So as I had said, I went for help through the traditional means. I switched back to my previous Chiropractor. I did this because he works on professional sports teams and was himself an athlete and I needed someone who could understand what I was going through. This is not an injury, this is not a hobby, This is MY LIFE. Telling me to stop lifting things or to just walk was NOT acceptable. They did an initial set of tests on me, and funny enough, everything caused low back pain. (LBP) That makes sense, but with all the other pain my back pain had been overshadowed.
What Dr. C DID Tell me though...basically..."Well you're not competing anymore right?" ....Well my last show was just a few months before...I hadn't planned on stopping. He basically told me that at this point in my career, I really didn't need to prove myself to anyone. Now I don't do it to go Pro, I do it to challenge myself, be a good example, and meet other badass fitness people. ;) But this is NOT what I wanted to hear. I asked him what CAN I do? (Try to remember this part for later, so you can feel just how irritating and confusing this all gets, lol) He said "No seated overhead presses of ANY kind." WHOA. Let that sink in. Cuz shoulders is KINDA a BIG part of a Figure Competitor's presentation. If you don't know....I have an ENTIRE lift session designated JUST for shoulders. My last program was DLB's (Dana Linn Baily's shoulder routine which takes me almost 2 hours). Sitting is the position that creates the most compressive forces on the lower spine. So compound that with weights overhead, no bueno. Also, NO spinal loading, meaning weighted squats, lunges, etc. (In the fitness world, you MUST squat!). I asked him is this was temporary. His response was, "Well, we're talking long term right?" Basically, IF I wanted to do a show, I could pick ONE, and then spend a long recovery after it. But really, not do it. He explained that this was like mourning. That many young professional athletes had to retire due to the wear and tear of the body and this was what happens. The stages of mourning, some I don't remember, but disbelief, depression, anger...and down the line...acceptance. I would be lying if I said I didn't spend many nights, weeks, lost. Balling my eyes out on the way home from the gym. Not being able to practice what I preach. Feeling like a fraud. It's a compete identity crisis.
I started out at 3x/week with adjustments, ART (Active Release Technique, aka soft tissue work that hurts like hell but feels better afterwards), Fire-cupping (where they put a hot glass cup on you to suck up vs press down on the tissue. I spent a weekend with racing stripes (aka Physio-tape) on my back. I was to be icing and foam-rolling daily, which I proved to be a horrible patient/client. I was not working out during this time. For 2 weeks, I couldn't even really participate in my Cycle classes. I faked it, or coached it. But I wasn't getting any better. So at that point, we decided I needed an MRI.
He wanted me to try Aleve for 2 weeks, (the most you should take it, due to damage it can cause) because most doctors due that to see if the pain is caused due to inflammation. I never take pills (aside from my emergency stash of prescription pills, only in extreme cases) so I wasn't happy and Aleve did nothing for me anyhow. First day, whatever..but 2nd day on...I felt I could take on the world. Damn, it took down the inflammation. Regardless, I still needed to find out the problem, as you can't live on pills. So I started messaging my Primary Physician to see where to start.
