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Looking for medical advice (Read 277 times)

    And before I am told to go see a doctor, I have.  But didn't get much of an answer.  So before I go BACK to the doctor more aggressively, I thought I would reach out here and see if anyone has had anything similar.

     

    43 years old.  About 210 lbs.  (Could lose a few pounds but couldn't imagine ever getting under 200).  6'3"   Running for about 5 years now.

    Marathon PR 3:07.  Half PR 1:30

     

    Did both of those PR races last October (8 days apart) and felt great.  Have never done such high mileage and it totally paid off.  Since the marathon was my goal race of the year I figured I would take a couple of weeks of running and just get a real good recovery.  That was when the problem started.

     

    About 5 days into the rest, I was starting to develop what felt like plantar fasciitis.  Every morning, and after extended periods of inactivity, the bottoms of my feet got extremely tight and were very hard to walk on.  A couple of days later and this tightness seemed to progress into my calf muscles and eventually to my hamstrings and hips.  It basically felt like a ran a marathon or hard race the day before, but every day.  Very tight.  I felt like a 90 year old man after sitting down for more than about 20 minutes at a time.  Still no running.

     

    I decided to go for a few light runs and it totally made the pain and tightness go away, albeit only temporarily.  It was like a run would stretch me out and I would feel pretty good for a few hours.

     

    So we are now about 5 months later.  I have resumed running on a daily basis and ramped up my mileage.  I don't think that is the issue since when I was not running at all, the problem was just as bad, or worse.  I have been to the doctor who took blood tests but only found elevated levels of inflammation.  I go to massage weekly, use the stick or foam roller daily, and although all of these feel great, they are only temporary relief.  Again, 20 minutes of inactivity and I am crippled.

     

    So, anyone heard of this before?  I am getting a little concerned that I have to pop 6 x 200 mg of ibuprofen daily just to be able to walk.   Is it muscular, viral, some strange disease?

     

    Any suggestions would help.

     

    Thanks

     

    Rick

    2018 Goals

    Figure out the achilles thing...... and THEN try to get running regularly again.

    No racing goals 

     


    #artbydmcbride

      I have stayed at a Holiday Inn and that is my only medical credential, but it does sound like an auto-immune response to me.  Perhaps a course of beginner's yoga and a weeks worth of prednisone?

       

      Runners run


      Feeling the growl again

        The spreading is the curious part.  I've never heard of that.

         

        The inflammation markers don't mean much in isolation, inflammation can be from many things.  But given that it spread like it did I would certainly follow up with that doc or others to get to the root of it.  What you describe with your feet certainly sounds like PF but the spreading upwards all the way to your hips sounds very odd.

         

        The only thing I can throw out there is that you tightened when you rested/quit running and perhaps ramping your mileage up you are not recovering and staying sore.  But if this were the case, reducing your volume 20-30% should make everything except your feet (which really sounds like PF) go away.  Short of that, it sounds like something you need to have checked out further.

        "If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does.  There's your pep talk for today.  Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

         

        I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

         

        SillyC


          It could be sciatica, but who knows?

           

          It might be worth a visit back to see if you can get a referral to physical therapy.  PTs can sometimes be wizards at figuring out what's really going on in terms of which muscles or muscle groups are out of whack.  One of the things that I've heard is that when the major malfunction is somewhere in the hips or lower back, often you'll end up feeling it in your feet.

           

          Heal quickly!

          Chantilly75


            First thought would be that the higher mileage you did is only now catching up with you and it is just too much to keep up for the present.

            Next I would look at your shoes.

            You could also get checked out for a neuropathy, which is nerve damage.

            congratulations on your PR.

            "dancing on the path and singing, now you got away,

            you can reach the goals you set from now on, every day"

            Sonata Arctica

             

             

             

             

             

              I think the odd thing is that it started a few days AFTER I stopped running.  So I don't see it as being caused by running?  In fact, I took a full 2 weeks off and it only got worse every day.

               

              It could be a coincidence with timing but who knows.

              2018 Goals

              Figure out the achilles thing...... and THEN try to get running regularly again.

              No racing goals 

               

              Trent


              Good Bad & The Monkey

                What inflammation markers were tested, and what were the results?

                 

                Most muscular diseases related to running (e.g., plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, etc) do NOTHING to your inflammatory marker blood tests.

                 

                I know a thing or two about physiology.

