For the last fourteen months I've struggled through a fairly debilitating shoulder condition called frozen shoulder. I won't go into the nuts and bolts of it but will say it's kind of painful; My arm movement has been restricted and the pain was constant. It has meant I've had to make some changes, I couldn't even pull on a shirt shirt without help due to the inability to move my arm and I was not able to do many normal things, like lifting weights, anything much at all really.
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In January I began physiotherapy and not long after I had a cortisone injection in an attempt to deal with some of the inflammation and pain so I could rehabilitate more effectively; Now, months later, I'm not pain free or back to normal but it is much better. I've even started lifting weights again.
I'll admit that I have complained at times however I've generally remained silent when in pain or after losing sleep through the inability to do so without pain...I've pretty much hardened the hell up and just endured, plus some small degree of complaining.
A lot of my complaining was about the fact that Over the rehabilitation period I've slowly got weaker as the lack of lifting and general conditioning allowed my body to backslide...But I'm back on it now and have been feeling very positive about it.
I have a gym set-up at home and over the last weeks have hit it every second day. It isn't very complex, just a bench-press bench with leg extensions on the end, a rowing machine, curl bar, a few sets of dumbbell's, kettlebells in various weights and loads of plates to add weight as required. I have some of those stretchy rubber band things which is what I've been rehabilitating with, a skipping rope and some boxing stuff for pad-work. It's all pretty old gear that I've acquired over the last thirty or so years, but it works.
I came up with a routine that takes my shoulder situation into account but I'm able to do most things, albeit it with less weight than I would normally lift; The plan is to build up to it though. I've been a little sore in the muscles since then as they are still getting used to the hammering but I'm really pleased with how I feel about being back at it...And I've not complained since!
You've heard those exercise clichés like no pain no gain and the just do it advertisement slogans but what's more relevant is the one about how much better one feels when exercising regularly...It's true, I feel pretty great and very motivated about being able to lift again, and to actually be doing it.
I don't think anyone would hold it against someone for complaining about things this year, but it really is a hollow action as it simply doesn't help a person move a situation forward. Don't get me wrong, I've complained as I said earlier...But it doesn't help much, if at all. Action does though and now I'm able to take action I can see myself moving forward and am feeling better, inside and out.
We've all had to endure adversity in our lives: Health, financial, relationship, professional...There's many things; But adversity doesn't define us, how we deal with it does.
If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining - Marcus Aurelius
That's a pretty brutal quote, but it resonates with me. Of course, adding goals, plans, action and effort to it will help move things forward and that's what I'm about right now.
So what about y'all? Have you had to stop playing a sport through injury or had injury or health issues restrict your ability to live your day to day life? How did you manage it emotionally, what did you do to motivate yourself and keep