My back has been really killing me for the past few weeks. I have a pinched nerve that I injured a few years ago. I was playing 4 times a week strenuously, while not being in the best of shape. A day came when I could barely stand up. I went and had an MRI and multiple doctors told me that I shouldn't play the game anymore.
I slowly nursed myself back to playing shape and had some of the best games of my life, and was pretty pain free until again this year. This time though I can walk fine, but anything other than lying down hurts. It's not the doubled over in pain type of hurt, just the constant "pinch" all the way down my leg, into my back, down my arms, and in my neck. My right leg gets most of the shooting pain.
It's really annoying and sometimes I cramp up just walking about. Walking has also started to really aggrevate it, so trips to Disneyland are starting to get harder. I don't have to take breaks because I'm tired, but because I have to strech.
It makes me feel like a weakling and it freaking sucks. I hate laying about dormant, so I've taken up some less strenuous exercise like elliptical machines and swimming (although I am just starting to do those). I also think I need to buckle down and get a physical therapist.
I think back to my roomate in college, Chris Odegard, and how he had crippling back and leg injuries that made it painful to walk (one time he couldn't even get on the lift at Vail - $80 go bye bye!). He said that he worked with a physical therapist and now he's pretty pain free. He's even playing some great racquetball, which gives me some hope.
I was talking the other day and I do think I'm done in outdoor racquetball. I just think it's too hard on my body. It's a great game, but I'm still hurting really bad from practicing 3 weeks ago. I made it to the semi's at Nationals after playing for 2 years, so that's good enough :) I think I might try doubles as the movement isn't as bad, but I've got to get my back healed to a point to where that can happen. Not very happy about it.