Category: shoulder issues

Less, is more?

The body is sore a lot these days. Actually, if I really think about it. The body is sore every day. It feels good. It means there’s some serious effort going on around here, determination, focus, accomplishment, milestones.

One hurt that’s not so good, the left-shoulder. Or is it? Met with the Doc today and finally heard the result of the MRI. The good news: nothing is torn or broken or fallen out of its socket-thingy. The bad: need to tone it down. The shoulder is being over worked, and if its kept up, something will break or tear or fall out of the socket-thingy. So, here we are: Feeling more committed than ever to hitting WOD’s and the 90DC, and the agility and strength and the way my body feels, getting better every day, realizing some new cool feat almost daily, like the first ever tripod today. And now I have to tone it down? Not sure how I feel about that.

The conversation with the Doc went in circles. Me: ‘So I have to stop?’ Doc: ‘No, you don’t have to stop, but you can’t keep doing what you’re doing.’ Me: ‘I can’t keep doing what I’m doing?’ Doc: ‘Not if you want to get better.’ Me: ‘So, what can I do?’ Doc: ‘You can do some, but not all. You have to do less.’ Me: ‘Less?’ Doc: ‘Less.’ Me: ‘Okay, Okay. I think I can do less.’ What’s really needed is time to process.

So I hit tonight’s WOD:

Warm-Up:

Russian Gymnastics Warm-Up – Day 1

WOD:

I. AMRAP in 7 Minutes:

15 Kettlebell Swings (53/35)

15 Box Jumps (24/20)

II. AMRAP in 15 Minutes:

Overhead Squats (95/65)

The kettle bells and box jumps were not a problem. Finished 4 rounds. Kettle Bell @ 26lbs. The Overhead squats. I went light, @ 45lbs. Dunno. How do you do less and still not let all the progress go down the drain?

Coincidentally, a friend forwarded a very interesting article on some recent controversy surrounding Yoga, and whether it can actually wreck your body, of all things. Yes, Yoga.

Here’s the thing, like the article says, being active, pushing yourself, CF, keeps me motivated, connected and inspired. But perhaps the real question should be; Am I pushing my body too hard to feed my ego? Yes it feels good to PR. Damnit. Yes, its awesome to feel stronger and more able than recent memory. But if you don’t listen to your body, if you push too much, you will only have yourself to blame. Well, and your ego to blame. And some serious injury and the inability to exercise, as the consolation prize.

Determined to find the median in here somewhere.

Being proactive

“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.” ― Rumi

So, finally decided to have my shoulder checked. Might as well. Even though I already had a pretty good feeling what the outcome would be. Overuse after 40+ years of left-sided neglect. But, always better to be proactive.

To quote the Orthopedic Doctor’s technical description of what’s going on; ‘Basically, you’ve pissed off your left shoulder.’ When I explained I was doing Crossfit, he nodded in silent understanding. Then, after a series of simple tests with each arm, right, then left, pulling and pushing and demonstrating resistance, he said, ‘Wow, you’re really strong.’ To which I said, ‘Can’t touch this!’ And then jumped off the table, breaking out into a rendition of MC Hammer circa 1990, right there in the examining room.

No. Not really.

But he did say I was really strong. And it feels really good to have an Orthopedic Doc say you’re really strong. Especially since I’ve been bemoaning my lack thereof, of said strength. So, its all good.

MRI next week. Just to be sure. But, all in all, I feel good. Was nice to get back to the Triple Wide tonight.

Warm-Up:

Russian Gymnastics Warm-Up – Day 2

WOD:

I. Work up to a tough single Snatch

Completed: worked up to 65lbs. Focused mostly on form. Bit of a struggle with the straight jerk over head. As Kevin nicely pointed out, that bar has a long way to go, from dead-lift to snatch over head. He’s right. I don’t mind though. There’s no where else I’d rather be.

II. 5 Sets:

20 Double-Unders

Rest 20 Seconds

5 Wall Climbs

Rest 20 Seconds

Completed: 9:03 minutes. Scaled of course, since I can’t do double-unders yet, errr… or, wall climbs. Yeah. But, that’s the beauty of CF, there’s a place for everyone.

III. 4 Rounds:

5 Turkish Get-Ups (Right Arm)

5 Burpees

5 Turkish Get-Ups (Left Arm)

5  Burpees

Completed: sort of. Not really. Turkish Get-Ups are complicated. I focused on form, and that’s about it. Then proceeded to the double-wide and decided to finally row 2k for my final benchmark in the 90DC. Even though we’re halfway through. Completed the 2k in 9:27.