I quasi Broke Myself

After jogging (jog, walk, jog, walk, sprint), last week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and going for a "GFS Walk" on Saturday (a walk from home to the Good Food Store and eventually back - it's about 2.2 miles one way), my body - specifically my right hip, had enough. 

All weekend I was "walking it off" and doing fine.  Monday morning, however, it was super bad.  I thought I could "walk it off" at work....it progressively got worse, especially with all of the sitting I was doing (it hurt to stand...it hurt to sit too though).  Long story short, I got ice, crutches, and information.

Between a couple folks in the Rehab department, and my own "internet research" (please be aware of the air-quotes ... personal internet research when you don't know what you're looking for can be relatively dangerous when used solely on it's own), we were all thinking it sounded like I had developed bursaitis in the hip (the website has good information, but is a bit clunky IMO).  Anyway... later on in the day, just before I left, I assisted another physical therapist with her computer and explained what was going on (because she saw the crutches and I told her that was why I was hoping she'd bring her computer to me, instead of me going to her)...  She advised me to place my legs in a certain way when sleeping, to help stretch out the muscles/tendons (whatever is in that area).  IT WORKED AMAZINGLY.

Okay...so it didn't "fix me"...but I woke up and my leg wasn't stiff.  I could move it around without shooting pain.  Full disclosure:  I did do a bunch of gentle stretching an hour or two before going to bed, and a lot of icing.  I also did a lot of sleeping on my on my left side last night, and some on my back - zero on my right side (gee, I wonder why?).  So, with that said, my left hip isn't exactly thrilled at the moment (between putting majority of my weight on my left leg yesterday - a lot of my weight - and sleeping almost exclusively on my left side last night, it's bound to happen .... i went through the same ordeal with my hands a few years back, so I get it).  Anyway, still a bit tender - especially the more I sit.  But I don't feel crippled like I was yesterday around lunch time (it was bad)....I still am limping though.

This morning, I have an appointment with a chiropractor , first time ever.  Now, you may be asking yourself:

• "It's your hip not your back, why a chiropractor?"
• "The internet says:  ice, stretch, rest, ibuprofen ...why a chiropractor?" (paraphrasing)
• "If you just showed that stretching, icing, ibuprofen, are helping, why a chiropractor?"
• "Why a chiropractor??"

Yes.  I agree.  So here is the argument(ish) to all of that...

1. When pain reaches a certain point, all bets are off, and you (me) just want the pain gone. (I was frickin' miserable yesterday - I almost dropped a few times)
2. I've had a lot of stupid back issues - I blame lack of stretching and horrendous posture
3. My boss constantly suggests going to one (so I made an appointment with his, I may get a "free first time visit out of it" - don't know for sure yet)
4. My girlfriend stated that her mom had a bout with bursaitis, saw a chiropractor, and it worked wonders - sped up the recovery
5. One of my best friends, just like my boss, speaks highly of seeing a chiropractor

I'm not a huge fan of having my bones and joints, etc.. etc..  manipulated.  I'm admittedly also fairly ignorant to that part of the world.  Based on the above information, especially if I get the "free first visit", I figure there is no harm in going and seeing what's up.  

I'm still a firm believer that if you take care of yourself - proper stretching,  etc..  (read: YOGA - which I'm going to start devoting more time towards again), then you shouldn't need a chiropractor.  Heck, full disclosure: I don't like going to see doctors either - mostly because I rarely get information other than them agreeing with what I think / figured out on my own; occasionally they are able to point me in different directions, or actually say "this is what's up", so no disrespect intended by that statement.

Time to get my "stretch" on, and do some upper body calisthenics ... I have to keep moving forward, even when parts of my body say slow down.  I get it, I'll slow down.  But I also know my body.  If I "stop" for too long of time, it will physically come back to haunt me in more ways than one.

Keep your head up, and keep your grind on.  Don't let the barriers in life prevent you from achieving your goals.

P.S. - Monday, I weighed in at 188.3 - so that's awesome, since normally after the weekend I jump up a bit, instead the number went down...a smidge.