                SillyC


                  I think the odd thing is that it started a few days AFTER I stopped running.  So I don't see it as being caused by running?  In fact, I took a full 2 weeks off and it only got worse every day.

                   

                  It could be a coincidence with timing but who knows.

                   

                  Maybe it's in your lower back and caused by sitting.

                    What inflammation markers were tested, and what were the results?

                     

                    Most muscular diseases related to running (e.g., plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, etc) do NOTHING to your inflammatory marker blood tests.

                     

                    I know a thing or two about physiology.

                     

                    I will have to follow up on that.  He didn't give me a specific result and only told me there were heightened levels of inflammation.

                     

                    My current thoughts are along the lines of auto-immune or rheumatoid arthritis but was hoping someone else had experienced this in the past.

                    2018 Goals

                    Figure out the achilles thing...... and THEN try to get running regularly again.

                    No racing goals 

                     

                    Trent


                    Good Bad & The Monkey

                      I share your concern about an autoimmune process. Please feel free to share the numbers.


                      Still kicking

                        Yes, yes yes!

                         

                        Long long long story short, the cause ended up being benzine poisoning caused by exposure to jet fuel at my job.

                         

                        Early symptoms (for several years) started with being excessively sore after an average workout. Resting sometimes even made it worse. My workouts got less and the soreness got worse. Eventually the soreness turned into joint swelling. I was eating Tylenol and Excedrine like candy. Every morning I felt like I got hit by a mac truck.  As it progressed I started having symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and severe migraines. Then one day I woke up and it was attacking my eyes, and I looked like I had lost a boxing match. From the beginning, to finally going to the doctor was about 10 years. The eye thing landed me at the doc, who sent me to an eye specialist, who sent me to a rheumatologist, who put me on prednasone for auto-immune disorder. The pred gave me my life back, most of the symptoms diminished, and I was even able to start working out again. But all efforts to taper off the pred, and all the symptoms came back. After 2 years on pred, my bone density was down to osteopenia levels, so then I was put on Fosimax. My rheumatologist was beginning to explore alternate meds like methitrexate… when I became eligible for retirement… and retired. Within weeks, I started feeling better than I had in years. I was able to taper off the pred, and my health started improving. My bone density came back up and I got off the Fosimax. I started running agin and several years later training for marathons again. My rheumatologist had me bring her all the MSDS's from all the chemicals I was exposed to at my job, and determined that I had been toxic on benzine.

                         

                        Then… out of the blue I had a relapse of sorts, where some of the symptoms started coming back. I even got back into my stash of pred on several occasions. My rheumatologist had me break down everything I ate and drank. She just about had a come apart when she saw that I was drinking diet coke and diet Pepsi. I had been getting back into shape, and had gone to diet drinks instead of sugar drinks. Amazingly, within days of stopping the artificial sweeteners, the symptoms were gone again and I was back on track, and have been ever since.

                         

                        Just from my personal experiences, I would look at chemicals you might be exposed to, or artificial sweeteners in  your diet.

                        I'm also on Athlinks and Strava

                        Mysecondnewname


                          Rick:

                          It is, of course, impossible to give you an accurate diagnosis without actually examining you; however, your description sounds like it might be rheumatologic in nature.

                           

                          Some docs are not terribly comfortable with rheumatologic diseases, many of which are sometimes difficult to diagnose.  Elevated inflammatory markers (especially the types typically sent early on) are often rather non-specific as well.   Does your doctor have a reasonable list of potential diagnoses for your condition (i.e. a differential)?   If not, he/she may need a little help.

                           

                          My best suggestion at this point.would be to speak with your doc and see if they might consider referring you to see a Rheumatologist for a more thorough evaluation.

                           

                          Finally, FWIW, I would avoid throwing steroids at this until your docs have at least some good possible ideas of what you're dealing with as they are not without side effects.

                           

                          Best to you!

                            Wow, the comment about about diet drinks is alarming.  I drink a ton of fluids, and to reduce calories I almost always drink diet soda.  Like 3 Super Big Gulps a day.  No joke

                             

                            That will be the first thing I try.  After all, it is a very simple change to my diet as opposed to blood tests and doctor visits.  Thanks.

                             

                            Will keep you posted

                             

                             

                            Yes, yes yes!

                             

                            Long long long story short, the cause ended up being benzine poisoning caused by exposure to jet fuel at my job.

