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Being in Pain Sucks. The End.

dog relaxing

If only taking it easy was this easy. Credit: mike@bensalem

I’ve been lucky so far to have never really had an injury, workout-induced or otherwise. Sure, I’ve had the occasional shin splint that went away with rest. And I fell and hurt my wrist while cheerleading in high school. And I’ve done all sorts of clumsy things and taken falls and such, but I’ve never been sidelined. I felt the utmost sympathy when Jenn broke her butt. And when a tree got all stabby with her foot. And when Tish had surgery on her foot and had to take a break. And when poor Kristen had chafing in a particular area. Now I feel the utmost sympathy for myself. A boo-hoo-for-me pity party for one, coming right up!

I detailed the fun pregnancy-induced pelvic pain I was having over on Fit Bottomed Mamas. Don’t worry, it’s nothing that’ll make you squirmy; it’s just that the bones and ligaments in my hips and pelvis are freaking out because of hormones and act like they have no idea how to function pain-free even though they’ve had decades of experience. And then I discussed my subsequent recovery, which unfortunately turned out to be temporary. So it hurts to walk. Move. Carry my daughter around. Roll over in bed. You know, things that you must do to function daily. Never mind work out.

The solution? I’m looking into more options as I still have an entire trimester of pregnancy to survive, but right now they’re the high-tech and doctor-recommended a) sleep with a body pillow, b) Tylenol (rarely) and c) taking it easy (so easy to do when chasing a toddler around).

Hopefully, my lower body will go back to normal when I d) have the baby, but for now I’m enjoying my good days, when I don’t walk around like I’m a creaky old lady twice, nay, three times my age. I’ve been taking it easier, too, which is hard for someone used to being active and not feeling like a 90-year-old arthritic woman. I’ve been an admittedly lazy parent, trying to kick my feet up on the couch and only chase my daughter with speed when danger is immediately involved— she’s after the dog dish (again) or is chasing the dog with a kitchen utensil. Definitely more book reading and tea parties than running around these days.

I feel like a couch potato, and while I definitely feel better when I take it easy, I hate it. I want to be able to go to the grocery store without dreading the pain of loading my daughter up and hauling groceries into the house. I want to be able to get out of bed without flinching. And I want to be able to go for a walk without considering the level of pain I’m in that day and if it’ll just make it worse.

It’s not the end of the world. Definitely not. I know there are people who suffer from worse pain than I do—and who don’t have an end in sight, like the end of a pregnancy. But I seriously have the utmost sympathy for those in chronic pain. Because, as I said, being in pain sucks. The end.

Have you ever dealt with a lasting pain that had you sidelined? How thrilled were you when you could jump back on the workout wagon again? —Erin

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Comments

7 Comments
  1. I’m always thrilled when I can get back on track after a sidelining injury. Of course, my problem is that I get back on the wagon too quickly… and often re-injure myself!

  2. Lea says:

    Don’t forget when you can’t sleep because the hip you’re sleeping on begins to ache so you painstakingly roll over about 50 times through the night. I’m a mere 8 days from my delivery and cannot wait to be able to just move and walk again. Thank goodness I have no toddler to chase…

  3. Cait says:

    Go get some acupuncture!

  4. Sunny says:

    I Feel your pain more than you would know! I’m 26, 100lbs over weight and diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia about 4 years ago. I thought I would never be able to exercise and get back to my “normal” self again. But after moving to a warmer climate I was able to be pain free just enought to slowly start moving again. I worked my way up from water aerobics then to volley ball and now to roller derby! You may feel like there’s no end in sight right now but with enough determination and hard work you will be back to getting active again and will never take a less painful day for granted again. 🙂 *Sunny

  5. Erin says:

    Janine – I think I’ll take it fairly slowly; I’m sure it’ll take me forever and a day to get “back”!

    Lea – OMG, yes!! Best of luck with your delivery. 🙂

    Cait – I’m considering acupuncture and a chiropractor…we’ll see!

    Sunny – Roller derby? You rock!!

    -FBG Erin

  6. Cait says:

    I hope it helps. I am an acupuncturist and I treat pregnant women for pain quite often (my main focus is fertility, so I see a lot of pregnant women :))

    It is so helpful!

    Wishing you some pain free days 🙂

  7. Tracey says:

    I had TERRIBLE aches and pains in the hips while prego because of the ligaments you mentioned. What really helped was yoga. Yes, yoga is boring (well, at least it is for me) but good ‘ol Shiva Rea did the job. I had noticeably less discomfort afterwards. Good luck to you!

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