The Long Awaited Day

Today I get to run for 15 minutes.  Four months ago when I was healthy, I wouldn’t have even bothered putting on my running shoes for a 15 minute run. 

I’ve never been one to take being healthy for granted as I am unfortunately injury prone.  Every time I go for a run, I am always thankful that I can do it.  I’ve been on the side lines too many times not to be thankful.  This particular injury has lingered for so long that I’ve often wondered if I’ll every get my back to old fitness routine.

What happened? 

On May 28 I felt a twinge in my left hamstring while running a steep hill on a nine mile run.  I stretched it after the run and thought that all was well.  As the days went on, I felt a pull in that hamstring that I couldn’t stretch or massage out.  After two professional massages, I decided it was time to go to physical therapy.  My normal therapist was on vacation and the substitute quickly determined that my hamstring problem was really caused by my pelvis being out of line.  She treated me and my hamstring got better very quickly, but then the problem went into my back, sacrum, and pubis.  My lower back, when things were out of position, ached all summer.  It was a feeling where I thought, “If I could just get this to crack, I would feel so much better.”  When my normal therapist came back the next week, she told me to stop running and playing tennis.

I have trouble stopping as my body is programmed to GO!  I never imagined that I would miss an entire summer of running and playing tennis.  I missed running with my friends; I missed playing tennis with my friends; and most of all, I missed playing tennis with Mr. SP.  I sank into a deep depression as the summer went on.  Would I ever get better?  

Don’t feel too sorry for me, as I have been able to do weights with some limitations, cycle, and do the elliptical all summer which kept me from going completely insane.  (Yes, I am addicted to exercise.) 

Three months ++ of physical therapy later, I feel SO much better.  What a joy it is to wake up and not hurt.  What a joy it is to not constantly feel the need to contort myself into all sorts of positions to find relief. 

So today I get to run for 15 minutes and I’m grateful. 

14 Comments

  1. Paula, I am so sorry that you have been in pain! I am happy you are doing so much better now. 😀

    Enjoy your weekend!!!

    ~Ricki Jill

  2. Bless your heart. I didn’t realize it was this bad. I’m glad the therapy has worked. Enjoy your run. You have a beautiful fall day to enjoy.

  3. Glad to hear you are able to get back on the road again. As someone who has had lots of injuries I completely understand how happy you are to run even if it is only for 15 minutes. Take it slow. I have learned the hard way it is better to be cautious when coming back from an injury and not over do it. Hope you continue to heal!

  4. Paula, I’m sure this has been hard. What a GREAT attitude you have. 🙂 Hoping your 15 minutes will soon return to the time you choose again!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

  5. I’m so glad you are feeling better! I didn’t run yesterday and I was a total crab! I can’t imagine being out for a long period!
    Thank you for the hydrangea link- total love!
    Have a great week!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

  6. Good for you!! I know how much you love to be active. I wish I could think up a good reason why I’m not exercising, but I have none. :s I hope you get into the swing of things!

  7. hi paula, Im so glad you are starting to feel better!
    A couple yrs back I needed therapy for my back too. I can understand back pain…not fun.
    Sometimes it just takes the body a bit to bounce back..don’t over do it even though you may want to..maybe next month you will be up to 30 mins of running.
    Stay positive!!!

  8. Oh dear! We didn’t even know that you were suffering so…..So happy that you’re feeling better now — hope you stay on the road to recovery.

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