                             

                            Early symptoms (for several years) started with being excessively sore after an average workout. Resting sometimes even made it worse. My workouts got less and the soreness got worse. Eventually the soreness turned into joint swelling. I was eating Tylenol and Excedrine like candy. Every morning I felt like I got hit by a mac truck.  As it progressed I started having symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and severe migraines. Then one day I woke up and it was attacking my eyes, and I looked like I had lost a boxing match. From the beginning, to finally going to the doctor was about 10 years. The eye thing landed me at the doc, who sent me to an eye specialist, who sent me to a rheumatologist, who put me on prednasone for auto-immune disorder. The pred gave me my life back, most of the symptoms diminished, and I was even able to start working out again. But all efforts to taper off the pred, and all the symptoms came back. After 2 years on pred, my bone density was down to osteopenia levels, so then I was put on Fosimax. My rheumatologist was beginning to explore alternate meds like methitrexate… when I became eligible for retirement… and retired. Within weeks, I started feeling better than I had in years. I was able to taper off the pred, and my health started improving. My bone density came back up and I got off the Fosimax. I started running agin and several years later training for marathons again. My rheumatologist had me bring her all the MSDS's from all the chemicals I was exposed to at my job, and determined that I had been toxic on benzine.

                             

                            Then… out of the blue I had a relapse of sorts, where some of the symptoms started coming back. I even got back into my stash of pred on several occasions. My rheumatologist had me break down everything I ate and drank. She just about had a come apart when she saw that I was drinking diet coke and diet Pepsi. I had been getting back into shape, and had gone to diet drinks instead of sugar drinks. Amazingly, within days of stopping the artificial sweeteners, the symptoms were gone again and I was back on track, and have been ever since.

                             

                            Just from my personal experiences, I would look at chemicals you might be exposed to, or artificial sweeteners in  your diet.

                            2018 Goals

                            Figure out the achilles thing...... and THEN try to get running regularly again.

                            No racing goals 

                             

                              My doctor, who had just taken over for my previous doctor that moved away, was kind of useless.  That was part of the problem.

                               

                              I plan to go back to see him shortly but was hoping for some kind of insight before that, which I think I have.  I have been given some great ideas from a number of different people and hopefully will help shed some light on what is causing this.

                               

                              Rick:

                              It is, of course, impossible to give you an accurate diagnosis without actually examining you; however, your description sounds like it might be rheumatologic in nature.

                               

                              Some docs are not terribly comfortable with rheumatologic diseases, many of which are sometimes difficult to diagnose.  Elevated inflammatory markers (especially the types typically sent early on) are often rather non-specific as well.   Does your doctor have a reasonable list of potential diagnoses for your condition (i.e. a differential)?   If not, he/she may need a little help.

                               

                              My best suggestion at this point.would be to speak with your doc and see if they might consider referring you to see a Rheumatologist for a more thorough evaluation.

                               

                              Finally, FWIW, I would avoid throwing steroids at this until your docs have at least some good possible ideas of what you're dealing with as they are not without side effects.

                               

                              Best to you!

                              2018 Goals

                              Figure out the achilles thing...... and THEN try to get running regularly again.

                              No racing goals 

                               


                              Still kicking

                                That would be great if getting off the diet drinks works. I was drinking 3-6 12 oz cans a day, and then any time we went out to eat, I'd get a large cup and refill it at least once. Since my rheumatologist read me the riot act, I've gone to unsweetened ice tea (without adding anything to it) or water, and the difference in my overall health has been significant. Since then (and to solidify my resolve) I've done some googling and reading about how poisonous artificial sweeteners really are, and it's really an eye opener. I cringe now, anytime I walk by a soda machine.

                                 

                                A word about prednisone. If you ever get to the point where a doc prescribes pred for you, beware. Read up on it. It seems like a magical miracle drug at first, and you feel great. But over time (several months) it takes more and becomes less effective. Your appetite become insatiable, you become thirsty and sweaty all the time, you get bloated, you gain weight, your skin turns red and rashy, and the worst for me was the need to pee all the time. I was getting up 10+ times a night to pee. And even worse, it destroys your bone density. It's a temporary and very effective drug at it's best, but in time becomes almost as bad as the symptoms it was fixing.

                                 

                                Good luck and keep us posted!

                                I'm also on Athlinks and Strava

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