Shocking The System

I had my first shockwave treatment for my hip this week and I’ve got my fingers crossed that it’s already working.

Please, please, please make my hip pain go away!

Shocking The System

This is the third body part I’ve had treated by extracorporeal shockwave therapy. First was my achilles, then my hamstring, now my hip. I don’t know if my body is particularly responsive to it, but it does seem to work well for me. My achilles is 100% better and has been since I completed treatment 5 years ago. My hamstring is still weak—the MRI I had before treatment showed a 50%  partial tear—but strong enough for the cycling and running I want to do. After my first treatment, I think my hip is responding well. 🤞

I was dreading the shockwave treatment itself, not sure if it would hurt like it did on my achilles or be tolerable like it was for my hamstring. Luckily it was the latter—it felt a bit like a prickly Theragun session, if that’s makes sense to anyone.

Even before my treatment my hip was getting better, but since then I’ve had long stretches of not feeling anything in my hip making me hope that it too will get 100% better. I nudged up my running intervals without too many complaints, but it felt pinchy after my longest efforts on Friday. Luckily I had an early PT appointment, and my physical therapist did some deep massage that really helped in release. I supplemented that with some Theragun time, and that seemed to reset my hip back to zero.

Weekly Run Down

Our weather was much better this week with several spectacular days so nice we opened up the windows!

Sunday I took Scooby for a long walk before church, and then met my friend rehabbing from her cardiac bypass surgery for another long walk.

Monday was a gorgeous morning so I took Scooby on a longer walk and did a few (slow) running intervals along the way. After a short core workout and my PT exercises, I hopped on my treadmill for 10 min of run/walk intervals, knowing I had my shockwave appointment later in the day.

Tuesday I wanted to take it a bit easy after my treatment and before my PT appointment later in the day, so I opted for a hip mobility class and a relatively mild Peloton ride.

Wednesday my hip was feeling good, so I did 15 min of run/walk intervals, following the format of Jess Sims’ HIIT class, but not the intensity.

I did my PT exercises in the evening

Thursday I gave my lower body a break and focused on core and upper body strength before taking a fun ride with Cody.

Friday was another gorgeous morning and I could not resist putting my hip to the test outside. I did a 2 mile loop in my neighborhood with random run/walk intervals—stopping as soon as I felt anything in my hip. It might have been a bit much,  but there don’t seem to be any lasting repercussions.

Saturday  would have been a perfect day for a bike ride, but I don’t want to do anything “new” or “risky” so close to our vacation—I haven’t been on my road bike since my hip injury. I was surprised my husband is thinking the same way—we’re such a perfect match! 😉 Instead, I took Katy Wang’s new 45 min strength class which has two segments right out of my PT playbook with banded hip bridges and side steps. I paired that with one of Charlotte’s only English PowerZone classes (she mostly teaches in German), followed by my new favorite 10 min stretch.

I am ending the week cautiously optimistic and entering that dangerous stage of having to hold myself back. Honestly, though, I am so afraid of a setback I am surprising myself with restraint!

A huge thank you to Deborah and Kim for hosting the Weekly Run Down link up.