I work in an emergency room.  I see people who have similar thoughts to this on a daily basis.

 

You will not get a diagnosis more quickly in the ER.  You will be referred back to your primary care provider and possibly an orthopedist for further follow up and diagnostic study.  We may give you some ideas as to what's wrong.  We will not have the ability to give you a definitive diagnosis.  That's what your primary care provider and specialists are for.

 

If you're lucky you *may* get an x-ray.

 

If you're lucky.

 

If you're even luckier you won't be on the hook for the emergency room visit when your insurance company decides that what you sought treatment for was not an emergency.

Thanks for weighing in, but I only considered it when I thought I couldn't walk without crutches. It got better during the day so I didn't go.

Actually, good news on the knee front. I went to a sports medicine doctor and the cartilage was very inflamed and there was a bunch of fluid so he drained the fluid and gave me a cortisone shot.  It feels better already. He said to take it easy a couple of days, but that I could try running on it after that. He said there isn't anything structurally wrong other than wear and tear. I get another shot in about 3 weeks.  Incidentally, I had another doctor's appointment last week and got lab resuits indicating that my vitamin D is quite low. That might have made the knee feel worse than it really was since muscle fatigue can be a symptom of low vitamin D. 

Thanks for all who responded. Hopefully, with the fluid drainage, cortisone shots and a big time vitamin D prescription, I am on the upswing. 

I have mental problems, I swear.  I figure some of you have been in this thread long enough to get it, but -- once you've been injured a lot, do you EVER stop being afraid it will happen again?!  It's almost like I have sympathy panic attacks whenever someone else gets hurt, especially with a stress fracture.  (It's sort of a "there but for the grace..." kind of thing, I guess.)

It really wouldn't be so terrible if this thread died a rapid death because none of us need it. 

To be brutally honest, we're runners.  The odds of "it" happening again are really, really high.

To be brutally honest, we're runners.  The odds of "it" happening again are really, really high.

PLEASE don't say that, because if I'm going to fracture my pelvis in five places again, I may as well just jump off a bridge right now.  Sometimes I half-wish I'd never started running because then I wouldn't have to deal with not being able to when I'm injured, but I can't stop running.  (See: previous bridge reference.)

Kristin, I'm more upset for you that you're hurt!  I'll always find something to panic over, nobody else has to get hurt for that to happen.

I guess I am the opposite.  I ran 4 years totally injury free, running multiple marathons and ultras, until I got this magical-neverending-won't-heal-on-its-own-going-on-two-years-needs-surgery injury.  So I guess when I get injured, it's go big or go home. 

Overachiever.  lol

So I had another "episode" today - just like last time, 20 minutes in and dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous.   I took a break and then did some PT and after 15 minutes or so hopped back on to finish up.  What a pain.  

Okay, since I haven't been around B&B much lately (due to injuries) I figure I should bitch and whine here,  just b/c.

I decided to take a month off after a busy summer due to very mild foot pain (just mild achie-ness, really).  So, like, I'm doing the Right Thing™.  Due to head colds, darkness, sucky weather, etc., a month turns into a month and a half.

During this time, I work on my car and wham! - I now have tennis elbow. I  can pick things up, but any kind of pouring or using doorknobs is right out. This has not gotten any better on its own.

So after "being good" for sixish weeks, I start running again, on the TM due to ice and darkness.  Things were okay at first, although running short distances really sux.  When I bumped up from 4 to 4.5 miles, the camel cracked in half.  I had foot pain that night, the next day, and on and on - it's been 5 days and my feet still ache if I, like, stand up 'n stuff.  This is way worse than it was before I took time off.

I don't want any helpful suggestions or anything.  Mainly just want to vent about how much my life sucks because I can't run.

Thanks for listening.

Oh, and P.S.  : During this time, I turned 50, got a new vision Rx (and still can't read squat) and put on 15 pounds.

jjs, you've come to the right place, bitch away!

Hey - have we heard from redrum lately?

Still hanging in over here.  Dealing with anxiety issues right now that are not welcome but oh well.  The knee feels significantly better but still not perfect.  I've done lots of cross training.  (Weights, biking, pushups, pullups, rubber band exercises and even putting in a couple miles on the treadmill here & there.)  Still awaiting approval on MRI.  (Everybody takes their time)

At least I'm still able to do stuff and I'm thankful for that.  I don't know what I'd do if I were completely laid up.

And, yes, please complain away!!  This is the place for it, for sure!!!  

jjs, you've come to the right place, bitch away!

 

Hey - have we heard from redrum lately?