I've come to a realization that I'm definitely not who I used to be.

When it comes to physicality, it scares me to think I've reached my peak at such a young age. Sports were always in my back pocket and whether or not I was good at something, I was more in it for the fitness factor and staying in shape.

Since the day the gym doors closed due to the coronavirus, my own strength and physical fitness have been declining. No matter how hard I try to work out at home during this social distancing self-quarantine, it's just not the same as being in a gym. The motivation simply isn't there, resulting in subpar workouts.

Am I gaining weight? Of course I am, it's the "Quarantine 15" and it's all the rage these days.

Sticking to a healthy diet has been challenging for the time being, but one thing I've been really struggling with is the sudden pain that has been overwhelming in my lower back. I've yet to figure out if it's muscle or bone (like something spinal), but whatever it is, any movement I make during a flareup is unbearable and I immediately become immobile.

I understand that the hospital is the last place I should be going with everything happening, but I needed to reach out to someone.

Luckily, one of the physical therapists who take care of the Providence Rugby Football Club that I'm a part of messaged me and scheduled an appointment to meet ASAP.

As stubborn as I normally am with doctor or therapist visits, I had no choice but to meet up.

Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, it was a legit physical therapy office that practiced proper protocols to ensure the health and well-being of their patients during the COVID-19 situation.

Never in my life have I felt so weak and defeated.

For someone who is always "go, go, go", hearing the words "no physical activity for a little while" was brutal. I was given mandatory daily exercises to help with whatever is aggravating my back and must be cautious with posture and any extracurricular activities.

To this day, I'm still clueless as to what triggered this pain.

It's a bit of a setback, for the most part, and definitely not something I was looking forward to at the age of 32, but perhaps it's a sign to "slow down." I'm not 21 anymore, as much as I'd like to be.

At this point, I'm open to any suggestions as to what I could do to either relieve the pain permanently or perhaps what I should be changing with my everyday lifestyle. Either way, I feel like an old man trapped inside the body of a healthy 32-year-old.

 

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