Injured

As I age I have become more patient with injuries, but not much.  After taking a few weeks off and getting back in the gym (Rocky 4 style) I have returned for a couple weeks of strong running.  On another positive note, set backs are not without some gained wisdom.

Most frustrating this time around was sustaining a non-running injury that prevented me from running.  After quizzing my insurance company I learned that chiropractic visits were covered.  It just so happened one of my former teammates from UNH had just started his own practice near Portland.  I had never seen a chiropractor before and given the location of the pain I felt I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Runner's pet peeve: Doctors that tell you to run less.

Any runner hates the doctor for the same reason, they usually always tell you that you're running too much.  Divulging my weekly mileage to any healthcare professional elicits a look of disgust that leaves me wondering if I just shot their dog and desecrated the body while their family watched.  Fortunately, my friend Dave (Doctor Dave) just pauses and says, "So it's really killing you not to be running."

Chiropractic tables are space aged instruments that look like something from A Clockwork Orange.  Dave assured me that they were harmless and we began.  After a thorough checkup Dr. Dave said, "Well there's nothing wrong with you."  This is another thing most athletes hate to hear.  Instead, we want to hear the problem and more importantly, the solution.  Moving on he checked my spine and pointed out that he could make two adjustments.  Contorting my body like a pretzel I heard a pop, but there wasn't any pain.  Just like cracking my knuckles.  Then Dave adjusted the left side (the injured side).  I heard the crack and felt a bolt explode through my upper back.  Dave laughed as I did, almost as if to say, did you hear that!?

IKEA customer service nightmare: Having to carry the chiropractic table.

Less than twenty four hours later the pressure at the base of my spine was gone.  This left me with just a tight butt to deal with, which was most likely the piriformis.  Dave instructed me to gradually return to running to see how I responded.  After some good stretching, exercises and tentative running I was back on my way.  Crisis over, at least for now...