Dealing With Injuries

[Kayleigh]

As you may have gathered from some of my posts as of late, I currently have a nasty back injury. I've had chronic back pain for about 2 years now, but about 2 months ago, it completely flared up. I've been limited to dance throughs and strength for 8 weeks now and I'm just bored to tears... not to mention freaking out because our first meet is 9 practices away! I do have all my routines and such, it's just a matter of when I can start landing things. I just got back from an MRI, so I'm hoping that will give us some answers!

But the point of this post is... how do you (or your gymmies) deal with injuries? What injuries have you had? Any advice to keep all of us who are down for the count in a sane mental state?

 

[Bobby]

Oh gosh you poor thing!!
I injured my back in the 'olden days' when I was a gymmie myself. At the time it didn't seem very serious (no damage to the actual vertebrae), so I did what I could as soon as I could because (like you) I was bored and frustrated and really looking forward to competing again soon.
Twenty years later, I wonder if I'd have less problems with my back now if I had been more cautious back then?
I loved gym then, and have no hestitations sending my DD off to classes now. But if you were my DD who was having probs, I'd probably be consulting with a (specialised) sports physio to get advice about your return. Maybe there are special excercises or treatments they could suggest to protect you and hasten your recovery?
At the end of the day, you don't want to risk more boredom by going back too soon and ending up with more time off. And you don't want to end up with arthritis in your back like I have, which my specialist thinks was probably caused by prolonged inflammation from my gym days.

 

[Kayleigh]

I've actually been in physical therapy for almost 2 months now - it will help for about 2 hours after the appointment, but then I'm right back to where I was. So we went to 2 different orthopedists to get their opinions - one said bone scan, one said MRI. We wound up going with the MRI because of my ridiculous fear of needles (which would be involved in a bone scan). Still waiting for the results of that.

Your story sounds very similar to mine. I really doubt if there's any damage to the vertebrae, as the orthopedist said nothing showed up on the x-rays we had done. I have been worried, though... people are saying that I won't do any damage to it if it's muscular, and that I need to use it to make it better (I'm struggling with that because every time I use it, it's killing me... so I'm stuck). But I'm glad you brought up the point of the arthritis... that's the kind of thing I've been worried about!

Oy. So confusing.

 

[nicci1999]

Maybe because I have seen the results of it, but have you gone to a chiropractor? I think you may be pleasantly surprised by it. My mother totally destroyed her back at work one night catching a patient, and chiropractor and acupuncture were some of the best things for her

 

[Kayleigh]

Well, the MRI came back completely clear. I was a mess... we still don't know what this is? Something has to be WRONG... I honestly can't walk up the stairs. I haven't seen my room in 3 days.

The doctors essentially told me to take Aleve twice a day and suck it up. I've been taking it religiously for the past 4 days and haven't really seen much improvement... where the heck do I go from here?

I haven't tried a chiro this go... I did the last time my back flared up about two years ago, and I think it did more harm than good. I think our next route is going to be sports massage... we'll see if that does anything.

 

[T.Gymnastics]

I have had trouble with injuries too, none with my back but for a while i had to tape my knees so tight my toes were purple and i couldnt bend my leg much to tumble and vault, then i had a whole spiel of injuries that made me only get to compete 4 meets and no states. to deal with this i worked everything i could and told myself that by say working leaps day and night now they would be perfect later. that i would be stronger later, more flexible later.

And for the nothing being wrong, the only way we learn of a new problem is for someone to have it. and someone i know has back problems where everything is negative on the exams but it turned out being her spine is twisted just a little making one leg higher than the other

 

[Bobby]

Well, the MRI came back completely clear. I was a mess... we still don't know what this is? Something has to be WRONG... I honestly can't walk up the stairs. I haven't seen my room in 3 days.
The doctors essentially told me to take Aleve twice a day and suck it up. I've been taking it religiously for the past 4 days and haven't really seen much improvement... where the heck do I go from here?
I haven't tried a chiro this go... I did the last time my back flared up about two years ago, and I think it did more harm than good. I think our next route is going to be sports massage... we'll see if that does anything.

