Friday 6/18/10
They took it easy on me today. I was hooked up to electro-fun, endured an easy massage (compared to the last one) and had my manipulations and stretches. I was still a bit sore, but was able to do my pool exercises afterwards.
Monday 6/21/10
The “massage” today was pretty intense and I was feeling pain. I have not been feeling pain or having spasms at all for the past couple of days. I am stiff and a bit sore, but not really feeling pain.
Later in the day, I did my 15-minute walk and also ran for 5 minutes! My body felt great, but my lungs need to be built back up. I also did my pool exercises. I felt great today. I want to go back to work and also start training again.
Wednesday 6/23/10
I got two new exercises to do today. I also asked if I could start doing my abdominal routine. The physical therapist was a bit hesitant about it, so I explained my lengthy routine and offered to do half the exercises at a quarter reps. He was fine with that. I also got permission to slowly build my run back up! Woo Hoo!!
While I was at it, I asked if I could look at going back to work. My job is very physical, and they weren’t convinced that I was ready for it. Crap! I will keep doing my exercises and plan for returning to work in about two weeks. I have to be ready by then, I have been making great progress!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Physical Therapy
Friday 6/11/10
By this time, I had not taken my muscle relaxers during the day for six days. I still took them at night to sleep. I was happy to be off of the meds at least during the day.
First day of PT and I was excited with the thought of moving again. I have been stuck “resting” for three weeks, now. My body was feeling sore from inactivity. After the initial assessment, I was hooked up to an electro-stimulating device. Staff told me that it was “for pain.” The sensations were strange but not unpleasant. I was supposed to receive a massage after that, which I refused. Since the injury was like a massive muscle ripping bruise, touching it was extremely painful. I could not sit on a chair normally, I couldn’t drive and I had to lie on my side to sleep. There was no way I was getting a massage that day without me defending myself. Lastly, I was taught some stretching exercises to do every day. I was happy to be able to exercise, finally!
Monday 6/14/10
I have been doing my exercises everyday, twice a day. My back is not as sore to touch, but I keep feeling like I am laying on a small rock. I even cleared the rug and checked my clothes. It was strange to feel like there was an object in my back.
The PT routine seems pretty set. They explained to me that the goal was to loosen the muscle up so that it can be stretched back to its normal position. So, I was hooked up to electrodes and afterwards offered a massage. I was feeling better, so I thought I might be able to handle the touching. She went pretty slowly and I guided her to the pressure I could handle. It was unpleasant. Afterwards, I did my exercises and then was manipulated by the Physical Therapist.
He added another exercise to my routine. I asked him if I could possibly start walking. I also promised that I would not try to run (even though that is all I wanted to do). He agreed that 12-15 minutes a day would be fine and also gave me some exercises I could do in the pool. Yay! I was so happy.
Wednesday 6/16/10
I have been walking exactly 15 minutes a day and doing four of the new pool exercises on top of the back exercises that I was assigned. I feel great! I have not had to take the muscle relaxers at night for the past two nights. Finally, I feel that I am making some real progress.
Encouraged, I went into the PT session. My plan was to ask for a couple of extra minutes for my walks. I was hooked up to a different electro-stimulation device. The pulses and sensations were slightly different from the other one and it seemed a bit more intense. Afterwards, he came in for the massage. The force of the massage was increased and almost felt good. I still had some tenderness and the site of the injury was still sensitive to pressure. The massage felt good and bad, back and forth. I completed my exercises afterwards.
The Physical Therapist came over and started his manipulations. I told him about my progress and that I had not taken muscle relaxing meds to sleep. I also asked him if I could increase my walking time or intensity. We discussed changing the dynamics of the walk and adding 5 minutes of a light jog. I was elated! He performed his usual procedure and then added an intense back manipulation. I felt fine and then left. This whole session was intense!
I felt so good that I wanted to try going to the store. I had not been able to go anywhere for any length of time. My back would get sore, then painful, and then start to spasm. We decided to go quickly and get the few things on our list. By the time we were done I felt very tired and a little sore. We went home and I crashed, I slept for 4 hours. When I woke up, I was very sore. I barely did my original exercises and I had trouble sitting on the couch again. My back was tight and full of pain. I took a muscle relaxer to sleep that night.
The next day was no better. I was either stuck on the couch or in bed with ice. I felt defeated.
By this time, I had not taken my muscle relaxers during the day for six days. I still took them at night to sleep. I was happy to be off of the meds at least during the day.
First day of PT and I was excited with the thought of moving again. I have been stuck “resting” for three weeks, now. My body was feeling sore from inactivity. After the initial assessment, I was hooked up to an electro-stimulating device. Staff told me that it was “for pain.” The sensations were strange but not unpleasant. I was supposed to receive a massage after that, which I refused. Since the injury was like a massive muscle ripping bruise, touching it was extremely painful. I could not sit on a chair normally, I couldn’t drive and I had to lie on my side to sleep. There was no way I was getting a massage that day without me defending myself. Lastly, I was taught some stretching exercises to do every day. I was happy to be able to exercise, finally!
Monday 6/14/10
I have been doing my exercises everyday, twice a day. My back is not as sore to touch, but I keep feeling like I am laying on a small rock. I even cleared the rug and checked my clothes. It was strange to feel like there was an object in my back.
The PT routine seems pretty set. They explained to me that the goal was to loosen the muscle up so that it can be stretched back to its normal position. So, I was hooked up to electrodes and afterwards offered a massage. I was feeling better, so I thought I might be able to handle the touching. She went pretty slowly and I guided her to the pressure I could handle. It was unpleasant. Afterwards, I did my exercises and then was manipulated by the Physical Therapist.
