Looking for other "athletes" to support each other

I really want to try yoga....I even have a very popular yoga place right next door to my office...so I have no excuse except for fear.

I have a dilemia now. Please give me some advice...anyone.

Tomorrow is my day off from running. I usually try to go to the gym to do weights on my running days off (Mon and Fridays).

Because I'm logging so many miles, I only work out my upper body, as my lower is getting more then enough.

I'm usually sore after my weights for several days.

Tuesday I'm seeing the pain specialist again...and he had talked about steroid injections into my neck.

My question....is should I just take the day off tomorrow and skip the weights rather then risk a sore muscle when he does the injections?

Hmmmmmm...I just am not sure.

Oh....lil bird....I had a response for you but I'm on meds so I have med-head so I couldn't remember.

My new pain specialist pointed out my horrid posture our very first visit. (I've been 5'10 + since I was eleven...so being a girl, I was WAY taller then the guys and it started me on a life of slouching).

I actually took his advice and have really worked hard on my posture. I saw results with my head almost immediately.

It has not been a cure......BUT....it has made a big difference. It's one of the reasons I'm so dedicated to running as I have super-perfect form when I run and it sets my body into the right posture.

I also run a lot of my miles on a treadmill, which faces the mirror, so I can check my posture easily.

I totally recommend anyone with headaches to get their posture looked at...I had no idea I was so bad!

Milo, I completely know what you mean by med-head. LOL It sucks. As far as posture goes, that is very good idea. I've been wondering if I suffer from head-forward posture. I find it hard to tell. I will ask the physical therapist when I see them.

You should try yoga. It is awesome. But I can not do it if I already have a HA as it will make it worse. Downward Facing Dog will hurt your head if you are already in the throws of a migraine.
As far as skipping weights, that is a tough one. It was so hard for me to skip a workout on any day that I didn't have a HA. But I have worked out maybe twice this month. I hate it! Maybe you could try stretching and lifting light weights. I've read articles about lifting light to promote recovery from soreness.

Lovegia, I am actually seriously considering acupuncture. I have read good reports of its effectiveness for 'some' people. Really I think we should all be getting a massage once a week! Right? Insurance should cover massage, its a preventative, right?

I started using transdermal Mg last night. Research indicates that it is absorbed by the body at a much higher rate. I will keep you guys posted on anything that helps!

Keep up the good work! I'm going to try to run today and maybe hit my heavy bag! I miss working out... You guys are definitely motivating me! Thanks!

Milo,

I would skip the workout today. Don't want to be achy for another reason when going to see the dr. Yoga would probably be an option but you could also just do some gentle stretching today as well. Oh indulge and get a massage

Glad you are doing so well.

I will admit, I am very, very lucky that way...I have a massage every week! It sucks...and hurts...but I think it helps. Massage for me is nothing like a spa-type massage....I wish!

I'm still not sure about working out today. I brought my gear, but I'm not sure....hmmm....I also have another 10 miles to run before I see him on Tuesday.

Hmmmmm...sometimes I just hate not knowing what the answer is!

I just want to say that you guys are very inspiring! I know how hard it is to stay phyiscally active and deal with chronic migraines. It is quite a daunting task and can seem impossible at times. But you all manage to stay active and ALIVE! I love it! You should all be very proud of yourselves for not giving up. Keep it up.

Have you ever thought of having a marathon for migraine? Wouldn't that be something? They marathons for cancer, why not migraine? Just a thought...

I would love to have my half-marathon bib identify me as "migraine".

This is completely 100% a brag post...sorry...

I just completed 5.6 miles....9 kilometers!!!!!!!

It was a hard run (but not impossible)...and I am very, very proud of myself

Killer, killer migraine yesterday, but thank goodness it was my day off for running.

I was careful and went to the gym before work today to get my run in while I was still under the effects of my gravergol compound. If I take it the night before I tend to habe a morning grace period.

Yesterday had me very down in the dumps, as I was thinking that there was no way I could keep up my training with the head that I currently own.

I have to admit....this is very tough. BUT....I think it has had a great benefit as well.

OK folks.....I just signed up for my first running competition!!!!! A 10k in May!!!!

That is a great first goal. 10k is such a nice race. Good luck.

Jo

The half is actually my goal...but the Vancouver Sunrun is one of the largest 10k's in Northa America and I couldn't miss the chance....I need to do a long run that day anyways...so I might as well do it with 55 000 other runners...lol

Racing is good fun. I love being in a road race, there is something to be said for the adrenaline and feeding off of other runners.

I used to be a sprinter and I think that's why I still like to compete.

I love that you are doing this it is motivating me a whole lot!! Thanks.

