20 mile week, bad Doc visit..

Well, I ran through pain, got over a 20-mile week, and was planning another 15 over the weekend. However...

I broke down and made another appointment to see the specialist about my right knee. It was May 20, 2008, when I broke down and went in. I got an HGH shot, and all was well. Training was good, starting at a 15-mile week in February and slowly building to a 30-mile week after 10 weeks. Then, one night, I was hanging out at a friend's place, and BANG, my knee was in pain. I went to see the regular Doctor who has that wait-and-see attitude. I did wait and see, and I have nursed that for weeks now, and enough was enough.

This time, I made an appointment with the specialist I saw last year. A 5 PM appointment on a Friday night, nonetheless. I was meeting with him and discussing the issues when I recalled I woke up with a strange bruise a year ago? The picture of my leg on the left is the mysterious bruise I woke with one day... for no apparent reason. This was last fall, if I recall correctly.

I never had it checked, but I also did not run at all for months after that pain. It was so strange as I thought hard and had no idea where it came from? I only knew that after 10 weeks of regular training, starting at 15 miles and working up to 30 miles a week, I should not have the pain I am having.

The Doc took several ex-rays and then felt pressure points all over the knee. Then he hit one that sent me to the moon! He quickly said he had no doubt I had torn cartilage. I am going to schedule an MRI next week. This will tell me the extent of the issue. We both agree this was most likely the result of my fall on the ice in March of 2008 and then the "bang" my knee took at my friend's house was a double whammy to make it bad enough for the MRI to determine the level of treatment and repair.

So he gave me another dose of cortisone and told me if the pain was terrible the week before Grandma's, I would come in for another so I could make my 25-year goal. Then Afton and Superior are most likely out of the question, as I get this taken care of as time allows. It has hampered my training for 16 months already...

After the Doctor's visit and the shot, I went home and turned on the TV, and there was MASH. I love the show. It is an episode in which Trapper promises a young soldier with a young daughter that he will save his leg. Turned out gang green required amputation. Trapper was saddened and sickened at his failure to keep his promise. When the soldier woke and Trapper had to tell him the news, he was not saddened. He asked Trapper not to tell his wife? Trapper asked why? He said on Saturday night, he loves to go out dancing, and his wife likes to stay in and snuggle, and he does not want his wife to hide his wooden leg to stop him from going out. I almost cried. Amazing how we look at things and think so negatively that we often forget the positives.

I have been more negative than positive the past month. I just got into a funk. It is hard when I have a hard time even walking without heavy pain. But I am walking. So many people wish they had such an opportunity. I am surely blessed, as we all are, and I need to remember that.

I also learned this week a good friend and co-worker has stage 4 melanoma which has attacked other organs. They say 6 months is all that he may have. Sad... He is 42. I also read the post on Cynthia Brochman on Chad's blog. She is so brave! How these people keep the spirit is beyond my comprehension, yet they do. I pray for them both as they have been given the worst news... May god be with them.

Life Is Too Short, so Break The Rules,
Forgive Quickly,
Kiss Slowly,
Love Truly,
Laugh Uncontrollably,
And Never Regret Anything That Made You Smile.
Life May Not Be The Party we Hoped For,
But While We're Here,
We Should Dance...

Carry on!