I totally believe you about the pain!! I used to get so offended when people talked as though I was just exaggerating. In Oz Aleve is just a slow release paracetamol. There are other meds available without prescription (here anyway, like Nurufen Plus) which have anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen or voltaren) which may help the cause, plus codeine which may be better for the pain.
The most sensible explanation I ever got of my injury (by an orthapedic specialist) was that I'd probably pinched a nerve initially, which caused swelling to the nerve and surrounding tissue, which made it really easy to re-pinch by normal movement (like getting dressed). The inflammation can cause arthritic changes in the sourounding vertebrae if it carries on too long, and nothing will show up on an x-ray or bone scan until this happens - which may be months or more.
I think the treatment is lots of rest, lots of ice (to reduce swelling), lots of antiinflamatories, and lots of pain killers (the latter is to reduce the strength of the synapses bewee the injury and the brain which are probably insanely strong by now- overkill of pain killers help a lot but should be very short term and under dr supervision because you don't want to risk dependency issues).
As for dealing with the wait, there is supposedly research showing that mentally visualising skills helps the brain to maintain the connections, so your body can slip back into doing them more easily. Don't forget that elite gymnasts often have huge time off after things like knee constructions and get their fitness back quickly - so you can too.
PS: Nope I don't have a scrap of medical training so be cautious in reading my post. I'm just offering it as someone who seems to have been through a similar injury.

 

[Kayleigh]

You guys are awesome. I have lots of questions to take to the doctor at my next appointment - you rock! Hopefully we can figure this out soon... I've been out of school the past three days.

 

[KyraGymnast]

As you may have gathered from some of my posts as of late, I currently have a nasty back injury. I've had chronic back pain for about 2 years now, but about 2 months ago, it completely flared up. I've been limited to dance throughs and strength for 8 weeks now and I'm just bored to tears... not to mention freaking out because our first meet is 9 practices away! I do have all my routines and such, it's just a matter of when I can start landing things. I just got back from an MRI, so I'm hoping that will give us some answers!

But the point of this post is... how do you (or your gymmies) deal with injuries? What injuries have you had? Any advice to keep all of us who are down for the count in a sane mental state?

I have had an injury before- and lots of practice-to-practice pains
My worst injury was my osgood-shlaughters (please excuse my spelling) it was in my knee, and the docter told my i was lucky to not have had to have surgery.
I was out for ENTIRE SUMMER. it was a nightmare. I know what its like to feel behind or stuck where you are because of an injury.
It was so bad that I couldnt even walk on a flat surface without almost falling down.
The orthopedic surgeon told me to take four Ibuprofen every four hours-- thats a LOT of pain killers.
Iwore an imobilizer and stayed off my feet for a couple weekes-- school was especially hard.
Now it ismuch better, but every practice, towards the end, it starts hurting again. It s also very stiff in the morning.
There is nothing like practicing through an injury when you just want to sit down and cry-- but it was worth it in the end for me
Good luck and keep us posted

 

[Maitland]

The orthopedic surgeon told me to take four Ibuprofen every four hours-- thats a LOT of pain killers.

I'm glad you are doing better! Injuries are so hard to deal with but resting is so very important. I just want to caution on the ibuprofen. This would not be a normal prescription dose of ibuprofen and could be dangerous depending on the athlete's size. Never exceed the other-the-counter dose unless directed, and monitored, by a physician.

 

[FlipTwistFly28]

I kind of know what your dealing with, except it's my ankle not my back. I hurt it last season landing tsuks short and I never told anyone my ankle hurt so bad. (I was varsity and didn't want my spot to be given up haha and yeah not a good idea on my part for not telling anyone) I waited until the state meet and the day after I got a MRI. Same thing with you, it came back with nothing wrong. I ended up in a walking boat for 2 weeks I think. During the summer it got worse and I had to be in a cast for a month, and when I got it off it was totally fine until I started running again. Now just about a year later, I have to get another MRI in like 2 weeks and then after I will probably have to get surgery. I've stumped all my doctors, so yeah..

Good luck with your back though!