He added another exercise to my routine. I asked him if I could possibly start walking. I also promised that I would not try to run (even though that is all I wanted to do). He agreed that 12-15 minutes a day would be fine and also gave me some exercises I could do in the pool. Yay! I was so happy.
Wednesday 6/16/10
I have been walking exactly 15 minutes a day and doing four of the new pool exercises on top of the back exercises that I was assigned. I feel great! I have not had to take the muscle relaxers at night for the past two nights. Finally, I feel that I am making some real progress.
Encouraged, I went into the PT session. My plan was to ask for a couple of extra minutes for my walks. I was hooked up to a different electro-stimulation device. The pulses and sensations were slightly different from the other one and it seemed a bit more intense. Afterwards, he came in for the massage. The force of the massage was increased and almost felt good. I still had some tenderness and the site of the injury was still sensitive to pressure. The massage felt good and bad, back and forth. I completed my exercises afterwards.
The Physical Therapist came over and started his manipulations. I told him about my progress and that I had not taken muscle relaxing meds to sleep. I also asked him if I could increase my walking time or intensity. We discussed changing the dynamics of the walk and adding 5 minutes of a light jog. I was elated! He performed his usual procedure and then added an intense back manipulation. I felt fine and then left. This whole session was intense!
I felt so good that I wanted to try going to the store. I had not been able to go anywhere for any length of time. My back would get sore, then painful, and then start to spasm. We decided to go quickly and get the few things on our list. By the time we were done I felt very tired and a little sore. We went home and I crashed, I slept for 4 hours. When I woke up, I was very sore. I barely did my original exercises and I had trouble sitting on the couch again. My back was tight and full of pain. I took a muscle relaxer to sleep that night.
The next day was no better. I was either stuck on the couch or in bed with ice. I felt defeated.
Sometimes It Hurts To Fight
It started with a routine move. I have done this move many times when I was a child and was very good at it. I attempted to do it again and it went terribly wrong. This move could have been any form of activity; running, climbing, swimming, walking, etc. In this case it was a break-fall type roll in Aikido. I have done it many times, successfully, when I took Judo.
Martial arts injuries are as common as running or tennis injuries. Staying active runs a risk of injury. So, why do it? Many people engage in activities, including martial arts, to stay fit. Other reasons for engaging in activity include self-esteem, fun, competition and social aspects. Martial arts offer the extra benefit of self-defense.
I am a runner and I train in martial arts. I go to the gym regularly and also work out in my house. Why do I do it? I love to move. My body feels limber and I sleep great when I work out regularly. Swimming, lifting weights, walking, stretching, moving makes me feel good. I have sustained many minor injuries over the years and I still keep moving.
When I performed the roll in my class, it hurt. I rubbed my back and got up and finished the class. That night I was sore, so I iced my back and took some anti-inflammatory medication. I rested for a couple of days and then felt better.
A couple of weeks later I performed the same maneuver. I hurt the same place on my back. The difference between the first injury and the re-injury was the pain. After the re-injury, I felt a significant amount of pain. I could barely drive back home.
I saw the doctor, spent the next two weeks on muscle relaxers and then went back to the doctor. The doctor changed my muscle relaxers and gave me a referral for physical therapy. The weeks spent on muscle relaxing medications were frustrating for me. I was too tired from the meds to write or focus on anything. I slept and lived on the couch for most of my days. If I wasn’t too tired, I watched T.V. Generally, I hate watching T.V. so this activity left me irritated.
I was upset, frustrated and probably very irritating to those around me. My boyfriend, parents and friends supported me and made sure that I was following my treatment. Admittedly, I can be quite stubborn so, my boyfriend has put up with a lot of my crap. I am lucky to have such caring and wonderful people around me.
Martial arts injuries are as common as running or tennis injuries. Staying active runs a risk of injury. So, why do it? Many people engage in activities, including martial arts, to stay fit. Other reasons for engaging in activity include self-esteem, fun, competition and social aspects. Martial arts offer the extra benefit of self-defense.
I am a runner and I train in martial arts. I go to the gym regularly and also work out in my house. Why do I do it? I love to move. My body feels limber and I sleep great when I work out regularly. Swimming, lifting weights, walking, stretching, moving makes me feel good. I have sustained many minor injuries over the years and I still keep moving.
When I performed the roll in my class, it hurt. I rubbed my back and got up and finished the class. That night I was sore, so I iced my back and took some anti-inflammatory medication. I rested for a couple of days and then felt better.
A couple of weeks later I performed the same maneuver. I hurt the same place on my back. The difference between the first injury and the re-injury was the pain. After the re-injury, I felt a significant amount of pain. I could barely drive back home.
I saw the doctor, spent the next two weeks on muscle relaxers and then went back to the doctor. The doctor changed my muscle relaxers and gave me a referral for physical therapy. The weeks spent on muscle relaxing medications were frustrating for me. I was too tired from the meds to write or focus on anything. I slept and lived on the couch for most of my days. If I wasn’t too tired, I watched T.V. Generally, I hate watching T.V. so this activity left me irritated.
I was upset, frustrated and probably very irritating to those around me. My boyfriend, parents and friends supported me and made sure that I was following my treatment. Admittedly, I can be quite stubborn so, my boyfriend has put up with a lot of my crap. I am lucky to have such caring and wonderful people around me.
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