two days to get the full breadth of the results. Degenerative Disc Disease. Interesting, because it not a disease at all. It's a genetic defect, that is not necessarily a hereditary trait. Well, what now?
Cortisone shots? Physical therapy? Chiropractic work? Surgery?
I'm going with all of the above, except for the chiropractor part... I just haven't found one that I thought wanted to help me, just for me to come back in two weeks. Well, I don't have the time or money for that. Teach me what to do to correct the issues and keep them that way. So... I will educate myself. Talk to as many people as I can, learn what has worked for them, and what hasn't. Always keeping in mind that we are all different. Talking with as many professionals and specialists in the spine realm who will give me the time and absorb as much as I can from them. The best method for making an informed, educated and sound decision is to become informed and educated.
Now that I know what is wrong, and that the pain is coming from the area where the disc has completely degenerated and the vertebrae is bone on bone. I am not as frustrated and after processing what the possibilities and options are. I am feeling more patient. Willing to take my time and not rush into anything. I do have questions... and a few of them are: 'I know my exercise and running didn't cause this, but why did this seem to come on so fast? How much does my running accelerate this condition? How could I have run a 50 mile ultra just 3 months before my back started having so much pain and start to spasm? Are the time lines realistic? How were they determined?' And so on...
This is not a running related injury, but I will use what I have learned from running to prepare, recover, and overcome this!
