How are you guys doing? We haven't heard a thing from Abba? Are you getting better? I hope you're improving - baby steps would still be steps and eventually lead to running. Mike, how is your back? I was doing my core strength exercises tonight (haven't done them in a long time) and thought of your back issues. Any improvements?

Eric <-- not="" "mike"=""></-->

Oops! I'll try to remember that in the future

Abby! You've been missed! I have been wondering about you as well. The hip is still bad? How did school end up? When do you go abroad? Ok - enough questions. Just glad you are still around "Waves hand" just wanted to say Hi to everyone and wish you all speedy recoveries. It's been awful quiet in here, must be the whiners (looking at self in mirror) have recovered

Hi Eric (sorry about "Miking you" ) Yes, your post started out a bit depressing, but I know exactly what you are feeling. Your PT is right, you do have a very serious injury.That's the first mental block you need to pass. However - it doesn't necessarily mean you will have to stop running. There is the possibility. But you also could be fine. My PT ws more upbeat and always stressed that it all depends on various things in life. The spine doc I was seeing said to me at the last visit: "Consider yourself a back-patient." And I thought "oh nooo!". We talked more and I inquired about my job and my running. Modifications needed to be made. Job - I now contribute activelyto the nursing shortage and am no longer working as a nurse. Running - I don't run every day to keep the pounding down, I try to keep my core strong and cross-train. Spine-doc said that ironically this back injury probably gave me some more years as a runner, because it forced me into cross training more. He answered "yes" to my question if I could train for and run another marathon. It really sounds like you are getting better! Any improvement is good! You have a bulged disc, that takes longer than a herniated disc. How long ago did your symptoms start? I can totally understand the scary feelings and "what if's" you go thru with a back injury. Have been there and revisit these feelings whenever I get symptoms again. Maybe one step in the right direction would be to pick something besides running ... perhaps you would be a great triathlete? The biking and swimming are great exercise and you can still compete! Then you are armed with a strategy IF you get worse and can't run. But then again - nobody can predict that. Also, knowing that your discs have no blood supply of their own and have a high water content - make sure your nutrition is good and you hydrate well all the time. I think your body tells you what is good for you. If you feel good running, run. But be prepared to back off if things get worse. Just to start again once they get better. I had the hardest time coming to terms that one of my patients changed my life and caused me, her care taker, harm by being obese. I know she didn't choose to hurt me consciously and is not obese by choice. However, I didn't have the choice to just let her fall off the bed ... There was a lot of anger in me. I sort of accepted that my back will not quite be the same again. I am thankful for every good day I get ( a lot right now). I try to keep in mind that it could turn as well ... somehow I need to have some strategies ready for that. Keep doing what you're doing!