I made a terrible mistake!
I did the very thing have been taught and that I tell my students to never do.
I trained while I was in pain and I pushed through it. I didn't listen to my body's signal and stop, I kept going. And now I am suffering the consequences!
It began at a Primus concert on Saturday night. I got absorbed into the edge of a mosh pit! This was my first concert experience and with this sort of thing. I was not intentionally in the mosh pit. Just by being in front of one I was smashed against several people with my head sharply turned to one side for several minutes. My hair was pulled, in all directions and I was elbowed in the head several times (disadvantage of being short in a cheering crowd). Although I got out of this fairly quickly my body had taken quite a smashing. I watched the remainder of the concert from the front corner where it was much safer.
The concert was awesome BTW and I would see them again, But perhaps staying on the outside edge of the crowd.
Unfortunately I did not realize how traumatized my body was at the time.
Sunday was just a mobility day I was not needing to push my body. When I experienced some pain with movement I just focused on the mobility of my joints and worked around it.
Monday morning I woke up feeling very tight and had some pain in my back left shoulder area. I was in a rush to get to my training session with Summer so I ignored it figuring I would warm up as part of my session and it would subside. I was very excited about this session. I had just started working on the Mill on my own and this was my opportunity to really pick apart the components and learn the details so that I can continue to improve. I was also ready to explore each of the advanced moves for FlowFit level 3.
Within the first 5 minutes of my session I started to experience severe pain in my left trap and scapula area. I stopped a few times to roll it out with a lacrosse ball but It didn't do much. Summer warned me to not push it but I didn't pay attention to how much it was hurting I was focusing on learning the movements. I continued to push through trying to ignore the pain as if it would just get the hint and go away... But it's Pain... it doesn't hear its just an alarm doing its job... and yes it got louder and hurt worse.
I had all kinds of seemingly good arguments of why to keep going. Such as:
I was in the middle of a personal training session, you can't just leave...
it would be inconvenient to reschedule...
I really need to learn these components so I can work on them before my seminar in 2 weeks...
I'm already here I should keep going...
maybe the pain isn't that bad...
I'll spend extra time massaging it and rolling out afterwards...
I really need to learn these components so I can work on them before my seminar in 2 weeks...
I'm already here I should keep going...
maybe the pain isn't that bad...
I'll spend extra time massaging it and rolling out afterwards...
OK, so now I realize how lame these reasons are but I didn't at the time..
Any argument or reason to not listen to my body when its giving a very loud and
clear message to STOP is insignificant.
By the end of my personal training session my pain was at a level 7.
I spent about 25 minutes rolling out, stretching and massaging it, I continued my compensation movements but the damage was already done. Within one hour I could not turn my head or raise my left arm.
I had never experienced anything quite like this. As the day progressed the pain grew worse. My pain was at a level eight and sometimes nine! I ended up having to have my daughter help me undress because I could not move lift or turn my head . I could not believe how intense the pain got. I felt so stupid! How did I let myself do this? The biggest part of why I am so drawn to CST is because it's focus is on Health first, I can hear Scott Sonnons voice in my head saying "Don't move through pain, go to the door but don't go through"
Any argument or reason to not listen to my body when its giving a very loud and
clear message to STOP is insignificant.
By the end of my personal training session my pain was at a level 7.
I spent about 25 minutes rolling out, stretching and massaging it, I continued my compensation movements but the damage was already done. Within one hour I could not turn my head or raise my left arm.
I had never experienced anything quite like this. As the day progressed the pain grew worse. My pain was at a level eight and sometimes nine! I ended up having to have my daughter help me undress because I could not move lift or turn my head . I could not believe how intense the pain got. I felt so stupid! How did I let myself do this? The biggest part of why I am so drawn to CST is because it's focus is on Health first, I can hear Scott Sonnons voice in my head saying "Don't move through pain, go to the door but don't go through"
I am listening now!
After muscle relaxers, painkillers 2 chiropractic appointments, Coach Scott's recommended McKenzie technique for neck strain and a deep tissue massage I was able to gain about 50% mobility the next day and 70% by Thursday. I am however 100% smarter!
I suffered unnecessarily and risked being seriously injured because of my Ego and its stupidity. My lesson has been learned! I will LISTEN and Do what my body is asking for. Rest and recovery are EQUALLY as important as training and nutrition!
Unfortunately sometimes I have to learn the hard way...
I am praying for a complete and speedy recovery so that I can get back to my training!
