Hi!
A couple of late updates from 3 members. I Still thought a few others are injured or were just coming back from injury. [Not mentioning names but Ladies L, S, and Lords J, J R !! :)]
Anyway please let me know any injury/recovery status in 3 weeks when I ask again then this can be a monthly update. Many Thanks. Now the updates..
Matt Taylor
Unfortunately I’ve been troubled by lower back pain since Xmas. I am making slow progress and as is the case with many injured “athletes” I appear to take two steps forward and then one back. Im trying my best to avoid falling victim of the ‘boom and bust’ cycle that occurs when impatient runners return from injury.
It has been an unusual injury as I don’t actually experience any pain at all when I exercise and haven’t done since early January. But I am suffering with quite severe nocturnal lower back pain that disturbs my sleep and is always much worse the night following any exercise. Running and swimming aggravate it but cycling is okay.
I initially thought it was caused by my fall in the Sue Hool handicap race. But as the pain at night persisted I started to consider an alternative explanation and decided to see a rheumatologist; one I used to work with 20 years ago when I was a hospital doc. Scans and blood tests have largely been reassuring and have detected only minor abnormalities. A few subtle changes may point to the start of an underlying inflammatory spondyloarthropathy (a form of spinal arthritis). My father developed this in his 40s. However, I remain hopeful it is all reactive to my fall in the handicap race.
I will continue to do regular strength work and pilates whilst at the same time steadily increasing the load with my running.
Fingers crossed I will return to proper running with uninterrupted sleep.
I’ve missed you all at the club, the banter, the Tuesday night training sessions and racing. Hope to see you all soon (pandemic pending).
Bill Heaton
I started running in 1983 and my first proper injury was in 2000. The cause wasn’t actually running related. Stab proof vests were introduced at work ( I was a police officer for 30 years) and the original ones had steel panels in and weren’t flexible and certainly weren’t designed for being worn in cars….where I spent a lot on my time. The fitting procedure was…..’you look like a medium.’
I immediately started suffering lower back pain and when I reported it I was told that it was a lawful order to wear them at all times. Very shortly after this I suffered a prolapse in my lower back ( L4/5), sciatica in my right leg and various other issues. For six months I was almost totally immobile. Time cured most of the issues but I’ve never had full feeling back in my right leg.
To cut a long story short, within 12 months I got back to running and actually running PB’s…..73 minutes for the half and 16’01” for 5km. I was determined to prove a certain doctor wrong when I was told running wouldn’t be possible.
In the ensuing years I’d suffer on-going issues due to my initial back issue…groin, pelvic and the lower back. These would generally on last up to a month and so I remained on the running rollercoaster.
In 2013 my back went again at L4/5 and although not as bad initially as it was in 2000, I’ve found that recovery has never really happened.
At this time I was closing in on completing my 30 year police career. All of that had been frontline and working shifts. The shift work had also taken it’s toll and i couldn’t motivate myself to continue racing, often I’d done a morning race after finishing a night shift at 6/7 am and having a couple of hours sleep.
This time I didn’t have the drive to get back to my previous levels of performance. I had always said that I’d stop racing if I couldn’t race under 6 minute per mile. In addition, I’d started painting and immediately received some great feedback some eminent people in the art world. The drive to run had an immediate replacement in my art.
My back just didn’t want to seem to recover this time despite long breaks from running, numerous physios, yoga, Pilates, gym, swimming, cycling. The problems seem to travel between my lower back, groin, pelvis and hips.
I’ve had x-rays and MRI scans and I’m due to see a specialist in a couple of weeks but I’m expecting that to be cancelled due to the current situation.
In the future I would like to be able to move without pain. I have lower back pain all the time and when I run I’m only able to shuffle. We all know what it feels like when we run efficiently in all weathers, often alone. I’d settle for that, at whatever pace. If I can’t do that then that’s life.
Looking back I wouldn’t change anything. Running was a great way of dealing with things I saw and dealt with at work. I may have run quicker if I hadn’t worked shifts but at the end of the day the racing was a small part of it and other aspects are far more important to our health and well-being.
If I were to give advice, I’d say enjoy what you’re doing now, things can change rapidly.
Set goals, but be realistic and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t achieve them. Just set another goal.
Prepare yourself for when you can’t run. What will you do instead?
We can’t live in the past and must embrace what we can do. My life is different and I’ve moved my goal setting and dedication that running gave me to other areas of my life.
Best wishes to all.
Emmy and my status was published a few days a go see here
Emmy Moss (Update)
If you remember a few days ago Emmy was waiting for the results of her MRI scan on her knee. Well:
The Consultant just rang me, I don’t need surgery, but lots of physio to strengthen it, and maybe a steroid injection down the road.
Hippopotamus (Update):
Since my 660 step run the other day. My leg has been sore and I could only manage 110steps today!! Mustn’t grumble – Keep smiling – things could get much worse. Back to doing house jobs that have been outstanding for two years!! 🙁
Take care everyone.