My right leg already started to cramp up after driving for about an hour and a half. As the sun set, the camp site became very cold and damp. I grew up in Northern China so I do not mind cold weather at all, but damp worsens my old injuries. In this cold and DAMP weather, I had to use a blanket to wrap up my legs.
I managed to fall asleep in my sleeping bag and woke up around 5:30 in the morning. My misery started as soon as I stepped outside our tent. All of a sudden, my right leg and foot began to cramp and ache. I almost collapsed onto the cold and wet leafy ground. I would have screamed if I had not minded waking others up. I told my family that I had serious pain and had to limp around. Immediately we packed everything up and left the camp for home. I thought I must have torn my already injured hamstring and irritated my sciatic nerve. I have never felt his much pain even when I tore both hamstrings five years ago in track...
I was worried about my life and future because I did not want to have to limp in the office from one room to another to see patients. And I still want to play volleyball and coach my son... I was so desperate that I took two tablets of ibuprofen and rested with a couple of needles and a heat lamp over my leg for an hour. As we sat down at Boudin for lunch, I gradually felt my right leg began to warm and loosen up.
I felt good enough to skate to the park and play volleyball as I usually do. This was the real test to find out whether I was crippled or not. Thankfully, my legs are back in working order; it was the damp, cold, and windy environment that put me through this ordeal. Those with old injuries take note: the camp is damp!
Frank He, LAc.
Edited by Sarah Tang, DTCM