It may not have gone unnoticed that most of my posts recently have been about food rather than exercise!
Since returning from my holiday in March, I have been plagued by various problems – the main ones being lower back pain – which I think is the cause of my other problem – sciatic pain running down the back of my left leg and into the back of my knee.
This has hugely impacted on me both physically and emotionally. Pain is so very tiring. I feel EXHAUSTED and this isn’t helped in having disturbed nights tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. I am someone who needs 8 – 9 hours of undisturbed sleep every night.
Thankfully I have lots of options to try and places to go to try and sort out this problem. My wonderful masseur (who I see once a fortnight for an hour) has been quite shocked to see me in so much pain. I’m probably in the worse pain she’s ever seen me in. At our last session together, we devised a plan of action.
Pain relief isn’t a route I want to go down (yet). My pain was preventing me from exercising and yet exercise was probably just what I need to get rid of the pain.
I booked in for a session on the Alter G treadmill. I knew that if I needed to, I could increase the amount of support the machine would give me during my walk. I could walk at a slower pace. I could lengthen my stride to get in some of the stretching that is needed.
I am pleased to report that the one 30 minute session seems to have had a very good result. I am also making sure I do just 20 minutes of seated stretches each morning – lower back, hamstrings, hip flexors, sit ups, various rotations of my spine and neck.
Another session is booked.
Exercise is good. Exercise helps. I must keep on moving! An article I recently wrote reminded me of the importance of this: