Hey everyone,
I wanted to share what’s been going on in my world over the past couple of weeks because it's been quite a ride. Here’s the shortish version:
I spent a week in Scotland, had an incredible time, and managed to get some good runs in while I was there. Then I came back home, and things took a turn for the worse. I got really sick. Just when I thought I was on the mend and started to recover, something unexpected happened: I injured my lower back.
The pain became so intense that I ended up on the bathroom floor in tears, and eventually in the ER at 2:30 a.m. To manage the pain, I had to go on some strong meds — which I’m not a fan of, but they were necessary. After the ER, I went straight to the chiropractor at 7 a.m., and the X-rays showed that my lower vertebrae were 11.14mm out of alignment, along with some compression and degeneration.
Now, as I aim to be transparent and share everything — the good, the bad, and the ugly — I’ll admit that both the illness and the injury took me to some pretty dark places mentally. During the worst of it, I even wondered if my running days were over. The pain had me hallucinating at one point, and as my wife drove me to the ER, I vaguely remember muttering, “Don’t let them take my leg.” Not my best moment!
I’ve never been great at handling sickness or injury, and this experience reminded me just how fragile we can feel when we’re down. I’ve been thinking that maybe seeing a therapist could help me unpack some of those thoughts and work on my mental resilience.
Thankfully, after getting the prescription meds, the pain became manageable. My wife and kids were out of town for the weekend, so I reached out to friends and my F3 men’s group, asking for help. They came through in such a big way — bringing me food, walking our dog, picking up my meds, and just being there for me. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for them. I don’t know where I’d be without that support.
I’m happy to report that I’m off the Rx meds, and the pain is now manageable with over-the-counter meds. I still have a few weeks of chiropractor visits and some physical therapy ahead, but I’m on the mend.
More than anything, this experience has reminded me how lucky I am to have such a strong community around me. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple ask, and people will show up in ways that truly make a difference.
Lastly, I’ve been reflecting on perspective. In the grand scheme of things, I know I’ll be fine. This past week, many people in North Carolina had their lives forever changed by the hurricane, and that puts everything into perspective for me.