November 4th, 2009

Saw a physical therpaist today. Apparently my back problems aren’t too severe and can most likely be managed without surgery. The problem stems from a “weak core”, which almost seems preposterous — I have strong (and visible) abs. But then I realize I haven’t consciously worked on any “core” movements in about a year; movements that were performed every day at San Francisco Crossfit. These included planks, knees-to-elbows, overhead squats, etc… My theory is that I herniated a disk last fall pulling a 185lb clean from the floor which ended up pinching a nerve. The discomfort  prohibited me from performing various lifts as frequently as I would’ve liked. When the pain would subside, I would attempt to lift but the pain would return. During this, the core strength I had began to atrophy. I never stretched either. Poor form, tight hamstrings, and a stubborn refusal to diagnose the problem put me in this position. My back feels great this morning, however. I’ll be diligently focusing on my recovery from here on out.