Friday, October 24, 2008

Slightly better adjusted

One of the other runners in DC Fit has been going to a chiropractor for a long time, and absolutely loves this guy. Over the course of training, she recommended him to anyone with problems, and the handful of people that went to see him all spoke very highly of him. About a month ago, he told the original patient to extend an offer to everyone in the group for a free foot scan for custom orthotics.

After the knee pain I developed during the last month of training, I figured orthotics were probably going to be a good idea, so I called up on Tuesday and made an appointment for this afternoon. I went in, had the scan, and chatted with the doc for a while. I decided to ask him to take a look at my lower back, as I wondered if my somewhat severe supination (and unevenness in pressure, where I put more on my left foot than right, due to the extreme dominance of my left side, both left-handed and left-footed) stemmed from some minor issues I have with my back (a couple slightly bulging disks). He poked a little and found that one hip slightly higher than the other. He suggested that in about 6 sessions, he'd be able to straighten me out so I wouldn't have problems anymore, and between that and the orthotics, I'd feel a hundred times better, like a new person when running.

I had my first adjustment right then in the office, and my second coming up early next week. I felt a difference after the session, and he said by the 3rd or 4th, it would feel really different. I'm excited, I think this is going to be a Very Good Thing (tm).

I haven't started running again since Chicago. My knee feels better every day, but I didn't want to come back too fast, as it was still a little sore on Wednesday. My plan is to get on my bike starting early next week, and if my knee is feeling good, start running in a week or two. The chiropractor approved of this plan, telling me he recommended I not run for at least another week yet. I'm so itching to get back out there, especially so I can be ready to school Danielle in whatever race we end up running in the winter/spring. You're going down, D!

5 comments:

ButterPeanut said...

dem's fightin words!

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

Ooooo! Talkin' smack! Me likey! Ball's in a certain someone else's court now.

Way to listen to your body, Joe. You ran a marathon - i.e., conquered Everest. Give your body whatever time and whatever treatments it needs to recover.

Good luck with the future chiropractic sessions.

Danielle in Iowa in Ireland said...

I was two minutes up on you at Phoenix and you were two up on me at Philly, so I guess we are tied in the battle for extreme awesomeness.

But don't worry, I'm totally paying that chiropractor off to mess you up beyond recognition...

M*J*C said...

Hope you're feeling better soon!!!

nwgdc said...

As a runner and a chiro, I can't imagine not getting things "loosened up" a bit back there. Glad to hear it's going well!

I found your site through Glaven's and it's good stuff! Great pictures too. Consider me a follower. :)