Friday 30 May 2008

Physical Therapy

I had my first appointment for Physical Therapy today. The thing that is causing my sciatic nerve so much pain is that my periformis muscle is all jacked up. Now, I took two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology, one semester of Pathophysiology, and various other medical classes - how is it that I NEVER heard of this muscle?

The physical therapist suggests that I don't run until I get the pain calmed down.

I have a bunch of exercises to do. I will do them.

But I am having a hard time not running. I ran 6 miles last Sunday, and then spent the remainder of the day in bed - on vicodin. Not a good way to spend a day.

I so want to at least run a half-marathon on June 21. I have to. Really. I just have to.

Do you remember how you felt when you started running and you would feel your belly and wonder where this hardness had come from? Or look at your butt and realize there was NO fat on it? Or look at the muscles in your legs and marvel that they could be your very own legs?

Well, I am going through that process in reverse. It only took a few weeks, but my belly feels more flacid, my butt seems less firm, etc., etc.,

This is sad. Woe is me!

6 comments:

Wes said...

I don't mean to chuckle, but yes! I know what you are talking about!! You got a LOT of running ahead of you!! This is part of the learning process for you. Get BETTER FIRST :-)

J~Mom said...

Rest, rest, rest and get better supah fast!!

E said...

Rest up and hopefully you'll still be able to do that half. It's better to rest now, and run later, then to prolong the injury. :)

ws said...

I had piriformis pain about a year ago and I would sit on a tennis ball trying to relieve the pressure. interestingly enough, it worked.

good luck with the rehab. I hope you're back to running soon - I know how important it can be.

Unknown said...

I definately recommend doing what the PT suggests and RESTING until you can run comfortably.

Can you bike or swim to try to regain shape? Interestingly for me, swimming seems to have a bigger impact on my body fitness than running or cycling. Sadly, I haven't been doing much swimming this month and I'm with you on the whole return of flab thing. Blah!

Jess said...

Definitely do the exercises the PT suggests and definitely rest for at least a week. I hope you can still do the half on the 21st!