Monday, August 1, 2011
Physical Therapy, Chiropractor and "Racing into Shape"
I got my 2nd opinion from a knee/sports specialist @ Tria Orthopedic last Monday. He said pretty much the same thing as the first doctor. Which really, I don't know what I even wanted him to say. Surgery? No surgery, just wait out the pain? I didn't know. He was a little concerned it had been 4 weeks and I still had so much pain, but referred me to physical therapy and a LARGE dose of Advil daily. He said if in 3-4 weeks I was still in the same amount of pain we would do another MRI and reassess our plan. He did throw in there that he didn't think I would be able to run the full marathon in October. I cringed when he said that, teared up, then push back the tears, cursed his words and decided to ignore his comment.
I went to my chiropractor the next day who is a miracle worker. He suggested some homeopathic bone repair which supposedly heals fractures in 1/2 the normal time. I said what the hell? I'll try ANYTHING! He realigned me and did some acupuncture and I was on my way. I swam and water jogged. I am still making it about 15 minutes water jogging and working on my swimming (which is kind of pathetic and quite a struggle still!). My PT says I need to be able to water jog 40-45 minutes without pain before he'll put me back on the road.
Wednesday I had my first PT appointment. I really like my physical therapist. He knows what he's doing and is positive which is helping me stay positive! He asked me in more of a statement than a question: "You haven't given up on running the full in October, have you?" I said absolutely not! That I won't give up on it and he said good! He assessed my injury, we did a few easy exercises which he told me to do daily. The exercises are so easy and I'm surprised at how difficult they are...not really for pain in my knee, but as a struggle with range of motion, flexibility and strength. He thinks the range of motion is mainly from fluid in my knee which isn't allowing my movement. Flexibility and strength is from the fall, and not using it. It's amazing was you lose so quickly! I did exercises that day and the next and woke up with sore quads on Friday which I thought was sad, but a good sign I was rebuilding my strength. Friday I went back into my PT. My range of motion has already improved a lot! We did ultrasound, massage, a little warm up for my range of motion and then I rode the bike. I iced in this big brace type thing, "Turbo ice machine," and headed home.
Over the weekend I kept up with my exercises. I am going to stick with my water jogging, swimming and bike riding this week and have a chiro appointment tomorrow, and PT on Wednesday. I'm slowly getting more positive about the injury but am dying to get back on the road for real runs!
When I was in KC a few weeks back Sarah Dyerson gave me one of her Runner's World magazines. I don't think she even realized that there was an article in it "Racing Into Shape," which followed a woman who gave birth and then trained for the Boston marathon in nine weeks. Right now I'm about 10 weeks out from the marathon. Makes me nervous but if I can build my strength and endurance through the things I'm doing now, I think I can make the marathon. My pace will likely be slower than what I was wanting to run it in, but right now I just want to be able to participate and finish it on race day! If I can do that I'll be thrilled. The article gives 5 main tips: 1) Start short: start with short runs, but at a faster pace to improve your fitness quicker; 2) Be realistic: Don't expect to reach your PR while training or competing in fitness-building races; 3) Forget the taper: in order to regain your fitness, you must still train hard during the week (to do this I will likely keep the biking, swimming and water jog in my training to allow my knee the low-impact workout while still regaining fitness); 4) Race sparingly: only participate in races every 2-3 weeks; 5) Time it right: if your goal race is a marathon, run a 1/2 3-4 weeks out. Since the 1/2 is more about strength than speed, it will continue to improve your endurance while boosting your confident in your ability to run hard over a long distance. It is going to be a challenge, but I need to stay positive and work extremely hard to make this happen!
It helps to remember that I am fundraising and doing this for helpless, homeless dogs & cats. I committed to PAWS and will follow through, no matter how long it takes me to cross the finish line! My fundraising is slowly, but surely creeping up. I am about 35% to my goal so please help and donate! Seriously, every $1 helps! http://pawschicago.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=451667&supid=322878735
I went to my chiropractor the next day who is a miracle worker. He suggested some homeopathic bone repair which supposedly heals fractures in 1/2 the normal time. I said what the hell? I'll try ANYTHING! He realigned me and did some acupuncture and I was on my way. I swam and water jogged. I am still making it about 15 minutes water jogging and working on my swimming (which is kind of pathetic and quite a struggle still!). My PT says I need to be able to water jog 40-45 minutes without pain before he'll put me back on the road.
Wednesday I had my first PT appointment. I really like my physical therapist. He knows what he's doing and is positive which is helping me stay positive! He asked me in more of a statement than a question: "You haven't given up on running the full in October, have you?" I said absolutely not! That I won't give up on it and he said good! He assessed my injury, we did a few easy exercises which he told me to do daily. The exercises are so easy and I'm surprised at how difficult they are...not really for pain in my knee, but as a struggle with range of motion, flexibility and strength. He thinks the range of motion is mainly from fluid in my knee which isn't allowing my movement. Flexibility and strength is from the fall, and not using it. It's amazing was you lose so quickly! I did exercises that day and the next and woke up with sore quads on Friday which I thought was sad, but a good sign I was rebuilding my strength. Friday I went back into my PT. My range of motion has already improved a lot! We did ultrasound, massage, a little warm up for my range of motion and then I rode the bike. I iced in this big brace type thing, "Turbo ice machine," and headed home.
Over the weekend I kept up with my exercises. I am going to stick with my water jogging, swimming and bike riding this week and have a chiro appointment tomorrow, and PT on Wednesday. I'm slowly getting more positive about the injury but am dying to get back on the road for real runs!
When I was in KC a few weeks back Sarah Dyerson gave me one of her Runner's World magazines. I don't think she even realized that there was an article in it "Racing Into Shape," which followed a woman who gave birth and then trained for the Boston marathon in nine weeks. Right now I'm about 10 weeks out from the marathon. Makes me nervous but if I can build my strength and endurance through the things I'm doing now, I think I can make the marathon. My pace will likely be slower than what I was wanting to run it in, but right now I just want to be able to participate and finish it on race day! If I can do that I'll be thrilled. The article gives 5 main tips: 1) Start short: start with short runs, but at a faster pace to improve your fitness quicker; 2) Be realistic: Don't expect to reach your PR while training or competing in fitness-building races; 3) Forget the taper: in order to regain your fitness, you must still train hard during the week (to do this I will likely keep the biking, swimming and water jog in my training to allow my knee the low-impact workout while still regaining fitness); 4) Race sparingly: only participate in races every 2-3 weeks; 5) Time it right: if your goal race is a marathon, run a 1/2 3-4 weeks out. Since the 1/2 is more about strength than speed, it will continue to improve your endurance while boosting your confident in your ability to run hard over a long distance. It is going to be a challenge, but I need to stay positive and work extremely hard to make this happen!
It helps to remember that I am fundraising and doing this for helpless, homeless dogs & cats. I committed to PAWS and will follow through, no matter how long it takes me to cross the finish line! My fundraising is slowly, but surely creeping up. I am about 35% to my goal so please help and donate! Seriously, every $1 helps! http://pawschicago.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=451667&supid=322878735
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