June 17, 2025 / 4 Minute Read

running to a red light 

In late 2023, I fulfilled a long-time promise to myself and started roller skating once a week. 

The first few months went better than expected. I proved to be a quick learner and soon developed a number of fundamental skills, such as skating backward and pivoting.

During these beginning stages, I had a tendency to fall a lot, which required a hand brace for a short time, but no significant injuries.

That all changed during the 8th month.

I suffered two seemingly minor wounds that turned into a major pain. 

Now, nearly a year after the fall, I’m still feeling the effects. 

My first injury occurred while attempting to copy a spin move I witnessed a senior skater attempt.

Roll bounce anyone? 

That trip outside of my lane led to a lamentable hip strain that greatly inhibited my mobility. 

In the immediate aftermath, every step led to a sharp, deep pain in my groin that forced me to walk with a limp for about a week. 

I’d suffered prior leg injuries during my track career, and this one didn’t seem that bad, so I decided to tough it out and self-medicate.

After icing and taking Epsom salt baths for precisely one month, I decided to return to the rink.

Alas, I was soon made painfully aware that I was far from fully healed.

Like a fool, I forced myself through a few weeks of consecutive sessions, thinking that exercising my muscles would help me heal faster.

Yet, each trip left my hip feeling worse than before.

And that’s when the second injury occurred.

About a month after my rushed return, I took another tumble that nearly snapped my middle finger.

I could have sworn it was broken at first glance, as it immediately swelled to double its original size. 

When I fell, I literally landed directly on my fingers, and as my middle was the longest, it took the brunt of the damage.

The next day was dreadful, as even the slightest pressure led to unbearable pain.

The cheap finger splint I got from Walgreens didn’t help much.

Not to mention my unhealed hip, which had been lingering for a couple of months by this time (Again, largely due to poor injury management).

It was at this point, with an inflamed hip and battered finger, that I decided to see a doctor.

In retrospect, I probably should have done that a lot sooner.

Shockingly, my X-rays came back negative.

No broken ones, fractures, or torn ligaments. 

My recommended recovery plan included a steady diet of anti-inflammatories and physical therapy, both of which I chose to ignore.

Was that a mistake? Possibly.

In my defense, I’ve been to physical therapy before, so I figured I could serve as my own trainer. A large part of physical therapy includes at-home exercises anyway, right? 

I instead decided to create my own recovery plan, comprised of a daily full-body calisthenics routine and a lot of rest.

That was about 6 months ago.

During that time, I’ve only been to the rink about three or four times, each in an effort to gauge how much my body has healed.

And guess what?

I’m still in pain! 

Today, I’d say my hip is about 90% healed. 

That may sound like great news until you realize I got injured almost a full year ago!!!

My finger is even worse.

As you can see from the pictures above, my left middle finger is still visibly swollen and slightly tender. 

It’s been this size for about 7 months now, and by the looks of it, I still have a few more to go.

I recently returned to my doctor and was once again recommended to attend physical therapy.

I think I might to listen this time. 

So, what did I learn from this fiasco?

In hindsight, It’s quite elementary. 

Rushing your recovery is like running to a red light.

Bye Chance.