Doctor vist

Ok, where do I begin – rant time

After three weeks of NOT running because of a nagging knee pain I decided to see my primary care physician today. Side note – I was his assistant coach for U-13 boys lacrosse last season – keep this in mind. I spilled my guts, the sob story, how miserable I am and then on the pain I was feeling. At this time I thought I should be on a psychiatrist couch. He had me stand and twist on the leg that had the pain, than he felt the knee looking for swelling and any signs of ligament damage. I heard the words, no swelling or ligament damage no MRI needed. At this point I wanted to put on my Asics GT-2000 and run home – this would be about 5 ½ mile run home. So way the pain? What is it?  He told me it’s a nagging pain and something I have to live with, nagging? Live with? Really? – sounds like marriage (DO NOT share this with Julie, Jeff ). He mentioned I should work the muscles around the knee – ok, I can do this. He proceeding to tell me that I should try something new like some type of liptical exercise or biking – REALLY. Now my blood pressure was rising (lucky he didn’t check) liptical exercise or biking, yea right.  I had an interesting conversation on this subject (back on the couch). What did he not get - I LIKE TO RUN. Remember, he knows me and I run by his house, Tuesday night fun runs in the borough. He mentioned the AGEing factor (shut up Muddy). You will be this age some day (pay back is a bitch). 

In conclusion, he said I can run – at this time I have lost all interest to the rest of the conversation because I heard those three words I’ve been wanting to here. I then decided how do I get out of here, I need to get home and run, it’s warm out, the sun is shining, it’s not dark or cold (I hate winter), I need to build my base. I than had to take control of this conversation (like my wife likes to do), so I turned the subject to how’s the family, the boys (he has twins), how do they like high school – he then lost interest on continuing my visit to his office – he turned back into a physician (no personality) and was no-longer a psychiatrist. This visit, was all about 8 to 10 minutes of MY time and $20 out the window (co-pay), not complaining we have very good benefits were I work – ok, I’m complaining or NAGGING, remember I’m happy married, I can do that.  

Went out and ran 4 miles (actually 3.7 by the space watch) but who cares, my story. The pace was 6 minute miles, oops forgot how to read the space watch, it was more like 8 minute miles. I had that nagging pain for about the first mile, almost turned around. As I started the second mile into the wind the pain became – I guess tolerable (like marriage) and I settled in for a nice afternoon jog.

If my wife ever reads this blog, I bet I will be going back to the doctors with some other pain.

Update

Seeing that it was 7 degrees out at 5:50 in the morning (I hate winter), I decided I would TRY running on the treadmill in the fitness center where I work. What could be better for a COLD January morning, running in a controlled environment watching 3 different TV stations (ESPN, CNN, News Channel 8 out of Hartford)

Side note – the traffic girl on News Channel 8, OMG sometimes I wonder how I do not trip (breath Mike breath) – ok back to reality. Teresa LaBarbera is her name

Remember, I have not run for 13 days due to knee pain.  So I began slow, got to about 1 tenth on the treadmill and the pain was unbearable (and the traffic girl wasn’t on yet). I ended up walking for 2 miles. Looks like a trip to the doctors next week to discuss MCL pain.

Weekly Log 6-Jan to 12-Jan

Friday: 0

Houston, we’ve had a Problem" the exact quote from Apollo 13

Knee pain (inner knee)

Last couple of days I have had a nagging knee pain. I’ve been running through this pain as it does not hurt that much while running. My initial thought was my form was off because of the many runs into the wind (leaning forward a little); unfortunately this is not the case. The pain is significant after the run and it now has been keeping me up at night while trying to sleep. I thought I could tuff it out but this is not the case. I’m going to do what my doctor suggested back in 2009 when I had this same situation, stop running and take Aleve 3 times a day along with icing at night. Not sure how long I will shut it down, well have to see - black hawk down

Muddy, could it be because I sat next to that doll in your truck when we did that run couple of weeks ago in Hope Valley – bury/burn that thing

Jonny, enjoy the mileage now. Take a rest day from time to time. The age thing creeps up fast.

Tom, I feel your pain,

Jeff, just turn 50 please

Mike, keep doing what you are doing

Seth – I may need to borrow the P90X video

Thurday: 6
Same old, same old on this run - I hate winter

Wednesday: 6

Another boring dark, chilly, early January morning run – nothing new on this run, same track as always. Although while running I have been thinking/planning on increasing the weekly base – thinking on what roads to go down. I don’t like running streets that have cul-de-sacs (reminds me of a 5K race, out and back around a cone). This will happen once winter ends. I hate winter

Tuesday: 6

Another run in the cold, dark January morning (5:00am I hate winter). From the south gate at work, my normal loop through the streets of Groton, CT down to UCONN Avery Point. Massive head wind as i hit mile 2, this is when I take a right turn into Avery Point (the wind coming from LI Sound). This was for about 1 mile or so until I was out of Avery Point. It's funny how your inner voice SCREAMS at you when the wind kicks up in your face. I really want to kick the s..t out of the inner voice someday. I happen to see the paper boy this morning as I haven't come across him lately - we have an understanding, I won't hit him and he won’t hit me.
Monday: 6
Good to get in this run in – finally the temperature getting back to normal or seasonal (28 degrees). Did this run in the dark (5:00am) through the streets of Groton, CT. down into UCONN Avery Point.  When I started out from the south gate at work, I decided to take a right turn instead of my normal left turn (try something new). Unfortunately this would come back to haunt me because there was a little head wind coming off the Thames River from mile 3 on. I usually pay attention to the wind in the winter because it can be a bitch coming off the Long Island Sound or from the Thames.
Sunday: 0
Another goose egg –unfortunately this weekend just didn’t work out for me for finding a window of opportunity to run. Between basketball, indoor LAX, leaky outdoor faucet, and dead battery in truck I could not find time to get a run in. Looking forward to Monday (I can’t believe I just said that) and some normality – how’s that for a word.

Weekly mileage totals: 24