Old 35 year-old Woman
Hello –
As stated, I am a 35 year-old woman. In 1984, at the age of 16, I was diagnosed with rotator cuff syndrome (10 years of playing catcher and pitcher in boys’ Little League, softball, etc.). That same year, sliding into 2nd base, I fractured my coccyx (tailbone). I was told to quit sports, but I refused. I continued to play basketball and soccer for 1 year, and softball and tennis for two more years, until I couldn’t take the pain any longer. At age 25, I developed osteoarthritis in 4 joints of my spine (L4-S2). Ten years later I’m still in a lot of pain. My osteoarthritis has caused nerve damage (pins & needles and pain in toes, feet, legs). Currently, I see a chiropractor every day.
I am interested in writing an article about the women of my generation and their eventual sports injuries. I’d like to see if things have changed in high schools (better monitoring of the girls’ health), or if HS coaches continue to push the girls and ignore injuries, the way they did with me.
If anyone would like to share her story, please post here.
1 Comment found
NorthernElf
Wow – when I was younger I thought I was indestructable.
I’m 34 and an aerobics instructor (land and water). I’ve been active since highschool – swimming, soccer, & weight training then, with no injury I can recall (other than a sprained ankle). In university I had knee problems in a high impact aerobic class so I switched to water. The knee problem dogged me after too but I found weight training to help, as well as not doing those high impact classes.
I had a work related injury about 9 years ago – torn muscle under the left shoulder blade. It was a physically intensive job. I tried massage, chiropracter, and physio – it came down to stretching and gradually building weight trainig to get back (over a year).
Over the last 7 years I have exercised hard – had 3 pregnancies (exercised through them, moderately) and then lost the weight – hard work ! Anyway, I’ve had plantar fasciitis, piriformis syndrome (tightness), shoulder pain, and now I’m dealing with trochanter bursitis on both hips and psoas bursitis on one side. Only the shoulder pain and hip pain bother me now and I’m working on that. I’ve dropped my land classes for the summer and dropped the heavy weights – I am focusing on yoga and pilates and walking. I realize now that I’ve pushed myself just too hard, mostly out of boredom. I was doing weighted lunges with 85 pounds, benching 75, and doing military press with dumbbells with 25 pounds each side. My body (small frame, size 4/6) can’t take that kind of pressure and now I’m paying for it !
Anyway, I no longer feel invincible ! I can’t blame it on any coach, just myself. I’ve been weight training for years and wanted to do something different so I upped the weight. I been doing fancier choreography in my step classes for a change. Cross training is good but in moderation, I guess.
BTW, the bursitis problem has dogged me for almost a year, which makes it harder to treat (chronic). I’m hitting physio, anti inflammatories, & stretching alot too. My shoulders should benefit too – lots of tightness there & pins & needles in my neck, forehead, and one arm. UGH !
So that’s my sob story….
As far as highschools go, from what I’ve read about hips, women are built differently and there are concerns there – wider pelvis (hip problems, knee problems). Hormones (increased laxity in connective tissue) & growing are also a factor in exercise safety/modification. Interesting topic !