When I’m down for the count, my mental health takes a hit. I live a very active lifestyle, and movement and wellness are a huge part of who I am. With that said, I’m currently recovering from a recent injury, and the last few weeks have been hard. Really hard.
A couple of weeks ago, I woke up with the craziest shooting pain in my groin that slowly moved into my hip and leg over the course of a few days, getting worse with each passing day. I saw my primary care doctor, an orthopedist, another orthopedist, a chiropractor, and eventually was told I likely had a herniated disc.
Honestly, I hadn’t been in that much pain since postpartum recovery after my emergency C-section. I was hunched over for most of the day and tearing up nearly every hour.
I advocated for myself with both my healthcare providers and insurance company and was able to get an MRI scheduled within a couple of days — something everyone (including insurance) told me could take up to 15 days. I was leaving for Europe in two weeks, and I needed answers fast.
The pain was so bad that I spent much of the day working from bed, crying because I felt sorry for myself, unable to do much of anything, and struggling mentally because I wasn’t doing the things that normally fill my cup: waking up early, working out, going on walks, and cooking healthy meals.
I skipped a winery day for a friend’s 40th birthday, missed opening day at our pool, and while I managed to hobble to a family wedding, I really wasn’t able to enjoy myself.
Over the last few weeks, one thing has become very clear to me: when mom is down, it affects the entire household dynamic. I have a very supportive husband who’s an incredibly involved dad, but when I’m not able to help keep things running, everyone feels it. That pressure made me even more emotional.
Last Friday, I had an MRI that showed no signs of a herniated disc. In fact, my orthopedist said my spine looked amazing. He suspects I’m dealing with a compressed nerve and severe piriformis syndrome. For now, I’m staying the course with anti-inflammatory medications and taking it very easy when it comes to movement. Two and a half weeks later, I’m definitely doing much better, but I’m still not 100%.
I wanted to write all of this because the reality of a mom being down and out is, well… almost impossible. Whether we’re sick, injured, or recovering from something else entirely, it’s hard on everyone.
I don’t really have groundbreaking advice on how to make it easier, other than communicating openly with your family about what you’re feeling — and encouraging them to do the same. The more we talked about what I was going through, the more everyone understood my limitations and how they could help.
One thing I know I need to work on? Staying positive in the face of unexpected challenges. I’ve always been someone who can spiral a bit, feel sorry for myself, and dwell on things I can’t control, especially when I’m in pain. And while those feelings are understandable, I did find that putting on upbeat music and trying my best to shift my mindset brought some relief in more ways than one.
Moms can handle almost anything, but it’s okay to admit when we need help, rest, or a little extra grace too.
