Maybe you're familiar with my 50000 attempts to figure out what is wrong with me. If you're not, here is a brief overview of the various things I have tried:
Physical Therapy
Chiropractors (3 different ones, actually)
Neurokinetic Therapy
Massage Therapy
Orthopedic Dr. (December)
Light Training
Rest
Prescription anti-inflammatories
I'm certain I could probably think of another if I had some time to sit here and ponder all of the shit I've done. And I can tell you some things have helped temporarily, but it always comes back, and the pain is never gone for long. There is no one thing that sets it off and no one thing that helps, which is frustrating and makes it difficult to pinpoint what is happening at any given moment.
On Monday I was at the gym and did 175 5x5 bench, which felt great. I have been dying to work my legs, because it's been forever, so I figured I would give front squats a go... WITH THE BAR - so like 50lbs. I did 5 and they felt okay, so I decided 3 sets of 5 would be cool. On the second set I felt a radiating down my glute and IT band, and on the 5th rep I could barely stand up, in excruciating pain, which I have never experienced before. I couldn't even stand. So, that night I went online and found a good ortho in Pittsburgh and made another appointment. Today, I went to that appointment, during which he said he thinks I have bursitis in my hip, or some other soft tissue issue, GREAT. What I had already determined before, however, at least maybe now it can be fixed? If that's what it ends up being, anyway.
So, physical therapy starts 4/20 with a cortisone cream, ultrasound, heat therapy, etc. If that doesnt work, then we go to needles and other shit that I really don't want to do, and seeing a physiatrist (thankfully there's an awesome one at the office I go to.)
Treatment and figuring out what is wrong with me goes beyond powerlifting. I want to be healthy and active and live a normal life, powerlifting was always a bonus. If I can't squat 50lbs, that's a problem for me, if I can't squat 400lbs, then I can deal with that. If I eventually get the powerlifting part back, great, if I don't? That's okay too. I don't know what the future holds, but I know every step of the way gets me closer to where I want to be...healthy.