Injuries & Recovery

As hard as we pushed ourselves from May 2018 until March 2020, no one would have been surprised if we had had injuries.

But my recent injury was NOT the result of physical training for an endurance hike… but from a six-month hiking hiatus during which I wrote books. That’s correct. I was injured while sitting in a chair and writing.

Here’s what happened.

I was following the advice of Maine’s own Stephen King, who famously said, “Writing equals ass in chair.” And he should know! So I sat. And wrote.

However, I managed [with the help of my ADHD hyperfocus and inability to take sensible breaks] to weaken or damage my tailbone. I have developed a case of Coccydynia, ie “tailbone pain.” So rather than the “pain down one leg only” of sciatica, which I had managed to control while hiking [shoutout to physical therapy at the Gouldsboro Clinic], by May I had shooting pains down both legs and an inability to straighten my legs out while seated. I could no longer do yoga… my go-to for easing sciatica as well as other aches and pains. Sitting was painful; riding in the car… excruciating. After much research, I knew what it was and began recommended physical therapy at home.

On and off during each day I lie face down with my hips raised over several pillows to let my lumbar and sacral spine decompress. This hurt quite a bit in the beginning, but the ease of pain to my legs was almost immediate. I also lie on my back and flatten the lumbar curve; in the beginning I could only do a supported “bridge” elevation, but now I am strong enough to manage without support.

Surprisingly, the one thing that most eases this pain is walking! So back to the trails we went. I cannot do the miles that we were able to do last year; I don’t do well with steep climbs or descents, so we haven’t been climbing our beloved hills and mountains hereabouts. And I cannot carry a pack at this time. But I will get back to that. Gradually.

I am not stranger to back troubles. I have a tricky spot between the shoulder blades; and another in my lumbar spine that pops out of alignment occasionally. The hardest thing about THIS injury is the ease of reinjury.  I am an impatient person. I want recovery to be continuous, progressive, and fast! But this is quite the opposite. I may experience one day of feeling almost normal… but then I forget to be mindful and sit down too quickly. Something tweaks just a little and the pain returns. I start again.

I am learning to be still.

I am learning to listen to my bones.