Back pain.
Many people consider it one of the worst and most agonizing physical conditions because of how significantly it impacts quality of life. When it happens to you, a sense of helplessness quickly sets in. You feel trapped inside your own body. You can’t lie down without dreading the pain that comes when you try to get up. You can’t sit comfortably for long periods. Even simple movements become difficult. You feel helpless.
It can also be deeply disappointing, especially when you are preparing for an important event.
That’s what happened to me. A week before the Oceanside Mother’s Day 5K run/walk, after months of carefully rebuilding myself from a knee injury, my back gave out.
The event was supposed to mark my return to running after a three-year hiatus caused by injury. During that time, I went through plenty of trial and error. Eventually, I learned that rest, patience and a slow rehabilitation process were the keys to healing my knee. The Mother’s Day run was going to be the first real test to see whether my knee could hold up.
Instead, my back decided to revolt. Perfect timing, eh?
It was incredibly upsetting.
To reduce the pain, I took a heavy dose of painkillers, which provided only temporary relief.
I rubbed foul-smelling liniment on the sensitive areas of my back. Nobody wanted to sit next to me. I put on a back brace and shuffled around the house unable to bend, twist or move naturally.
Two days later, once I could move without wincing every few seconds, I went to my chiropractor, who performed acupressure on my back. The treatment finally brought some relief.
Of course, I immediately asked him whether I could still participate in the Mother’s Day event.
“Yes,” he said.
Despite his reassurance, I remained skeptical. More accurately, I was scared. I worried that I would aggravate my back all over again.
My youngest son, Nikolas, was also registered for the Mother’s Day run. It would be his first-ever road race and a great opportunity for a father-son bonding moment. I didn’t want to miss that. I also didn’t want to disappoint him.
So I decided to go for it.
My plan was simple: Take it slow. I targeted a conservative pace of 10 minutes per kilometre, but honestly, the pace didn’t matter. My only goal was to finish the race. And I did.
In fact, I ended up running an eight-minute-per-kilometre pace – much faster than I expected. I surprised myself. More importantly, my back held up. What a relief.
Despite completing the Mother’s Day run, my back remains a major concern. I still experience occasional discomfort, and it serves as a reminder not to become complacent.
Since then, I’ve been following the advice of health experts: stretch more often, get up after sitting for long periods and do regular back-strengthening exercises. It’s worth the effort because once your back goes out, it can completely disrupt your life.
No matter how strong you feel, there may come a time when your body becomes fragile. But while our bodies can be vulnerable, they can also be remarkably resilient. So do your best to take care of yourself. We rarely appreciate the value of good health until we lose it.
Michael Briones is a reporter for the PQB News