Sitting once again in the exam room at my doctor’s office I reflected on what I could have done differently to not be there. I had to wait over a half hour for the PA to finally see me, so I had a lot of time to think about this. I really couldn’t think of anything. I mean, jesus, I injured myself warming up…warming up so I wouldn’t get hurt. I guess there isn’t anything I can’t manage to fuck up.
Bouldering on some easy overhanging warmups during my lunch break yesterday, I felt a weird pain in my lower back. It felt like I pulled a muscle, just a small pain when I moved a little bit. I’ve gotten pulled muscles before and they are uncomfortable but no big deal. A few hours later and I was lying down in my bed not wanting to move at all for fear of the pain.
Turns out, sprained ligaments in your back are incredibly painful. I found this out when after the PA diagnosed my symptoms and I mentioned that 400 mg of ibuprofen hadn’t helped and the response was “Yeah, that…won’t be enough”. So now I’m using some new fangled topical stick-on anti-inflammatory/pain killer which doesn’t seem to be doing anything to help alleviate the discomfort. I also have a prescription for some muscle relaxers and jumbo size ibuprofen, which I’m thinking I’ll have to fill.
As far as recovery time, it’s looking like at least a week of no activity and then a slow comeback that is bounded by pain. Unfortunately I’m worried this will kill the couple objectives I have setup for the winter. Hopefully it won’t impact the attempt to link up the trilogy in late Feb. or early March. I’m worried about how long it will take me to get back in the gym however, to keep my fitness up. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to at least do hangs on tools, hangboard, rings, etc. Hopefully shortly after that I’ll be able to get back into step-ups with a pack. On the up side, I at least should be healed in time to start training for the rock season.