It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

June 07, 2012

A Real Pain in the Neck

The day after my last triathlon I noticed that my neck was a little stiff, nothing too painful, just a little tight.  I figured I had just strained the muscle during my swim.  On that day I had already scheduled a Chiropractor/ART appt and a massage.  I told both of them I had a little pain in my neck and they worked on it some.
The next day the pain was worse, but manageable.  I got up and did my morning run, and then went to the gym after work and swam 2000 meters.  When I came home my neck was really sore.  I iced it and went to bed.  Wednesday morning I couldn’t move it.  It was so sore.  It was spasming and just unbelievably painful.  I was miserable all day at work.  It’s all I could focus on; I had a headache and was even a little dizzy.  I did self massage all day and started downing ibuprofen.  Thursday, it was pretty much just the same.  I went and had a short head and neck massage, which helped alleviate the spasms, but only for about 10 minutes.  I also made yet another appt with my ART guy.  He said it was extremely tight and would take a few weeks to heal. 
I have a feeling that I was babying my left shoulder (do to an injury from last fall in that shoulder) during my swim and putting more strain on the right side.  The pain is in the right side of the neck, but radiated all the way into the top of my shoulder and around my shoulder blade.  During the day the pain across the top of my shoulder would actually end up being worse than the neck pain.  I’m sure from being on the computer all day.
I have pretty much been in constant pain for the last 2 ½ weeks, trying to let this “heal” itself.  I’m sure I should have taken some time off to let it heal, but I just didn’t feel like I could do that during my last few weeks of 70.3 training.  So I have been doing all of my workouts.  I have shortened a few swims, but have still been swimming.  Swimming is by far the worst!!!  I have been icing and massaging using a home massager, and have had a couple more shoulder and neck massages.  I have had way too much ibuprofen over the past 2 weeks.  Nothing was helping.  After 16 days I had finally had enough.

This is pretty much what I've looked like the last 2 weeks.

I went to the Dr. last night.  She said based on my symptoms it was very likely a pinched nerve.  She prescribed me a 5 day dose of steroids.  I also went out and bought one of those neck pillows to help keep my neck stable during the night.  And – the hardest part, I decided to take 3 full days off from training to give the steroids time to do their job.
I am very happy to say that after just one steroid pill, and one night’s sleep on the neck pillow it’s amazing how much better it feels today.  Not totally healed or anything, but definitely better than it’s felt in the past 2 ½ weeks!!  So I’m super hopeful this will do the trick and that a little rest and recovery will have me back as good as new for my long workouts on Saturday and Sunday.  I only have 5 weeks left til Racine – and I will be in Washington, DC for 3 days next week…..so I really need my training to go perfectly in the short amount of time I have left.

The KC Tri - The culprit????


18 comments:

  1. I had that recently too, actually still have it a little but I have been avoiding the doctor and hoping it just continues to slowly get better. Hope yours is back to normal soon!

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  2. I am glad you are feeling better after a couple of days off. The time off will definitely be worth it. I am getting really excited for you!

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  3. hope this pain in the neck gets better soon that has to be annoying

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  4. I'm sorry to hear this! I (now) know how annoying it is to have a running injury. Taking time off is important, but difficult to do, especially messing with your training plans.

    You've done it before, you can do it again!

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  5. I sure am glad you went in for some advice and a prescription. That sounds terribly painful. I hope your pinched nerve finds its happy place soon so life and training can resume normally!

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  6. I've had issues with shoulder and neck pain too. I love my contoured pillow - it's really helped, as has hugging a pillow at night. I have pretty broad shoulders so I need as much help to keep me stable at night as I can get. It's sad that at our age we find out that we're sleeping wrong.

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  7. Give your body the time it needs to recover. Hope it all goes well!

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  8. I hope it gets better quickly so that you can continue your training. Take care!

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  9. Oh no!!! I'm so sorry to hear this. Hope the recovery is quick!

    P.S. You look so skinny in your pic!

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  10. Oh man!!! I hope you heal quickly. I am so intrigued with the whole triathlon and iron man races. How did you get started and who guided you along the way? Is it pretty challenging if you don't have a friend teaching you what to do and where to go?
    I'm very impressed and inspired with all the running you do and enjoy your recaps. You and your hubby definitely have a good time together. I was telling a fellow blogger that it's so very rare to actually see a husband and wife do this together.

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  11. Ugh, neck pain is the worst!!! BAck pain might be a strong second.

    Glad you're getting relief and hopefully you're back on track w/ your training :)

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  12. What a literal pain in the neck :) I wish I could wave my magic neck and sholder wand and have you back to new. Your'e so close to Racine, just a few more weeks!

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  13. Hope your neck feels better soon!

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  14. Ouch! Hopefully you are feeling better by now.

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  15. UGH!!! to injuries! I'm glad you finally got some relief! Take care of you!!!!!

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  16. You experienced 2 ½ weeks of neck and shoulder pain? I can’t imagine how bad that must have been! Glad you’re fine now and that you can go back to doing your training. I think going for chiropractic treatment after taking a steroid pill would help speed your recovery from the pain.

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