Asking advice: Should I go to the gym today?

[lyorn]

For: I feel like going, do my usual back exercises and the machine circle.
Against: I feel like I have ripped something on my rib muscles and also close to the surface in my lower belly. It hurts.
For: But it does not hurt when I do strength training. It causes no trouble with breathing.
Against: It hurts when jostled -- some stabby-ripping pain like pulling apart the edges of a cut. This will happen when I ride my bicycle to the gym. As I do not know where it came from, it might have been caused by strength training.
For: If I don't go today, it'll be Thursday before I have the time again.

Bottom line: I want to go to the gym but I do not want this ouchy thing to get worse -- ideally, it should away. Any suggestions on the best course of action?

ETA: Thank you all! I stayed home today and did some planks and back extensions to keep in the habit. Plan for next week: 1. Bicycle to work *very* carefully (avoid curbs and potholes), 2. In the gym, reduce the weights and work on form, 3. No running, 4. Get a mat for home exercises, because, hardwood floor...

Comments

[rydra_wong]

I believe firmly that doing anything that causes stabby-ripping pain is a bad idea. Thoughts:

a) If the gym won't trigger the pain but cycling will, could you get to the gym via some other means of transport?

b) Could you do some strength training at home instead?

[laurashapiro]

I would definitely stay home in that situation. Look at it this way: if you make the pain worse, and/or actually injure yourself, it could be weeks before you can work out again. That's worth missing a day to heal.

[damned_colonial]

This. Don't ride your bike, but see if you can work out carefully.

[sophiap]

Agreed. Some sort of activity will probably help with the healing and will keep you from losing any progress/momentum. Maybe do a truncated version of your regular routine and lowball the weights?

[rydra_wong]

And obviously, don't do anything that causes even a slight twinge in the injured part.

[lyorn]

Thank you. I'm sometimes very slow at understanding that doing stuff that hurts is a bad idea. And I will look into do-at-home options.

[lyorn]

If you make the pain worse, and/or actually injure yourself, it could be weeks before you can work out again

Good point, thank you.

[laurashapiro]

Glad I could help!

[rydra_wong]

I'm sometimes very slow at understanding that doing stuff that hurts is a bad idea.

Me too, especially when the thing that hurts is an activity I really really love. I learned this stuff the hard way *g*.

FWIW, I find it very helpful to have a repertoire of other things I can do, and to embrace the concept of "active rest" -- if I'm ill or injured or overtired, some gentle walking, low-key yoga, stretching, etc. will help me to recover faster and make me feel like I'm still doing something.