Dealing with Injuries

Today I jogged for 15 min and was so thrilled!  I’ve been sidelined from running since the first of July, seeing an orthopedist and a physical therapist.  I suffered a flare up of low-back pain that developed into mild sciatica.  My PT recognized it as a hip instability that had developed over time, and she has been working with me 1-2 times/week to bring my malfunctioning hip and glut muscles back into proper play.  I really love to run, and I have been so bummed to be off the roads.  So, I’ve been the very compliant patient, faithfully performing my daily strengthening exercises and relying on other cardio activities to maintain my endurance–biking, walking, swimming.

I have to admit that I ignored this injury for longer than was wise.  Don’t do it!   If you feel pain, stop.  Often the R-I-C-E method will take care of a minor sprain or strain.  Read about rest, ice, compression, and elevation here:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/rehab/a/rice.htm

If after using the R-I-C-E method the pain or swelling does not decrease within 48 hours, make an appointment with your primary physician or head to the ER.  My experience has been that seeking treatment early will get you back on the road, court, or field more quickly.  Or, like me, you may have an underlying issue that needs to be treated by a specialist.