Ave Migratoria

Three years ago during the pandemic, a pain started in my lower back that lasted several months. After a couple of visits to a neurologist and an MRI, the diagnosis was a herniated disc.

Fast forward to June 2023, I went back to a neurologist and had a new MRI. Surprise! Two herniated discs and a few inflammations around.

During the first two years, I blamed myself for an exhausting exercise routine. I had gotten into my head that I could train myself without help to participate in a triathlon as a beginner. Three hours a day, I don’t even remember when or how much I rested.

I know it’s cliché, but having a balanced diet, sleeping well, and having rest days is no joke. And it shouldn’t be a matter of preference either.

For two and a half years, I went to massage and physiotherapy sessions. And even though I thought I was getting better, 2023 was the best intentional physical activity break I’ve ever taken. I hit the reset button.

In 2024, I started my third round of therapeutic massage treatment. If I had to describe it to you, I would explain it like this: «It’s a massage where you feel like you’re dying.» The therapist applies a lot of pressure to reach the points that need to return to the ideal state of relaxation.

Here are 6 things I’ve learned in the last 8 months:

1. There’s no training that can beat not having slept enough. Honestly, when I don’t sleep well or enough, my workouts go poorly or I compensate with aggressive training.
2. I need at least two days of physical rest per week. I’m not a robot, and if I were, they need maintenance too. Two days. That’s how I recover and start with more energy and enthusiasm.
3. Eating healthy and balanced isn’t just for having a flat stomach. If I want to be well, I have to eat well. My school repeated the phrase: a healthy mind in a healthy body.
4. Physical therapy isn’t just to relax my muscles, it’s to prevent injuries and get to know my body. I’ve looked for a therapist who has a good knowledge of the body and who has also done sports. It’s what fits my lifestyle.
5. Hernias are not necessarily a consequence of a specific physical activity or lack thereof; they are also a genetic predisposition.
6. Consistency and balance. I have finally managed to combine all these points to create an exercise, nutrition, rest, and therapy routine that make me feel less irritated and better prepared to face my day.

Now all that’s left is to do my routine visit for a general medical check-up, and I’m ready for the oven like a turkey for Christmas.