Monday, November 21, 2016

Snap, Crackle, Pop: Heal The Hip!

Saturday I was able to make it in to see the chiropractor. My hip was very unhappy with me and I knew I wasn't going to be able to continue on without some sort of relief.


My chiropractor confirmed many of the things I was already thinking (and gave me insight on some others).

If you've been around CarleeMcDot.com for a while, then you know I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in High School. The issues started after I fractured my L4/ L5 vertebraes in my lower back. Well, come to find out, the nerve coming out of your L4 actually winds down around your inner knee. As I suspected, I don't necessarily have a back issue AND a knee issue, but a knee issue that is stemming for my back issue. She believes that it may be the beginning of arthritis or the deterioration of that L4 vertebrae, with the nerve sending some bad signals out along the way.

She noticed that me left shoulder is higher than my right, which causes my right hip to overcompensate and become higher than my left. Not only that, but my pelvis is way out of whack and is pretty twisted (which we are fixing).

First, she hooked me up to a Electrical Muscle Stimulation therapy machine. It stimulates the muscles and nerves and tries to get them to relax (because they are overly stressed and tight currently). I laid down on the table and had the little pulsating pads on the problem area for about 10 minutes. After that she added some bio-freeze and did an adjustment.

Source
This is NOT the actual one used, but similar to the one my chiropractor has

Right away it felt like night and day. The pressure seemed to release from my hip and I let out a little sigh of relief that maybe I would be able to get back to running at some point. (I know, I know, realistically this "injury" probably wouldn't be the end of my running career, but my mind always goes to worse case scenarios and I had already started writing my eulogy to running in my head.)


I actually bought a 3-pack of adjustments when I was there so I could (a) get a little discount (since we are still between health insurance due to the hubby's new job) and (b) avoid making excuses as to why I would put off going in again. I am not saying chiropractors are a God-send or will work in every situation, but it is worth giving a try.

Oh yeah, and frozen peas have become my best friends lately. No, not because they are yummy to eat, but because they work great as an ice pack. I ice my knee, but laying on sharp and pointy ice cubes isn't my idea of a good time. Well, when the chiropractor suggested frozen veggies I knew I needed to grab a couple bags for the freezer.

Some of my recovery tools as of late

I also pulled back on my foam rolling and stretching the last few days. It might seem counter intuitive to stretch less when your muscles are so tight, but the chiropractor believes I may have been over stretching them due to the tightness (thinking I was doing them a favor) and sending the nerves into overdrive.

Today was my second appointment (I figured since I will be sleeping in the back of a truck in sub-freezing temps for the next few nights I needed as much relief pre-trip as possible). I wouldn't say I am completely healed, but my body does seem much happier with me for the time being. Although, I haven't tried running yet, so I can't say anything for certain.


Listening to your body can SUCK, especially when it's saying 'take it easy', but I know in the long run it'll be beneficial. I think I will take another week off running and try to give it a go (depending on how the hip and body feels) next week.

With the Phoenix Marathon the last week of February, all is not lost. Starting a training calendar next week would still give me a solid 12 weeks to get back into marathon shape and hopefully I'll be starting my training 100% and pain-free!


Have you ever been to a chiropractor?

2 comments:

Tiara | a Happy Healthy Home said...

Girl I get an adjustment every week!

Amy Lauren said...

I have seen a chiro a few times and have an appointment next Monday if things don't improve with my IT band (I made the appointment today but can't get in until next week due to holidays).

Some chiros are great and specialize in the treatments athletes need like graston, ART, KT taping, etc- and even have rehab areas for PT. And some are basically glorified back crackers. To me, it's like every profession, you have the good ones and the bad ones. It sounds like you've landed on a good one though.

You have a lot of time until Phoenix so hopefully you can kick your hip issues once and for all in a few weeks and start training again!