My First Injury

I am miserable right now. It's pathetic I know, but it's how I feel... so I'm gonna share.

I have injured my elbow. Well, it's not really my elbow, I just say that because it's easier for people to visualise rather than saying I've got Medial Epicondylitis. Yep, that's an easy one to get your tongue around isn't it!

The everyday term, which I will tell you in advance I don't like, is Golfer's Elbow. Yeah, I know, pffft I'm sooooo not a golfer. I think in these modern times it should be renamed Poler's Elbow.

Here's a pic:

Poler's Elbow, okay, Golfer's Elbow - Medial Epicondylitis

There is pain and constant aching where the ligament wraps around the bone (epicondyle) caused from tears and inflammation. It sometimes travels down the muscle to the halfway point of my forearm, when I've not been resting it enough. It's my own fault too.

I caused it from being overly enthusiastic before performance night. I did three dances, but I also rehearsed three dances over and over, forgetting what a newbie I am. Instead of listening to what my muscles were telling me when the aching started I ignored them and powered through. Adrenaline is a mighty powerful driver and it got me through the performance night. However when I got home my elbow was throbbing and I knew I'd have a price to pay.

Stupidly, I thought that would be days off from the pole just resting. So I performed on the Friday night and rested my arms until Tuesday morning when I did a pole circuit class. I wanted so badly to do the pole work components that I once again ignored what my muscles were telling me and went ahead lifting myself many times over in succession.

I don't know if you recall in a previous post me telling you about how there are stupid people? Well, let me remind you once again... I am their queen *smacking forehead*

So elbow re-strained, very inflamed, immobile, and painful. The treatment: ice, anti-inflammatory's, and rest. No weight-bearing for two weeks to let all this internal upset settle... WTF, two weeks!

I am almost at the two week mark today and it feels like healing is taking forever. My left elbow is feeling mostly awesome, but my right (dominant weight bearing arm) is still niggly. Again my own fault from doing right hand dominant things like carrying 5 loaded grocery bags instead of taking two trips, shifting furniture, etc. I have still managed to dodge the ironing though - oh the pain, the pain... lol

Anyway, I am through the initial treatment phase and now have to start these hand and forearm specific exercises to build up the strength of the supporting/opposing muscles and hopefully not have to go through this shit again. This is also another two to three weeks process. And again having to stay off the pole.

I am trying to stay motivated and not throw the towel in when it comes to my fitness. All I want to do is crawl in to a very large bucket of ice cream and have a pity party for one. I just want to woe is me and pout, nothing positive and pro-active for now. I know half the battle is mental, I get that, so venting in here lets me process things and will help me get back on track.

I normally am quite the positive person, I really am not so woeful but every now and then a good old whine does seem to help cleanse the negativity out of the system. Thanks for making it this far reading.

I love you for it ;-)

I know what I need to do, I've just got to toughen up and get on with it, right.

I will do these muscle strengthening exercises a couple of times a day.

I will stay off the pole and just look at it longingly, wistfully, maybe brush past it occasionally.

I will use this time to keep working on my splits challenge exercises and flexibility.

I will walk/jog daily, even if it's only for half an hour.

I will listen to what my muscles are telling me when they whisper, not wait until they scream.

I will do this because I don't want to have to take this long off the pole again.