Doctors that Google

Three weeks.

That's how long I have taken off from running. Yes, three weeks.

No, I'm not being lazy. I haven't been so busy that I can't get the mileage in. I'm not even so scared to run on the bayou (which I have been and it's pretty great).

My leg is done for. *drama curtain open*

I thought I would slink out of my cloud of running depression to keep my fellow running mates abreast (I hate that word) of my world.

September 27 to be exact is the last day I had a good run. It was on this day that I came to a stop after 10 miles and started limping. I 'walked it out' and brushed it off as a long week of training.

Three weeks later I'm still 'walking it off' and here I sit. I have been completely sedentary (except for other things besides running, i.e. elliptical-I make fun of those people, and weight training) for one entire week and only logging no more than 5 miles at the most for the previous two weeks, just to see if it still hurt. It did.

Long story short (as it infuriates me to even tell), I went to the doctor a week ago. I spent over two hours in the clinic- 15 minutes at the front desk (not filling out paperwork since they didn't even have me fill out any new patient paperwork) checking my insurance, one hour in the waiting room (Me: "Excuse me, I've been here for more than 20 minutes like the sign says. I just wanted to know when I'm going back." Girl: "Looks like you're next." Five people later I get called back.), 5 minutes with the nurse taking my BP and WT, 50 minutes sitting all alone in a freezing cold room by myself reading every magazine in the rack until I resorted to staring at the wall and contemplating leaving because it was a waste of my time, and then 10 minutes talking to a doctor....er...excuse me....the ACTUAL doctor didn't come in and see me. I got set up with a student. No offense to anyone who is a student (BoySmile), but I wanted a real doctor in there. Not a 23-year-old, never run over a 5K in her life, answers my questions with "I don't know." or "I don't think I can explain that." Great. Thanks. She told me to take 800 mg of ibuprofen b.i.d. and stop running for a week. I also received a very useful *cough* handout (This exact one in fact, can you believe I found it by just googling from the comfort of my own home?) that someone googled off of the internet all about different stretching techniques that I can do for my pain. Can you stretch a bone? I'm not so sure. I'm pretty sure I have bone pain. I laughed when she handed it to me and then realizing that she was actually serious that this was the answer to my problems I said, "Look, I'm an exercise science major. I've done everything that I know to do to make this better. What else do you have for me?" Her reply? "If it still hurts in a week, come back! See ya later!"

Come back? Yeah right? I would never step into the clinic again if I had a gunshot wound to the head. I've highly considered writing a letter about my disgust with every aspect of their clinic and how I picked the clinic because of the standards I thought it held. So much for my online research. I don't go to doctors. I'm not a pansy. I can run through pain. The only thing I worry about is if I'm going to do permanent damage to my leg. If that is the case, then I'll stop running until I'm better. If not, then it's on for the 50. I can limp through 50 miles of trails. Sure. (This is my optimistic side coming through I think. Or just wishful thinking.)

I think I'm going to try and book a different specialist tomorrow. I hate spending money on doctors when I know what they are going to say. It frustrates me to no end. I want something done about my leg, not just ibuprofen and rest.

Frustration. Sorry guys.

PS: The handout said that you shouldn't run more than 40-45 miles per week as it won't give you any gains. Just an FYI for everyone that is going to be running 50 miles in one day. Give me a break people. Get off the couch.