SNEAKERSISTER

4½ weeks and still no running. I went out for a short run on Sunday morning but my back is not ready to handle anything yet. The run aggravated my disc, which in turn hurt for two days afterward. I will continue to cease running until my physical therapist says it’s okay to try. I’m still only sleeping in one of two positions: my left side or my right side. Six months now which is a longer period of sleeping discomfort than either of my pregnancies were. I’m glad that I didn’t have any serious fall racing plans to feel disappointed about. More than likely I won’t be running the 50 miler in November. I just don’t see how I could possibly be ready for it in time, that is, IF my therapist even gives me the go-ahead within the next three weeks, which I highly doubt.

I miss my private time out in the woods as well as the hours I would spend running and hanging out with my friends. It’s a bit strange not having running in my life like that right now, but I’d much rather heal and get back to that rather than turn my back on it for good. I know it will be there, and so will my friends. It’s just a matter of time.

I love them. They have kept me sane for these past few weeks.

Two and half weeks ago I was pretty hopeful about my back. Since then, I have undergone an MRI, received word that I have a bulging disc at my S1 vertebrae, and today I underwent my first (and hopefully last!!!) steroid injection. I have ceased all running, with the exception of leading a group run this past Saturday in celebration of National Trail Running Day, which I ran under high dosages of pain medication, and as the sole representative of Lehigh Valley Running Scene (as if I had another representative.)

I attempted a short run a couple of days ago and after that horrible – and painful – run I have thrown my hands up to attempting any runs until this pain is taken care of. Six months ago it all began, for no rhyme or reason and no injury or fall I can possibly think of, and has progressed weekly to a point where I cannot stand to go a day without pain medication. Today’s injection was the most painful thing I have experienced other than childbirth, and probably my passing my kidney stone. It ranks right up there. I was at the point of puking and passing out while on the procedure table. Holy shit. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

Hopefully, in a couple of days I will be feeling a ton better. At least well enough to start stretching and working on the inflammation of the disc. This injection was primarily for me to deal with this unbearable pain. Hopefully, it will work on some of the inflammation as well.

While the actual needles did not hurt, they literaly felt like the slightest of pin pricks, the injection of medication into my back was horrible! And the doctor had to try three times to find the correct location with his syringe, as well as administer three injections of numbing medicine since I was having such trouble. The burning, searing pain of the steroid medication going into my nerve and shooting down my leg was incredible and almost impossible to endure.

I was in tears for a good hour afterwards. I did not expect THAT kind of pain. It was so upsetting.

Hopefully, a shot in the back will be all that it takes. I can withstand that one more time if it means no back surgery. Surgery would be the end of my running career.

Fingers crossed, people.