I popped a rib out of place.

It sucked. Like, a lot. It sucked a lot.

And unfortunately, it’s still sucking.

I’ve had a lot of issues with my back throughout my life, so at the moment when I’m fairly sure it happened (at least when I think it really dislodged itself) I thought I’d just aggravated my back again and I’d be fine the next morning.

Four weeks later, it still hurts. I still feel constantly like the wind has been knocked out of me. I guess sometimes you’re uncomfortable for a day or so with a wonky rib, and sometimes it goes for longer. I seem to be in the longer category, and everytime I try to rush it, it goes back to bad.

So here’s my long-winded point:

Let yourself heal.

My chiropractor told me last week (when I figured out finally what it was) that I have to let it rest for a couple of weeks. And that sucks. I want to be back in the air. I’ve taken a lot of time off of actual training, and I’m ready to get crazy again. Spinning in ropes? YES! Dropping in silks? YES! YES!

Oh, but my rib is screaming no. And I’ve been good, mostly, since finding out that I need to sit facing forward and ice it and sleep on my back and all those unfun things. And it has gotten better. And then I thought that I’d be fine teaching the dolphin pose to BOTH my silks and trapeze students. And it got worse.

So I’m taking his advice, and really, truly trying to let it heal. And I hate it, but I hate the constant discomfort even more.

I’m once again reluctantly learning that you just have to let yourself heal. Circus is hard on your body. I believe it’s great for your body, but what we’re doing isn’t easy, and it’s a full body commitment. And I’m only setting myself back further when I don’t listen.

So please, if your body is screaming in unusual pain, don’t just try to fight through it. You could end up doing a lot more damage, and you’re only going to set yourself back some more.

And I’ll be damned if I’ll miss our new corde lisse workshop because I couldn’t sleep on my stupid back.