I started running a few months ago with the goal of participating in a couple races in Canada in the summer, and the long term goal of a half-marathon in the fall, and full-marathon in the winter. My motivation was the wet weather we had here at the time and I couldn’t afford to get my bike fixed. The training went well with some infrequent discomfort in my knees, feet, and general soreness in my back. My wife, a runner, advised me to take it slower, but I felt good so I kept up my aggressive schedule. My races in Canada both went well.
While in Canada I had this nagging pain in my lower left back. Nothing severe enough to interfere with daily activities with the kids, but over time I found I needed more downtime to rest. I blamed a different bed.
On the day before I was to return to Taiwan my wife an I went for a quick 8k run through the countryside and when I got back to our house I found my discomfort level had increased considerably. The only relief I could find was laying on the wooden floor. Terrible pain in my lower back. The next day I suffered through the worst route possible back to Taiwan with the help of copious amounts of painkillers.
I’ve been back in Taiwan for a couple weeks and generally have been resting, and doing extensive stretching when I wake up in the morning and before I go to bed. The pain is largely dissipated but I still can’t run without pain. Without regular exercise I find life here more difficult.
Yesterday I went to see a local chiropractor primarily in the hope that I could speed up my recovery and/or find if I had any problems I might not have realised. This is where my questions arise. The chiropractor stated that my spine in my lower back region was both twisted and ‘not straight’, my neck was somewhat the same. If left untreated he was convinced that surgery may be required in the future. I asked him if the condition of my back isn’t just a consequence of being 47 and he replied that it’s well beyond the normal effects of aging. I countered that perhaps a week core and overly tight hamstrings might be the problem, and he stated the problem is ‘structural’.
He suggested an immediate stop to all activity for 3 months (no running, biking, hiking, yoga, strength training, etc.) and 3 weekly visits to his office. The first treatment I had consisted of some of the most painful deep tissue massage I have ever experienced and his attempts at trying to ‘crack’ my neck. I thought I had a high tolerance for pain until I met him.
Is this a normal experience with chiropractic care? Though I don’t want yet more x-rays I’m going to see a medical doctor for a second opinion. Is 3 months a reasonable amount of downtime when I’m not experiencing the kind of pain that interferes with my daily activities?
