Use it or Lose it

I love running in a warm rain (hate the cold rain, of course).

Good luck finding that extra time for stretching and strengthening. You'll squeeze it in somehow :)

Hooray for another outside run, even it was rainy. I agree that a warm rain is much better than a cold rain.

I struggle to find time for stretching and strengthening as well. Strengthening in particular has gone by the wayside for me lately.

We all need to find more time for something....but. alas, we never do!

How are ya doing?????

HELLO??????? Anybody out there?

Hi Kelli - thanks for thinking of me! Yes, I'm still out here. Having trouble with a pinched sciatic nerve, which is quite painful with some days worse than others.

I tweaked my back carrying something a couple weeks ago, took a couple days off running, then started running again. I was experiencing minor sciatica pain and decided to go see a chiropractor to "nip it in the bud". That night, my sciatica flared up super bad - like 100 times worse!! (I think the flare up was due to the chiropractor, but who knows, perhaps it would've flared up regardless...)

Yesterday was particularly bad (after sitting at my computer at work all day); today I felt a lot better (stayed home and paid big $$ for a plumber to install a new hot water heater, and I did a lot of housework, which I think actually helped my pinched nerve!).

On a positive note, I don't think the pinched nerve was caused by running. Anyway, I hope I can run soon. I'll do as much housework as I can if it means a faster recovery!!

Now you, on the other hand, were #3 on the weekly mileage board the other day! Way to go Kelli-o!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Running 21 miles on a Tuesday will do that, but i am taking today off so I will go back to my rightful place.

I am sorry to hear about your pinched nerve. That is painful (experienced it a little bit throughout my pregnancies). What you said about the chiropractor is funny, I always feel like my pain is worse after!! Crazy!

I hope you get back to 100% soon and can be out running again. The weather is perfect (well, aside from the wind!!)

Oh dear sorry about the sciatica--it stinks! I have a touch in my left hip that flares up off and on and sitting for a long time like in a car trip can really get it going--I feel much better standing up and walking around. Sounds like you will be back at it soon!

Thanks April. You're right - any type of sitting really brings on the pain! How long did it take before you started getting beter? Any specific exercises/stretches? I can't seem to do any of my normal stretches on that side of my body. Walking downhill hurts, but walking uphill seems okay, so I may just have to reduce myself to walking uphill on my TM! Grrr!@#@!

Stretching never seemed to help me much(I seem to say that a lot) but that is what is prescribed for just about every injury, and, well, stretching just never seems to help me with any of them! Anyways, nothing specifically helped, I just had to wait it out--and avoid sitting! Driving in the car drove me nuts, I couldn't wait to get out and walk around. I was able to run without too much fuss--I could feel a deep sort of stiffness on that side but I didn't seem to run awkwardly. I probably have a more minor case than you, though. Upright and moving gave me the best relief! Whenever I could I would have my husband dig his knuckles into it as much as I could stand and that was painful yet relieving at the same time. I still feel it from time to time.

I'm sorry about your pinched nerve. I use to get sciatic pain a lot every time I was pregnant. Hope yours feel better soon.

Adele, sorry to hear about your pain. That really stinks. Hopefully you're back in running form soon!

how are you feeling? any better?

Okay, just me checking in again! How are ya?

Sciatica still got you d0wn?

Hi ya all. Sorry for not updating my blog in a while. But thank you all for checking up on me - it does cheer me up! :)

Yes, the sciatica has kept me very down an out. Not only severe leg pain while sitting in chairs or cars, but the pain also started striking intensely in the middle of the night. The night time pain wouldn't go away regardless of what position I tried; my only relief was to hobble painfully around till the pain subsided a bit, keep walking some more, and then I could finally go back to bed almost pain free. For 1-2 hours anyways - then the cycle would repeat.

Long term pain induced sleep deprivation is the worst type of torture I have ever been subjected to.

I tried about a kabillion things to get better - exercises, stretches, supplements, too many NSAIDS, probably not enough NSAIDS, different sleeping positions, etc., . . .

The only thing that has proven to be beneficial is moving around. Housework helps, gardening helps. Sunday afternoon I really worked my butt off cutting a bunch of tree limbs using one of those long telescoping saws (think of a 14 foot long grim reaper type saw weapon), and felt great afterwards - the best I had felt in several days!

I am now starting to have cautious hope that I'm in recovery mode (knock on wood). I have been walking with a lot less pain for 2 days now. Night pain still wakes me up every couple hours , but the pain level isn't nearly as severe. I still get shooting pains while sitting at my computer or in my car, but those pains have also lessened considerable over the last couple days.

So, keeping my fingers crossed here.

My two goal races that I was training for and hoping to PR in are coming up quickly. The Arts Fest 5K is on June 26. (I'm sure I've lost a lot of aerobic fitness, but am hoping I can resume running soon, and at least still run in this 5k, even it I don't have a chance of getting the fast time I'd hoped for.) The Deseret News 10K is July 24, so maybe I have a chance on that one.

This #@#!$! sciatica sure put a wrench in my plans. I experienced sciatica once before about 25 years ago, but it was a piece of cake compared to this time around. I sure hope these last couple days are a sign that I am getting better; I will be quite depressed if the pain gets worse again.

Sorry for this long winded post! I didn't feel like updating my blog for a while, but still enjoyed reading and commenting on other peoples blogs from time to time! I especially enjoyed reading the race reports!!!!!!!!

We can all relate to NOT wanting to update when we are injured. This can be a very depressing place when everyone but you is running!!!

I am glad to hear it is getting better, and feel free to come to my house and do housework and yardwork if that will continue your improvement!!!!

Hang in there, all will be well!!! I am glad you are getting some relief and some rest---rest is key! No sleep makes one very miserable. Happy walking!

Thanks for the offer Kelli! But I still seem to have mega work to do around my own house and yard!!!

DARN!!! I figured it was worth a try!