warning: this is a long and emotional post, so feel free to skip it and come back tomorrow when I recap last week's Nutrition on the Run event.
I woke up Friday morning feeling really good. It was a rest day, so I got ready for work, made my commute and went on with my day as usual. My leg hardly felt funny at all and I didn't need any pain reliever all day. So, I felt pretty confident that all was going to be okay when I went to see Sports Doc.
The super-nice nurse took me into the exam room and pulled this up.
I could somewhat figure out what I was looking at but, of course, I had no idea what it meant. So when Sports Doc came in, she asked me a few questions and then dropped the bomb:
Mild stress reaction in the left femur
This was not what I wanted to hear.
Bomb number two:
Crutches for two weeks. No running. No elliptical. No stationary bike. No race.
I'm not going to lie. As positive as I had been during the week, I was trying to prepare myself for bad news, but it didn't help. Tears weld up in my eyes immediately and Sports Doc handed me the tissues. Being an athlete herself, who suffered a stress fracture in nearly the same spot during her senior basketball season in college, she understood why it was so hard for me to hear. But even with that, it really didn't make me feel all that better.
I've always felt so bad for anyone on crutches in this city. I've spent my fair share of time wearing a boot cast on both feet, but it's nothing like having crutches. I was terrified at the thought. I only used crutches after my knee surgeries in high school, and even then, I was off them after just a few days each time.
Sports Doc explained to me that because of my osteopenia, running long distances is going to be really hard on my body. She said it's not definitely ruled out of my future, but I'm going to have to start my training long before a runner with healthy bones. So, instead of starting my training for the Broad Street Run a few months ago, I should have started it last year. Even though I'm always pretty active.
After my first visit with Sports Doc, I had my Endo's office send over all my test results - blood tests and bone density scans. She had looked them through and wanted a few other tests run so after I was fitted with crutches, and spent a few minutes in an empty exam room trying to control my sobs, I made my way through hidden tunnels to the main building for Hospital for Special Surgery. My first outing on crutches was not fun. The whole way I felt like a liar because my leg felt fine to me and I could have walked with no problem. I felt like a total scammer!
Thankfully the blood draw didn't take long and then I was back out on my own on crutches. I tried to hail a cab but it must have been shift change because every single one had their 'off duty' lights on. I finally got to a bus and made my way back to work.
I'm a bit overwhelmed by this. I hardly left the apartment over the weekend, trying to just stay off my leg as much as possible. I guess I'll take the bus to/from work, which means my commute will be tortuously long and cancel a few plans over the next few weeks. I hate being dependent on people. Not being able to carry my own food to the table, grocery shop, go where I want, when I want. But what hurts the most is that my Birthday weekend is ruined. Instead of celebrating my 30th by getting off the island and taking a long weekend trip with my husband to run an awesome race in the city of brotherly love, I'll be sitting at home trying to figure out how I can make it to the start line of the half in Seattle without another injury. Our Philly trip has officially been cancelled.
Yes, I know that sounds dramatic, but that's really how I'm feeling. My follow up with Sports Doc is the day before my birthday, so I'm praying that I'll finally get some good news.
I didn't skip the gym on Saturday though and I went again today. My cardio came in the way of the arm bike (I guarantee, this is even more boring than the treadmill) and I spent most of the time focusing on my arms and core. The bright side is that I'll gain some major strength in some areas that I tend to ignore when I spend more time running. My leg feels pretty great today, which makes it harder to stay off. Like all of you, I'm an active person and just want to be on the go. All the time!
- What gets you through a running injury?
- Have you ever been to see a sports psychologist?
- How are you taking in the Boston Marathon today?
Saturday's workout -
6min arm cycle
3x12 cable-pull push-down
3x12 bicep curls
3x12 seated row
3x10 supermans
3x12 overhead tricep extensions
150 crunches
2x50 laying side leg lifts
3x10 back extensions
Sunday's workout -
None. Full day rest day.
Today's workout -
8min arm bike
200 crunches
3x10 weighted side bends
3x12 straight front arm raise
3x10 hammer curls
3x12 seated row
lots of stretching
foam roller
