HI EVERYONE! I have missed a lot around here and will never catch up. Congrats to all the racers that made it through their goal races and {{{{}}}}} to all the wounded that did not quite get there. I have been AWOL for about 6 weeks with some medical issues and am really glad to be back. I have not resolved all my problems but I am able to run again. I had to drop from my fall marathon and that really ticked me off. My problem is, both my rota tor cuffs are torn. Over the last year they have become increasingly worse and I thought that I would get them repaired this winter. Well ,I fell on a run back in August and caught myself with my arms but it really made the issue worse. It was very painful especially on those 20 mile training runs. You move your arms a lot more than you think when you run. I decided to back off and go through the medical procedures to fix this once and for all. There was no way at the time I could run my marathon anyway so I dropped it hoping to set up what I thought was an inevitable surgery. The insurance companies had other ideas. They have given me drugs for 2 weeks (no help) and I am in PT and new drugs (no help) I got shots in both shoulders ( Feels much better but for how long) I have decided that as long as the steroids are kicked in I might as well do a few weeks of running. I notice I only need 30 or so miles to get to 1000 for the year so that's my goal over the next few weeks. I have been told after 4 more weeks of PT if I still have pain they will OK me for an MRI. My fear is that by that time then surgery( on not 1 but 2 shoulders )and my recovery time I will be sidelined well into the spring so no spring marathon either. Maybe next fall. Or!!!!! My PT will actually work and no surgery and life will be great again. Running wise that is. Life other than that is great. Eating , reading gaining weight . Life without running sucks! 3 Miles don't care how long or how fast it was the best 3 mile run I have had in a long time. Matter of fact its the only one. Larry

Larry, that so sucks! I am very happy to hear of that 3 mile run. Sounded like just what you needed. I really hope the PT works. At least you have a plan and are moving forward on it, even though this has put a big dent in marathon plans. Keep on posting those runs!

Larry - how frustrating for you! But thanks for the update, and please keep posting, whether you are running or not, and let us know how you are doing. It would certainly be nice if this would resolve without surgury.

Hey Larry! Sorry to hear about your shoulders! Gawd I hate ins companies w/these types of injuries! Although the duration argues w/me, may I pray for you that it is the type of soft tissue tear that will heal itself in time - despite their interference?!~ if 3 milers work for you just now, keep @ it! but does your PT know you're doing it?

Larry we have really missed you around here! Thanks for the update... and from someone in the employee benefits arena interested in maximizing employee satisfaction while controlling costs, I'm interested in your story. I will bet that when all is said and done, you probably will have surgery to fix the problem. And in the end, your total cost to treat and fix your problem will be MORE than if they'd just approved the surgery and followup PT to begin with! That's my prediction, and it has been proven to be true so many times I'm surprised so many plans still follow the "start with aspirin" approach. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

Hey Larry... Welcome back and thanks for the update. I certainly would never attempt to second-guess medically trained people...so I won't. I do know that rotator cuff problems suck...look at all the pro athletes who have been sidelined by similar injuries. I also know that the right steroids are very beneficial, especially in the areas of masking pain, as are cortizone shots. It looks like you have no choice but to go along with the insurance company's plan...let's just hope it's the right plan. At any rate, stay in touch...and good luck. DickyG