Back Pain Update

I have been absent from this blog for way to long, so here is an update: about 6 weeks ago I blew-out my back doing a stupid move just before I went on a ride. To add insult to injury I rode hard for two days and that just made the injury worse. Now it's 6 weeks later and I am not 100%.

In an effort to get as much info as possible, and heal as quickly as possible, I asked everyone under the sun what I should do. I consulted with 2 chiropractors, Dr. Larry Kahn and Dr. Osar, Jason Schisler at VQ, and the pain mavens at MYO Pain, Sharon & Mary. Basically they said the road to recovery is long, 8-12 weeks, and that I had injured a disc that strained some muscles or perhaps it was the other way around. No one had a good reason as to why it happened except that these things happen as you age, ach, and I should treat the injury carefully.

Dr. Osar had the best insight saying that as a person ages their discs become more brittle. Also because most people sit at desks and are hunched over their discs get use to being 1 way, hunched. As athletes, we work on flexibility. As we become more flexible we stress body parts that do not want to change their position so injury occurs. He said I need to take care over the next few weeks but that I can ride. However I also need to work on reverse-flexibility by doing reverse stretches, lunges and core strength. (Reverse flex is just doing Cobra, supported lunges and side stretches. These stretches have really helped me heal quickly.)

So where am I today, you ask? After 8 weeks and many sessions with chiropractors and massage therapists, I am still in pain but it is manageable. I no longer take daily doses of Advil and I am riding. When the pain gets too bad I am usually working to hard and I back off. The bad news is that I am still in pain. The worse news is that i lost some muscle mass and aerobic fitness.

BUT the good news is; I am riding. If there is a moral to the story it is that stuff happens and when it does get the best care possible, give yourself time to heal and be patient. (These are not my strong points.) So I am on the mend and you can now look for me on the road again I am happy to say.