Am I the only one?
I am the antithesis of the person who ignores symptoms for weeks or months on end and finally ends up at a doctor because things have gotten so bad they can hardly walk. I feel a pain once and I immediately make a mental note. If I notice it for more than a couple of days or a week (depending on the level of pain), I am seeing a doctor – period.
Doctors love to hate people like me. They love me because, well let’s face it, they make money off of people like me. They hate me because I am high maintenance, especially if they tell me something I don’t want to hear, not that anyone has yet. Hey, that is what second opinions are for. Okay, I am joking about that part. Sort of.
Good news – I am back up to full running mileage this week (according to my ultra plan) and my long run of 24 miles this week was not too painful. My average pace was 9:12, faster than I needed to be running, mainly because I was running with a group I don’t normally run with because my training partner was out of town. I did have moments of pain, but nothing consistent and the stretches and manual manipulation that the PT is doing seem to be working. Side note – my hubby thinks it is funny that every time I talk about what the PT does with his hands that the conversation is full of double entendres. See above sentence as an example. It makes me giggle.
So, why the post title? Well, first I am currently seeing a PT. That in and of itself should be enough said. However, a new pain has snuck up on me as well. It is on the top of my left foot where my ankle/leg hit my foot. Interestingly enough it doesn’t really hurt while I am running, but afterwards and in regular shoes. The pain is not intense either, but annoying enough that I notice it, so I scheduled an appointment with a podiatrist this afternoon to get some answers. I have a feeling he is going to laugh at me, but better safe than sorry! Side note 2 - I told my hubby I scheduled an appointment with a podiatrist this afternoon, and he replied, “why?” My answer: “Because my foot hurts, why else would one go to a podiatrist?” He laughed.
For the record, my training partner thinks I am crazy for going to the doctor all of the time – what do you guys think?
As you can see from my weekly numbers, I am taking the off season seriously and actually skipped the pool altogether this week – for the first time in 1.5 years!
Mileage for Week Ending 12/13/09
Swim: 0 yards in 0:00
Bike: 12 miles in 0:45 [1 trainer ride]
Run: 56.5 miles in 8:45 [5 workouts]
PT: 2:00
Total Time: 9:30
6 comments:
I can be both - I ignore some things sometimes (like the fact I've been sick 3 weeks and my lungs decided not to work halfway through a race yesterday), but other times I'm in the dr. as soon as I can get in. I had weird foot pain in September as well, and after 3 times of it hurting I was fearing the oncoming of a metatarsal stress fracture and got seen immediately. Turns out it was just some sort of soft tissue imflammation and went away with anti-imflamatory patches and switching shoes, but I was not going to take a chance of something more. Now, my knee hurts, but I know it is mostly because my legs aren't getting the awsome strengthening from biking that they have been for the last 10 months.
I guess I am the opposite. I never go the the doctor, regardless of the level of pain. I usually can work through most injuries and I guess I have been lucky to date -- nothing very serious. I like to think I know the difference between a serious and just a training injury, so I hope my luck never runs out...
For sudden pain, I go right away - paranoid about stress fractures, etc. For sublte but nagging things, like my IT band, I never got around to making my PT/podiatrist appt even after I got a referral. Too much time and effort I guess. But it's great to take care of that stuff in the off season. (or what everyone else is calling the off season!)
I go to the doctor whenever something is "off" -- hell, I have health insurance - might as well use it ! I've had some minor injuries and I really think they haven't turned major because I nip them in the bud.
I've gone to the doctor twice in the past couple of years specifically for running pain. Both times, I left with pretty much no help. The first time was knee pain. They did X-rays and other tests, but basically told me to take some time off. The second time they basically said it wasn't a problem and to not worry about it. So, I guess it has left me with sort of a "what's the point" feeling. Maybe I just need a new doctor? haha.
You are doing the right thing though making sure that you don't have anything serious going on.
PS: Thanks for the Rev3 code. I haven't used it yet, but it is on my ToDo list to do before the end of the year for lower registration fee.
I tend to go only after a nagging injury will not go away with the RICE treatment. I feel too many doctors are not in sync with athletes and most of them will simply tell you to stop exercising. So I only go if it looks like a serious issue like a stress fracture.
Post a Comment