This is what I learned after pulling my back out last week.

62.5kgs

1st set.

2nd rep.

As I pushed up, I felt the very specific twinge in my lower back.

Ow.

I knew.

I knew what I had done. And my first instinct was disappointment.

Then anger.

Frustration.

I just racked the bar, picked up my stuff, and went to the stretching mat to keep my back moving around, but each second ticking by, the muscles tightened up more and more, and I knew that this was going to hurt.

The sense of failure and letting myself down really weighed heavily on me (no pun intended). This was not something that I needed, yet, it's exactly what was needed to give me a lesson.

The next morning, I went to see my friend and colleague for an adjustment. Walking to her practice from the tube in Notting Hill was slow and painful. My gait was like that of a 90-year-old with me leaning forward. My whole spine up into my neck felt like there was a wooden board implanted in my whole backside. Things were painful and rigid.

I don't remember ever experiencing this handicap before.

Basic human functions. Necessary function. Like going to the toilet. Wiping your butt.

Handicapped.

(Sorry for the TMI.)

That's reality though.

I told myself that this injury would take about a week to heal.

It's been 8 days, and I was right. I'm about 99% better. I think the 1% is in my mind because I'm still nervous about my ability to move around like I want to.

The whole thing was incredibly valuable. Injuring my lower back gave me a few good lessons.

First, getting adjusted every day for 4 days after the injury is definitely one of the reasons why I'm feeling strong and healthy again. (I also got adjusted again today.) Stretching and keeping the spine moving is essential to help the lower spine heal. I did a lot of crawling around on my hands and knees, stretching and getting into several yoga poses to keep things moving. When other doctors tell you to get bed rest, that's the worse thing one can do if they have back pain. (Of course, make sure you check to ensure this isn't a serious problem if you have back pain.)

Second, having acute pain like that is not only physically draining, but it really brought my mood down. I was such a bitch to everyone, especially my husband! Of course I apologised to them for behaving like that, and they understood that I was not myself, but still, I was shocked at how miserable I was.

So this explains why people with chronic pain have altered personalities and they are often depressed, unmotivated, and end up medicating themselves like crazy (which is a downward cycle in itself).

Third, it's not about the pain and what seemingly caused it. When shit like this happens, one has to look at WHY it has happened. What's the BIG PICTURE? For the last several weeks things in my life have been a bit chaotic and stressful. My husband is home every day because he lost his job - you can imagine how fun it is being with your unemployed spouse nearly 24/7. Yes! Fun! Also, I had been preparing a lot of things with seminars, including one just last weekend held at my home to host 24 people. Lots of preparation and organisation went into this, and needless to say, I was very stressed about it.

And lastly, I wasn't listening to my body in the weeks leading up to this when I felt sore and my recovery periods were taking a couple days longer than normal. That's a sure sign that your body needs more rest, more water, more chiropractic adjustments, and good nourishment. And I wasn't doing that well enough.

Ultimately, the big epiphany I realised directly for myself is that pain is scary, and the one thing that it teaches is that in order for it to heal, change somewhere in your life has to happen.

Luckily, for all my practice members, the pain wasn't excruciating enough to cancel any adjustments. ;)

So, the next time you are experiencing pain, whether acute or chronic, pause, recognise your feelings about it, learn to let the experience reveal its lesson around it, and think about the big picture.

Also, get adjusted, keep moving, and be patient.

Your body will heal.

Love you all!

See you at your next adjustment!

- Dr MaryAnne