Sunday, January 4, 2015

Oh, My Aching...EVERYWHERE!

Yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks I went to a class at the gym. The instructor promised that we'd work and tone all the body's major muscle groups. And we did!  I left there sweaty and sore, and over the next 24 hours the soreness got worse.  Today when I walk or use the stairs my thighs hurt inside, outside, back, and front.  My gluteus maximus aches when I sit down. Above my waist my pecs, biceps, and triceps let me know they're there every time I move my arms.

I know from past experience the sore muscles will go away in a day or two, but since I was so miserable I decided to go online and research remedies.  I was surprised to learn my condition had a medical name--Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).  It's caused by microtrama to the muscle fibers during exercise, and in some people can last up to 72 hours.

After searching several websites and discarding some oddball treatments (like drinking pickle juice or rubbing a banana peel on the sore areas) I tried several things.  First I popped a couple of Advil every four hours.  On son Donald's advice I did some stretches.  I massaged the sorest areas with witch hazel, then later in the day soaked in a hot Epsom salts bath. 

Tonight my body doesn't hurt as much.  I wonder which one of the remedies did the trick?

Five years ago today:  The Tenth Day of Christmas

12 comments:

  1. Advil and hot bath always work for me. Then the next day working those same muscles seems to work out the soreness! Sounds like that workout didn't miss a single one! lol...

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    1. Even though I know that working the same muscles is a good thing, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT yesterday!

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  2. I am usually ok the next day. You must've got quite the workout.

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  3. Take it from an old exercise buff currently in remission: what you are experiencing today is not some new fangled malady (DOMS). When you exercise, your body produces lactic acid in places which inflame your system ...and inflamation causes pain.

    Period. When you are young and constantly in action, you just figure that there is 'no pain, no gain.' You are constantly in pain from age 10 through (fill in the blank when you get tired of being in pain and stop killing yourself). Chronic inflamation from whatever cause is damaging to your body in the long term.

    Stop killing yourself. If you simply keep active and employ moderation in all things, you will not go through life enduring the pain of inflamation.

    For now, ibuprofin is the best way to reduce internal inflamation in the short run. Start taking it now, 800 mgs a day max. Once you start feeling better, reduce your intake of ibuprofin accordingly. Be careful not to get on that never ending cycle of taking ibu, feeling better, exercising more, feeling worse, taking more ibu.....not good in the long run.

    I still get inflamed now and again, but do not live with 24 hour inflamation and just figure that's the way to go through life. Trust me. You will live longer.

    Dr. Fredd

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  4. I was going to say I think you overdid it. My PT has been putting me through the paces for exactly a year now, and though I went home so tired I fell asleep after supper, never once have I left in pain, or suffered it the next day. I think Dr. Fred has it. And, I'm pleased to report that in one year I have gone from a one pound weight in each hand to a set of eights. Plus everything else she puts me through.

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    1. Oh, I DEFINITELY overdid it :-) I was using five and eight pound weights. Since it had been a while since I exercised those muscles I should have stuck with fives and threes.

      (And good for you for progressing so nicely.)

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  5. Yikes - Hope you're feeling much better by now.

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  6. My husband believes in Epsom salts.

    I've not been exercising as much over the holiday break and it's showing. My zumba class will be back on the regular schedule next week and I really need it. Good for you for staying in shape... but I agree that you might have overdone it.

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    1. The holidays really take a toll on everyone's schedule, don't they?

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