So my chronic right shoulder injury is finally getting better now that I’ve stopped doing exercises that reinjure it. I can’t believe how good it feels after just a few days of mindful exercising. What an idiot I’ve been.
So of course, today my left elbow that’s been acting up lately swelled up. F**k me. A quick google search has led me to diagnose bursitis. The treatment seems straightforward – rest, ice, ibuprofen, and time.
I’m not even sure how I got this. I suspect it’s from overuse and exercise but I haven’t done anything new or added any exercises to my standard routine.
I vaguely recall banging my “funny bone” about a week ago on a door frame and seeing stars. But honestly, I can’t remember if that was even the same elbow that is injured.
Some days it seems like I am always dealing with something health related – two hernias, a blocked Eustachian tube, my shoulder and now my elbow.
But when I think logically about it, I realize that I likely have contributed to most all of these by working out too hard, too long or too much.
That kinds of sucks. I’d like to return to the volume and intensity I was able to do a year ago. But I can’t today with my shoulder and elbow injuries.
Realistically, once my elbow and shoulder heal (which I fully anticipate), I won’t return to the same intensity either. After all, if I am causing myself to get hurt, it’s time for a change.
I distinctly remember many years ago when I decided to stop taking my dogs on long, challenging hikes through the forests. At the time, my dogs were between 5 and 8 years old. While they seemed to enjoy the walks as much as always, afterwards they started showing symptoms that all was not well. Shorty was getting back and neck pain. Ziggy would limp sometimes.
So we cut back our walks. Instead of hiking for hours, we did 30 minutes twice a day. Instead of climbing hills and traversing trails, we stuck to neighborhood sidewalks.
For the next five years, that was fine. When I wanted more vigorous hikes, I did them on my own.
As my dogs aged, our walks became shorter and shorter. By the time they died, we were walking only a few minutes around the block twice a day.
I’ve had an almost identical experience with Snickers. When she was younger, I’d bike while she ran beside me. Then we’d walks for hours and hours every day. When she hit middle age, we had to cut back. She started getting back pain and didn’t want to walk as much.
Now she’s in her twilight years and only walks around the block a few times a day. Otherwise, she likes to eat, sleep, lay in the sun and bark at the UPS man through the window.
Wiggles, my 1.5 year old puppy has taken her spot as my walking companion. She’s always up for a hike – anywhere, anytime.
As I watch my dogs get older, I see the same physical slowdown happening in myself. My most recent injuries are frustrating, but are a natural part of life.
This is not a new experience.
- I stopped doing CrossFit like intense exercise sessions in my late 40s, after having too many injuries.
- I stopped running when I was in my early 20s, after chronic knee pain made running too painful.
- After “tweaking” my lower back one too many times, I gave up kettlebells about 5 years ago and never regretted it.
I remember being a teenager just starting out lifting weights. I could do just about anything and be fully recovered in 24 hours.
Now, whenever I do something new that is physically taxing, I purposely ease into it and cut it short so that I give my body time to adjust to it and avoid a whole new set of aches and pains.
I’m not complaining. At least I realize that I have limitations now and that forcing my way through something is guaranteed to get me hurt.
And most days, I still feel pretty great overall both mentally and physically.
Nonetheless, I’ll be glad when my shoulder and elbow are back to 100%.