Down Time

I hate down time!

My back has been acting up and I haven't been able to run for a week now. I usually run six days a week so to be reduced to zero is agonizing.

When I first noticed the pain Sunday morning (3/15) in my lower back, I ignored it. I got on my incline bench, did my situps, and ignored the pain. I went running and ignored the pain. But then I paid the piper. For the rest of the day, I was in excruciating pain, and it continued for the rest of the week. I tried massive doses of Ibuprofen. I tried a muscle relaxer. When I tried the heating pad, I ended up in worse pain. I couldn't sit for long. I had trouble walking. I had a hard time going up and down stairs and getting in and out of the car. By Friday I was desperate.

Then I pulled out a book I had bought many months ago, Yoga Heals Your Back by Rita Trieger. I did the morning stretches and the spine alignment poses. I felt immediate relief. I did them twice more that day and continued to do them throughout the weekend. The relief is astonishing--much better than the drugs. I'm not back to normal (occasionally my back just seems to quit and I nearly fall down), but at least I am not in agony anymore. Today I bought the Elaine Petrone's Miracle Ball Method. We'll see if that helps.

At this point, I would probably do anything to be able to get back to running. I have done a couple of long walks since my breakthrough on Friday, but I desperately need to get back to running. If I do something horrible in the next few days, I will blame it on the lack of running.