No running.
All I heard was no running. No. No. No running.
PT: I don’t want you running until your back is healed.
Me: What about on a treadmill?
PT: No.
Me: What about a speedy walk?
PT: No. In fact, I don’t really even want you walking up big hills.
Me: What about on grass?
PT: No.
Me: Ok – well, I’m going to the beach on Thursday and my favorite thing to do is run when the sun rises along the beach. The sand is forgiving. What about that?
PT: No, but you can do some mild walking at the beach. Let pain be your guidc.
Me: Ok, well – what if –
PT: NO. Danielle, no. When is the last time you ran?
Me: Saturday.
PT: How far?
Me: 4 miles.
PT: And how do you feel?
Me: ::Awkward silence::
PT: Exactly. No running. No hills. And when you start back running you need to start slow. Like, 1/2 a mile one week, then 3/4 mile, etc. Don’t cheat this. You want cardio? You can swim, if it doesn’t hurt.
Me: ….fine.
That didn’t go exactly as I had hoped. I spent two hours there. He put heat on my back, did some deep tissue work, had me do some back stretching exercises and then put ice on me.
He wants me to come back bi weekly for aproximately 4-6 weeks. So, maybe my goal for the next 6 weeks until I can start exercising again is to maintain this weight. I don’t want to get obssessed and then push myself and reinjure my back all over again.
Apparently I have enough muscle damage that it’s causing constant back spasms. Perhaps the next 5 days of total relaxation at the beach with a good book and a drink in my hand is exactly what I need.
Side note: I *just* bought these. I guess I really am back in a 14 including jeans now! YAY!
Damn girl, that's a lot of fattitude 
It’s the WORST being told you can’t do something isn’t it! I was told I could never run or lift heavy again, and I listened at the time but then I got a second opinion and now I’m back at it 🙂 Don’t give up 🙂
Yeah, my injury is from a car accident. A kid rear ended me at a complete stop because he was texting. Ugh. Thanks for commenting and following! 🙂
Maybe now is the time to try something new! Swimming is great exercise. I’m currently in love with aquafittness for all the sweat but not noticing since you are in the water. Plus it is a “bad back approved” exercise. What about trying spinning? I know being told you can’t do what you love sucks (for me it was biking) but you’ll be back to it eventually so try to enjoy/tolerate the break from running and discover something new to do.
Ah no 😦 I’m sorry to hear that. And no problem, looking forward to your posts! 🙂
Yes, for sure. I do enjoy swimming, but cancelled my gym membership when we bought a house a year ago because we have a pool in the neighborhood and I prefer running/cycling outside. I’m more a cyclist than anything actually. The position on my bike will hurt my back unfortunately. I can’t seem to sit in the same position for very long currently. I’m just SO over this. My sole focus on running this year was to drastically improve my triathlon times. So much for that. lol.
Ahhww nooo that sucks!! Fortunately you took the news with some grace, and a good positive attitude! Go and relax on that beach with that book in your hand and you’ll see it will get better. Maintaining weightloss is hard so that will be challenge enough! After your back gets better you can focus on losing more 🙂
So does he say that you can’t run ever? or just until you’ve healed up some? What about an elliptical? Can you do that? At least it would be some workout for you. ( I mean I don’t know how much you can do. I about died after 8 minutes, and I can do a 3 mile run/ walk! )
Look at it this way… the beach, sunshine, a good book, feet in the water = A RELAXED DANIELLE!
If you spend as much time in the pool as you would have running your cardio will be great when you run and your swim time will be top notch #silverlining
PS do you have a local community centre or school that has a pool that is pay-as-you-go or cheaper than the gym? Or some YMCAs will let you work out in exchange for working the front desk a couple of hours per month
Ahhh, having a PT tell you NO RUNNING is the WORST!
I totally understand how you feel. I had to force myself to stop running on the treadmill even though I really wanted to. I had to take it easy and do my stretches and exercises. I feel better than ever and am trying to actively not re-injure myself. You can do it! Take it one day at a time.
Darn, I know the feeling. How long will you be out? And no pool weather yet? Have you tried Pilates or yoga to strengthen your muscles? You should try after the worst bit is healed. Either of the two will then help speed up the last bit of the healing and enable you to run again in a shorter period of time.
I can so relate. Hope the beach was great!