A quick update: Today, I completed the Couch to 5k running program. Highly, highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to start running…literally, right off the couch. I literally could barely huff and puff my way through 60 seconds of running at the beginning. Now, at 10 months post-op, I can now run for 30 minutes without walk breaks! I’m so excited and proud of myself, I can’t even come up with adequate words right now. I admit that I am running very slowly and the “Couch to 5k” is a little misleading for beginners since I’m not near running a 5k quite yet, it’ll probably take a few more weeks to get my distance and speed up. But the very fact that I can run at all is a miracle. From electric scooters to 5k’s!!
A few weeks ago, I did my first 5k Color Run – I walked the first half with my friends and then ran/walked the second half and had a blast. I felt pretty inadequate around the other runners but baby steps, man, baby steps. Also had a graphic designer draw my CT Scan and had a shirt made from my actual pelvis with screws. Love.
Drawn off my Actual CT Scan!
So now what? I’m setting and smashing goals right now. My goal pre-sacroiliac joint fusion was to do a 5k. I’ve done one. Now I want to run an entire one with no walking. But I’m dreaming bigger. 10k. Half-marathon? Who knows. Why limit myself? I’ve downloaded the 5k to 10k program and that is my next challenge.
One thing I have noticed is there are always hills and valleys to recovery from any major surgery. Last week, I ran outside twice because it was such beautiful weather and realized my pelvic muscles weren’t quite ready for that big leap. The uneven terrain really set me into muscle spasms and pain so I’ve gone back into pelvic floor therapy for a few sessions until things settle down and then can slowly ease myself back onto the roads. Right now, treadmill running ironically eases all of my pain and my pain afterwards is no worse off so I have the blessing of my physical therapist to keep going and up my strengthening and stabilization exercises. At the suggestion of a friend, I’ve also started doing some “nerve flossing” exercises (Youtube this, it’s awesome!) and as I write this, I have no pain after doing a round of these this afternoon.
While our SI joints may be stable after fusion, the muscles really do take a long time to rehab and that’s something people don’t really talk about much. It makes sense when you think about it…they’ve been used to functioning with a dysfunctional pelvis for years, so it takes times, effort, and dedication to get them functioning in a healthy way with a new pelvic position. I’m learning and adjusting as I go. It’s a journey to health!
I continue to strive for healing in other areas. Diagnosed with SIBO and serious gut problems, I’m working on healing that and am feeling better slowly. I’ve been IC (Interstitial Cystitis) symptom free for several weeks now, hallelujah! But am still losing my hair due to Hashimotos/thyroid issues but have found a more holistic/natural thyroid specialist I’m seeing next month. One puzzle piece at a time, baby!
What I do know is that running clears my mind, brings me peace, and allows me to feel alive again. So…I run. I run for myself, I run for the hundreds of other SI joint sufferers that I talk to on a daily basis, I run to hear God, and I run because I can. A true answer to prayer.
Read the rest of my SI Joint Dysfunction Journey.
YOU rock, beautiful! Your turn soon.
Praise God for hope! And goals. You’re right, definitely healing my soul. Thank you for joining me in this journey, so blessed by your friendship.