A pain in the piriformis!

Unfortunately my pirformis pain has got worse again over the last couple of months, so now I am reducing my running in order to try to alleviate of the problem. This has happened on and off for the last two years and it is very annoying.  I need to concentrate on my stretching and strengthening exercises.

I have visited a physiotherapist, a chiropractor and a sports massage therapist about this ‘pain in the bottom’ and have never really had a clear answer as to how I can get rid of it for good (maybe I won’t ever?). I know the stretches I have to do and how to treat the acute problem, but why do I have to suffer? I also know it is because I run – but I’m not giving that up. My doctor once told me that as I get older I will experience running induced aches and pains, however he said the benefits of running  – keeping me active and in shape – greatly outweigh the alternative of inactivity, obesity and muscle loss. So I will keep on running – with or without piriformis pain. But for a while I am taking it easy.

Over the past week or so I have been swimming and using the bike in the gym, neither of these activities give me pain, but both take a lot more effort and dedication, mainly because I have to drive 5 miles before I can start. It also takes me longer to use up the calories to allow me to eat the things I want to eat!! There is nothing like running for burning calories and the beauty of running is that I just open my front door and run. When there are other factors involved, like making a car journey, more excuses can be found…

So I’m feeling a bit sad that running is off the agenda for the time being. As I am not working this week, I can use the time to catch up with other things in my life that sometimes get neglected. Maybe a well-earned rest is something that my body will appreciate!

Oh, you may like to know that my gym isn’t such a traumatic place to visit – it’s in a hotel which is a fabulous gothic mansion and it is always a treat to drive up the long driveway to be greeted by this magnificent building in such a beautiful setting.

Tortworth Court Hotel