New strategy
Since Tuesday last week my back has made my life a hell...I had to go to my doctor again to get some more medication, and has increased the number of pills I´m taken (from 3 a day and back to 6). I haven´t really noticed any difference, because it still hurts when I stand and sit and walk.
My physiotherapist says it is difficult to treat my injury because it is two of them. And the thing that is good for first one, is bad for the other, and vice versa.
So the last few days I have started out something new - and hopefully this will put an end to all the misery. I will slow down my life. Cut down the working hours, and not have full programme every night. I just have to try to be patient, and rather lie on the floor doing my small exercises and reading a book (by the way: I can recommend the Nobel prize winner Orhan Pamuks novel: My name is Red) and writing Christmas-cards, which I earlier never had time to do.
posted by RUNNER IN NORWAY 13:41
6 Comments:
So your back is still giving you a lot of trouble, eh? That's no fun :(
Hey, I wonder if you have a condition known as Morton's Foot. A lot of people have it, like 25% of humans. There is a related condition called Rothbart's Foot that goes hand in hand with Morton's Foot, and can cause back trouble. Long story short, if you do have Rothbart's Foot, you may need an orthotic that goes under your first metatarsal head. This will stablize your ankles and give your body a good foundation, which will take the tension off your back.
Here is a link to a site that talks about it:
http://www.mortonsfoot.com/mortonsfoot.html
This one describes how to make your own orthotic:
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/mortons.htm
I tried making my own orthotic and I couldn't believe how much more stable I felt using them. Unlike the article, I put the padding under my first metatarsal head AND my big toe.
I guess I'll stop here since I don't even know if you have the condition yet ;)
I hope you start feeling better soon,
Justin
Thanks Justin, for all the good advices and the support!
I tried the self-examination to see if I have the "Foot", but I don´t think so. But I am not very good to spot things, so it mights be that I should ask my physioterapist about it.
I know that you like it barefoot, but since that isn´t an option in Norway (although we don´t have winter, just rain and 8 degrees), I am thinking about getting myself some Masai-shoes. Have you heard about them?
I think I have a pronation at least in my right foot, so I´ll ask someone to give me advice about shoes/orthotic.
And for me - my slipped discs - are probably all about genes. My mother was operated for this 22 years ago, and several other members of my family have problems with their (weak) backs...
Now I´m just getting familiar in working while lying down. I can do a lot with my back on the floor, and the Mac in my lap.
PS: Where is your blog Justin?
Hi Camilla,
I just did a search on the web for Masai shoes, and from what I read I think they'd be worth a try for you. Of course, as you know, I think there is no substitute for going barefoot.
I think our first metatarsals get "weak" from wearing shoes and shoes force us to turn our ankles at an unnatural angle even when we are just standing. (They call it overpronating, but your feet don't have to point outwards for you ankles to assume an incorrect posture). By the way, I think a lot of people overpronate more with their right foot due to the fact the we use that foot at strange angles when driving a car.
Going barefoot enables us to strenghten our feet and align them properly. I'm not saying it is easy, though. We have worn shoes for so long that we don't "know" what "Natural Walking/Running Mechanics" really are.
But, from what I read about Masai shoes, I think it would help you to start strengthening the muscles and tendons which have become weak and imbalanced due to wearing shoes.
Overpronating causes us to assume poor body posture (think, head forward), and our entire bodies tend to collapse in the middle. Correct posture is very important in the battle against back pain.
I don't have a blog as of yet, but if I decide to get one, I'll send you the URL :)
Hope you feel better soon,
Justin
PS - When I stand barefoot, with my feet together and pointing forward, it is amazing how I can feel the pressure released from my lower back just by "pushing down into the ground" with my first metatarsal heads (balls of my feet). It is also important to keep your head high and back, and to keep your pelvis straight up and down, as opposed to letting it tilt (as in, your butt sticks out and your belly does, too).
Have you considered Yoga? I think Asians are way ahead of us Westerners when it comes to body awareness, flexibility, and balance.
Hi Runners High
My feelings are with u. Got myself somekind of back pain myself. My CT Scan reveal no prolaps, but some of my facet joints is a litle bit bad. Running is ok, but walking gives my pain going down my right leg.
Keep up your spirit!
Regards from another Oslofjording
Hei Gerhard,
for tiden tror jeg aldri at jeg blir å tørre å løpe igjen, men lysten er der, så jeg må bare klare å få kroppen med meg. Men de neste årene skal det være med måte - og inkludere styrketrening :-)
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