A New Start!

[LizzyWykes]

Last year at the age of 59, I felt fitter than I had for a long time and had lost over two stone in weight. I had embarked on Couch to 5K and run two Park Runs even though I had never run before! It was my 60th Birthday in March this year and my aim was to feel as good as I possible could for my 60th Birthday as I was due to go on a big holiday and didn't want anything to hold me back!

However, in the background was a painful shoulder which was preventing me from leading a normal life. I had scans, physiotherapy, steroid injections but nothing worked! I struggle to get dressed/undressed, clean the house, cooking, carry shopping, but most of all Sleeping!! In fact anything that involves lifting my right arm away from my side! The lack of sleep was making me grumpy/depressed and gradually I began comfort eating again and gave up running as i the swing of my arm hurt. So by the time my 60th Birthday arrived I was on the slippery slope! The holiday was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but when I got back I felt ill/tired/achey for about a month afterwards. Then I got a long-awaited appointment to see a consultant at the Shoulder clinic of our local hospital. Well he told me I had severe arthritis in my shoulder and recommended a Total Shoulder Replacement operation!! He said it would take away the pain, but the amount of movement I would regain would depend on my level of general health and fitness and desire to carry out the physio as instructed. Well, this news gave me a new lease of life and yesterday I finally got a date for the operation - 26th September 2019! I can't wait!

A little late I know, but tomorrow my daughter and I are going to start Couch to 5K from the beginning - I know I won't get to week 9 before the op but at least I will be fitter than if I didn't do anything. It will take at least three months to fully recover, but I have decided that 2020 will be my year!!

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Glad you got to the bottom of your pain. C25k is an amazing plan and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here good luck 😊😊

[HeavyFoot Graduate]

Best of luck for your rehabilitation! You seem to have great persistence.

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

What an amazing story. And we’ll done you for meeting this operation with such gusto. Keep it nice and slow and you could try the Japanese slow jogging technique - a low impact style of running designed to avoid injury. I run this way all the time and absolutely love it. It works - I’ve not felt so great in years, abc has meant I can get fit without the risk of ending up on the Injury Couch!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...(Not working as expected?)

It might just work for you too!

[LizzyWykes in reply to DiscoRunner]

Thank you so much for telling me about slow jogging - it looks perfect for me! I will definitely give it a go!

[MuddledGardener Graduate]

Good luck with your op next month! We’ll have to call you the Bionic Woman! 😁 xx