3 min
There I was…
Lying on the floor at 5:30 AM.
Severe nerve pain shooting into my hips.
The kind of pain that stops you in your tracks.
And the worst part?
It felt familiar.
I had gone through this same thing 3 years ago.
Back then, I had no idea what I was dealing with,
how long recovery would take, what rehab looked like, or how much work was ahead of me.
This time was different.
Not because I wanted to go through it again…
But because I knew what it takes.
It takes time.
I’m currently in week 10 of recovery.
And this week…
I’m getting back on the mountain bike.
This has been one of my longest breaks from riding since that first injury.
But this time, the process felt different.
More intentional.
More patient.
More aware.
In 2023, this injury hit me hard, not just physically, but emotionally.
My identity was wrapped up in being:
This time, I saw it more clearly.
I don’t need to demo every exercise. Every time.
That mindset?
That’s how injuries happen.
Too much load.
Not enough time to adapt.
Here’s the reality…
I was training, but not intelligently for my situation.
That combination?
It was the catalyst.
Not one workout.
Not one movement.
The accumulation.
This is where most people lose ground.
I’ve been there before, losing muscle, gaining body fat, feeling like you’re starting over.
So this time, I approached it differently.
I made nutrition the priority.
The result?
That’s a win during injury.
I stayed consistent with my daily supplements:
(If you want to explore what I use, check out our Thorne dispensary for 10% off through April 30.)
When your back is flared up, your nervous system is on edge.
Your body tightens up to protect you.
For me, that meant constant work on:
My most comfortable position?
Leaning forward.
They call it the “shopping cart posture” because that’s exactly what it looks like.
Breathing work + soft tissue = non-negotiable.
I didn’t stop completely.
I adjusted.
When I could train my upper body, I did:
Not every day.
Just enough to maintain strength.
Pain was my guide.
After writing this, I’m heading out for my first ride in nearly 10 weeks.
Nothing crazy.
I even spent time visualizing riding over the past 10 weeks.
And honestly…
It feels like I never left.
Here’s how I’m approaching it:
I’ve already started strength training again, around 70% of where I left off.
And it feels challenging.
Which tells me everything I need to know.
The stimulus is there.
Now it’s about respecting the process.
Because going too hard, too fast?
That’s the fastest way back to square one.
Injury isn’t the end.
It’s feedback.
A forced reset.
A chance to rebuild smarter.
If you’re going through it right now…
Slow down.
Stay consistent.
Control what you can.
And when you’re ready –
Come back better.
If you’re coming off an injury and don’t know where to start…
We’ve got you.
👉 Schedule your free Strategy Session, and we’ll build a plan around you.
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