Just a year ago I was struggling with numbness in my right arm and fingers. My entire arm HURT. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it happened – but one morning I woke up and felt like a slept wrong. The crick in my neck just wouldn’t go away. This was in December – I let it go weeks until into January when I went to an urgent ortho-care to get it checked. Fast forward many weeks of rehab and I finally felt normal again. Its completely “healed” but I’m left with a tingling in my thumb most days when I overdo it.
This gets to listening to your body. I know I’m spending too much time at the computer or sliding my phone with my right thumb when it gets numb. Strangely, working out (think weight lifting Runner Chick) and stretching helps loosen me up and the numbness goes away. The reason I am sharing all of this is because most of us have aches and pains hanging around and we ignore them. They are telling us something! Don’t ignore the twinges or the numbness – because soon they can become real pain.
The other day I was back squatting at the gym and I’m pretty good at it – runners quads help! I’d barely put much weight on the bar when I felt a twinge in my left ankle. The good thing about the gym is that there are lots of experienced trainers and others with more medical and anatomy experience than me! We isolated it to my achilles and though it didn’t hurt – I listened to the twinge and stopped squatting heavy and went much lighter. There was no pain – but that twinge told me to stop, rest, and review what was happening with my body. In fact, I’d been running more to hit a mileage goal for 2018, my shoes were old and showing signs of wear, and I’d not been stretching well. I knew all that and my body chose to “tell me” so I had to listen.
We have to listen to our bodies. When you listen to your body you are less likely to injure yourself. Sure, freak things still happen, but you are much less likely to have a nagging issue hang around if you are in tune with your body. A coach, or running partner, might be able to give you good advice based on what they know about you, but you are the only one who can decide how you are feeling on a particular day and adjust accordingly.
I know so many people setting off on New Year’s resolutions to work out more, or who have signed up for a goal race, and are starting off on their fitness journeys. I want you to take it slow and steady and listen to the aches and pains that might arise along the way. Dial it back if you need to, don’t stop unless you really have to, but listen to what your body is telling you.
So my thumb. It still gets numb if I do too many push ups, or snatches, and even too much typing. Its something I have learned how to manage with stretching, rest and ice/heat depending on the day. My goal is to run. Its just as important for me to cross train but I’m not going to re-injure myself in the process. I did not enjoy not being able to run last winter to my full potential. I have to listen to my body to be healthy and successfully reach my running goals. Last week I stopped what I was doing when I felt the twinge, then spent the weekend stretching well and watching what I did. I ran two five mile routes over the weekend no pain or twinges. Then when I returned to the gym this week, and when squats were called for the workout, I did them at my own weight and speed. No twinges.
And – PS – I went and got new sneakers yesterday and that will bring up next week’s post on the correct equipment.
