Let me start this post by saying that I have been moving patients for 25 years, on and off. I have NEVER injured myself moving a patient - until now. I was helping to move a patient yesterday and I pulled a muscle in my back. It hurt immediately - quick spasms that made me gasp and go sit down as soon as we had the patient positioned. And it's hurting still. Here's the stupid part - I was just moving the patient's head. To be sure, it was a rather large head, but still - just a head. &^#$@#! I'm so mad about this that I could scream!!!!
The pain now is localized between the 7th and 8th rib on the right side of my back. It's all muscle pain - there isn't any evidence (that I can feel) that I've done anything other than irritate the soft tissue in that area. I'm not a believer in lying flat on your back with back pain, so I've continued most of my normal activities for the last two days.
I hadn't planned a run on Friday, so that was a rest day anyway. I ran a slow three miles today - found that if I kept an 11:00 - 12:00 pace my back didn't bother me much, but when I increased the speed I could really feel it. So, that's a bummer, because I did want to get in some speedwork over the next couple of weeks.
On the other hand, I don't have a time goal for Disney - it is all about fun and character photos for me (and a trip with the hubs - ALONE!) - so I suppose it really doesn't matter. My goal for signing up for Disney was to force myself to continue training with reasonable intensity during a month when I'd really rather hibernate, and I can still do that even if I don't worry about speedwork.
If it doesn't ease off in the next week or so, I'll go ask my doc for a referral to a physical therapist and see if there's anything I can do to strengthen some of those muscles to keep this from happening again. In the meantime, if you see a short, stocky chick with too much gear on running VERY slowly, give me a wave, will ya? Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
oh no! sending painfree vibes your way lady! hopefully you can get into PT, it worked wonders for my back pain. although hopefully the pain goes away before you need that referral
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope it does, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry! That stinks. Chances are it will go away in the next few days- I hope it does! Take it easy in the meantime, especially no laundry (all that lifting!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val! I hope so, too!
ReplyDeleteOh no Terri! I hope it feels better soon. Is that something a massage therapist could help with? It works wonders for me...
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ReplyDeleterunningdivamom at charter dot net
www.runningdivamom.com
Boy can I relate. Hope it is much better soon.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the pulled muscle in your back. My husband is having back issues too, very difficult. Hoping you feel better soon! :)
ReplyDeleteyikes!! Hopefully it's short-lived and will work itself out as quickly as it came to visit. Fingers crossed!!!
ReplyDelete