I went out for a short canyon run and on my way there I pulled a muscle in the left side of my back, just out of the blue. I wasn’t going fast or making any sort of adjustment, nothing out of the ordinary or different from a medium paced gate. I slowed down and walked for a bit and the spasm seemed to lesson, but I knew from experience in the past this was gonna bug me no matter what I did. Hurray, I was right! Its an odd feeling as it doesn’t ache all the time and it is such a localized muscle that I only feel it in the one particular area.
I have never been a big fan of pain killers other than tylenol or acetaminophen, but I had some vicodin in the medicine cabinet. I settled down in the late evening to watch a taped football game and decided, what the heck, I’ll take one. I can really see how they could become addictive if you were experiencing constant pain. It did do the trick, and regardless of how exciting the game was, I was pretty mellow! (Can I even say that with an exclamation point?)
I took yesterday off from running and I am doing the same today. I am going to do more ice and just take it easy. I am hoping to finish my miles for the week tomorrow, but I am not going to push it. RICE (well no elevation anyway, so RIC) will be my main diet.