The injury I suffered while running last Thursday, which was initially diagnosed as a pinched nerve or a herniated disc, has been identified as sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Having suffered a few back problems earlier in my life, I was skeptical of the original diagnosis of the injury the second I heard it. I suspected something else was at play, but I had no idea what this something could be. As bad as pain from a herniated disc or pinched nerve can be, it is nothing compared to the sheer agony of an injured sacroiliac joint, let me tell you. In all honesty, I did not even know this part of the body can be injured, let alone how awfully painful it is when it is injured. Well, here's to new experiences.
Simply put, sacroiliac joint pain is no fun. I have spent a little over a week recovering, but my convalescence will be a long one. Fortunately, I can walk and stand without too much discomfort, but I have not been able to sit for longer than a minute or two at a time since last Thursday. Suffice it to say, my inability to sit has dampened my enthusiasm for working on the computer (I am standing before my laptop as I write these words). The pain also interferes with my sleep patterns, which has not done wonders for my creativity or thinking. Nevertheless, I am not wallowing in self-pity and I certainly do not desire anyone else's pity. I am in high spirits and am actively working toward escaping from the grips of this unexpected injury. It's only a matter of time.
One thing I have thought about a great deal is pain. Pain ground you, imprisons you, and forces its perspective upon you. If nothing else, it provides uninvited moments of introspection and contemplation. Needless to say, I have spent a large part of the last week looking inward because I do not believe things simply happen "by chance." I have been poking away at the slight misfortune that has befallen me in an effort to discover its essence and meaning. It has not been easy, but looking inside rarely is.
One obvious realization I have had is that my running days are over. Runs With Rabbits is hanging up his running shoes and exchanging them for a good pair of walking shoes. He will also change his name to Walks With Weasels, or something to that effect.
In the meantime, all I want for Christmas is to be able to sit at a desk again while I write (and sit down at a table and eat a meal like a human being, not standing up, like a horse)! Here's hoping the coming days will bring some progress in that department. And if you happen to be experiencing any mild symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction, do yourself a favor and get them checked out as soon as possible to avoid suffering through the intense pain I felt last week and the annoying discomfort I have been experiencing since.
Simply put, sacroiliac joint pain is no fun. I have spent a little over a week recovering, but my convalescence will be a long one. Fortunately, I can walk and stand without too much discomfort, but I have not been able to sit for longer than a minute or two at a time since last Thursday. Suffice it to say, my inability to sit has dampened my enthusiasm for working on the computer (I am standing before my laptop as I write these words). The pain also interferes with my sleep patterns, which has not done wonders for my creativity or thinking. Nevertheless, I am not wallowing in self-pity and I certainly do not desire anyone else's pity. I am in high spirits and am actively working toward escaping from the grips of this unexpected injury. It's only a matter of time.
One thing I have thought about a great deal is pain. Pain ground you, imprisons you, and forces its perspective upon you. If nothing else, it provides uninvited moments of introspection and contemplation. Needless to say, I have spent a large part of the last week looking inward because I do not believe things simply happen "by chance." I have been poking away at the slight misfortune that has befallen me in an effort to discover its essence and meaning. It has not been easy, but looking inside rarely is.
One obvious realization I have had is that my running days are over. Runs With Rabbits is hanging up his running shoes and exchanging them for a good pair of walking shoes. He will also change his name to Walks With Weasels, or something to that effect.
In the meantime, all I want for Christmas is to be able to sit at a desk again while I write (and sit down at a table and eat a meal like a human being, not standing up, like a horse)! Here's hoping the coming days will bring some progress in that department. And if you happen to be experiencing any mild symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction, do yourself a favor and get them checked out as soon as possible to avoid suffering through the intense pain I felt last week and the annoying discomfort I have been experiencing since.
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