Jo

I just posted about my visit to the pain doctor today.

I am in SOOOOOO much pain. I had botox AND bilateral facet blocks between/at C2-C4 (unbelievably painful procedure for me)

I feel like I have been run over.

I made sure to ask if I'm allowed to work out tomorrow...lol

Thank goodness I didn't do the weights....can't imagine what it would have been like if I had!

Haven't popped in here for a bit .....I hadn't been able to work out too much after a procedure....(about 3 wks )

But...am so glad to see this thread still going strong!! And I would like to report that this week, despite many many many obstacles I have been hitting the workouts hardcore! Even when I have been feelin like crud!

I did a 1 hr Pilates class on Monday and Kyukido for 45 minutes on MOnday night.
Today-45min KyukiDO class and then 75 min Hot Yoga class
I am going to do Yoga again tomorrow at 930 am and then Thursday I am taking ther kids to the Zoo all day (lots of walking)
I will take Friday and Sat off so I don't over do it.

But even though it can amp up the pain levels sometimes....I DO feel the physical benefits of excercise as well, and I am happy to be pushing myself through it (at least for now, anyway.........when I wake up tomorrow with a 10 I could be changing that tuine......lol..JK)

Anyway...Keep up all the great work everyone. Being motivated to workout is hard enough as it is. But doing it when you are in pain and fatigued and bogged down by medicine is even more of a challenge!!!!

Happy sweating!!

AWESOME WORK J!!!!!

You guys are all doing so great!

Please, everyone, keep posting your accomplishments...it really helps others to see that it can be done.

Remain honest about how hard it is to do.

I had a dream last night about me passing the finish line at the marathon and the name on my bib said "migrainer".

My brother is working hard on me know to commit to a triathalon in Aug. Who knows...maybe that will be my next goal????

Today is going to be my hardest run yet. I have just four kilometers to run. I am in a lot of pain from the facet blocks and my head is already pounding.

I don't know how I'll do....but I am just about to change into my gym closthes to try. *Fingers crossed*

Whoooo hoooo.....not only did I do it....I did it in record time!

I just kept saying over and over in my head "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this"

It was very hard, but I focused on feeling my body and my hard breathing and tried to ignore my pounding head.

Wow!

Way to go!

I was planning to walk later tonight but it is feeling like someone whacked me in the back of the head...still debating it but it would be the only day this week I haven't.

milo wrote:Whoooo hoooo.....not only did I do it....I did it in record time!

I just kept saying over and over in my head "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this"

It was very hard, but I focused on feeling my body and my hard breathing and tried to ignore my pounding head.

Wow!

yay!!! Woohooo!!! Congrats!!! Good for you!!!

So I have finally started getting up again and getting moving. I starting running around my neighborhood. It feels good to get out. The weather is beautiful.

I had my first chiropractic adjustment last night. What an experience! I've got a migraine today that started in my neck last night. It is the first one I've had in a week and I'm sure it is from the adjustment. I suppose it is to be expected. I'm looking at it as a good sign that my migraines are from my spinal alignment being out-of-whack. Do you guys have any experience with this?

Milo and Stillhurtin, all I can say is WOW! You guys are doing awesome stuff.

I've not had issues with my spine being a culprit. Wish it was that easy to define...I do know I need an adjustment but it's my low back that gives me troubles.

Glad you are possibly seeing some benefits Lil Bird.

Well it's supposed to be almost 80 here today and someone whacked me across the face, and messed with my ears. Darn M...maybe I'll get out with the dogs. They need it and my big girl couldn't take a long walk anyway (she's very sensitive to heat)....

Heeler, I'm sure I would be struggling a lot more if I were dealing with the heat. I live in Vancouver Canada and we have weather that tends to be pretty kind to athletes...well...those that like rain anyways...lol

Milo - this is unseasonably warm (we are close to breaking record highs), and it could all go down the toilet again - we could yet get a snow storm. This far north isn't supposed to be this warm this soon (I'm on the western edge of the Great Lakes - the state below the far northern one and to the west of the long vertical one).

The heat isn't so bad if you are used to it, but we went from needing to wear long sleeves exercising outdoors (Monday) to shorts and tank-tops by today. My dogs are blowing coats and my big girl is more black than white and the heat just gets her (especially if the sun is beating down on her) whereas Abby is more white and isn't as affected but I'm sure if we went to the dog park she'd be in the water cooling off after a while.

I have one blonde dog and one black dog too....does make a big difference as to how much sun they can handle...though my dark dog is a california import and she seems to LOVE the sun.

I did my run again today. The pain is much less today. I beat my time...again. Tomorrow is a running day off. I'm glad about that!