sportychick
New Member
In response to today's journal query: "When was the last time you exercised or did another physical activity? What was this activity? How did it make you feel physically and emotionally?"
I had decided about 2 years ago to begin exercising, despite the pain. I noticed that I mentally felt better after exercising even if the pain did not go away, so that is good. There are a lot of exercises I can do that I can do pain free, but some exercises are painful. Sometimes I don't feel the pain during or right after exercising, but I find it is difficult to get comfortable to fall asleep at night on those days. I wonder if I am conditioning myself to feel pain when I do those exercises? And if so, how do I get out of that pattern? I know I have some fear in anticipation of doing those exercises. I guess that is enough to set up the pain scenario?
On a good note, I "injured" my back several years ago moving a heavy piece of equipment at the gym where I worked. At the time, I felt a "pop" and was in excruciating pain for about three months afterward. Yesterday, I was asked to help move these same heavy pieces of equipment. I was feeling strong enough to do so and I said yes, but I was scared inside that I would "hurt"my back, again. There was no snap or pop, but driving home afterward, my whole left leg went numb. I mentally reviewed the stresses I am currently under, part of which was that I gave up some of my time to help others at the expense of not spending time on a few of my own pressing issues. (Goodism and my own self-imposed pressure and perfectionism). I explained to my brain that this was the cause of the pain and it had nothing to do with the heavy lifting. I got up this morning feeling stiff. My plan was to go to the gym and work out, which I did. One of my weak areas is my hamstrings. When I tried to do hamstring curls, I got all sorts of pain, numbness and tingling. I again talked to my brain and told it there was no reason for all the drama. Again, I reflected on the pain and my current stressors, dropped the weight a little and finished the set. That was enough to banish the pain.
I feel like I was successful with the new pain. But with the deeply seated or conditioned pain, not so much. Any recommendations?
I had decided about 2 years ago to begin exercising, despite the pain. I noticed that I mentally felt better after exercising even if the pain did not go away, so that is good. There are a lot of exercises I can do that I can do pain free, but some exercises are painful. Sometimes I don't feel the pain during or right after exercising, but I find it is difficult to get comfortable to fall asleep at night on those days. I wonder if I am conditioning myself to feel pain when I do those exercises? And if so, how do I get out of that pattern? I know I have some fear in anticipation of doing those exercises. I guess that is enough to set up the pain scenario?
On a good note, I "injured" my back several years ago moving a heavy piece of equipment at the gym where I worked. At the time, I felt a "pop" and was in excruciating pain for about three months afterward. Yesterday, I was asked to help move these same heavy pieces of equipment. I was feeling strong enough to do so and I said yes, but I was scared inside that I would "hurt"my back, again. There was no snap or pop, but driving home afterward, my whole left leg went numb. I mentally reviewed the stresses I am currently under, part of which was that I gave up some of my time to help others at the expense of not spending time on a few of my own pressing issues. (Goodism and my own self-imposed pressure and perfectionism). I explained to my brain that this was the cause of the pain and it had nothing to do with the heavy lifting. I got up this morning feeling stiff. My plan was to go to the gym and work out, which I did. One of my weak areas is my hamstrings. When I tried to do hamstring curls, I got all sorts of pain, numbness and tingling. I again talked to my brain and told it there was no reason for all the drama. Again, I reflected on the pain and my current stressors, dropped the weight a little and finished the set. That was enough to banish the pain.
I feel like I was successful with the new pain. But with the deeply seated or conditioned pain, not so much. Any recommendations?
