Physical Therapy

I miss running.



I started running to get some exercise. To prove to myself that I could do it. And then I found out I like it. I feel stronger after a run. Mentally and physically and emotionally.



On my birthday in May I ran early. And my hip started hurting. Not a slight pain that would go away with a little rest, but something that stuck with me and bothered me in the middle and the end of the run. Then in June I wore high heels one night and the next day my hip was fine - but the pain had moved to my back and down my leg.



Since June I've run much less. Part of my taper was time constraints and part was pain. But the pain hasn't eased with rest, it's gotten worse. Sitting for long periods - and not so long periods - hurts. Running hurt, although sometimes I ran anyway and the pain would eventually subside some. Rolling over, bending at the waist, lifting my leg became more and more painful.



So last week I went to the doctor. A specialist. Who xrayed my back. Told me I have a degenerative disc disease and a compressed disc that might be pushing on a nerve. He started talking about surgery and injections. He briefly checked something to do with my sacroiliac joint, but what he did didn't cause the pain. He wanted to schedule an MRI so we can see more about that compressed disc.



I told him I wasn't sure about the MRI. I told him I'd like to see if physical therapy can do something. Well, I asked him first if he thought it might do anything for me to fix it. He didn't like my "fix it" phrase. He changed it to "fix the pain". He said it wouldn't hurt. Might help. He still thinks the MRI is a good idea but it's not something that can't wait a little bit.



I was discouraged. Mostly because everything the doctor told me he also told the 60 year old man in the next room, too. Have an MRI and come back. He didn't give me any instruction on what to do or not to do. And it wasn't until I was in the car afterward that the questions started to come.



So I set up an appointment with a physical therapist that Sean knows from rugby and I got to see him yesterday. He studied my hips and pelvic bones and explained what he thought was going on . He had me do some stretches with him and - after a little bit I could bend over farther than I could at the beginning of the hour.



He answered all my questions before I could ask them. He did all the things I expected the doctor to do. And now I have some hope that there's an end in sight for the pain. And I can't wait to be able to run and play with the kids outside. Not to mention just run for me.

And the end of cranky me who comes out when the pain sets in will be nice, too.