It's A Pity Party and you're ALL invited!!

Welcome to M-Cat's Pity Party!! Pull up a chair and put up your feet. Can I get you a diet coke? A snack? Make yourself comfy and listen up good, 'cause I'm gonna let myself bitch just this once. Then I will be done......

Crap-A-Doodle!!

So, um, yeah. I've been hurting for awhile now. Okay since the 24th of July Deseret News 10k. I noticed that while I was concentrating so hard on working through my IT band issues and knee pain, I ignored the pain that was starting in my hip. My left hip.

I just kept going. Running, cycling, swimming, racing. Doing it all. Having a blast, but hurting. It kind of just kept getting more and more noticeable, but as an "athlete" something always hurts so what's the big deal right?

I knew I was going to be hurting for the last three things I had planned this summer. The Red Rock Relay, The South Jordan Marathon Relay and The Top of Utah Marathon. The last being my big one! My big goal. My first.ever.marathon.

As I was preparing for the Red Rock, I knew it was hurting, but I really could get through it if I just kept going and dosed on Ibuprofen. Then my game plan was to get through the relay which was a simple 5 miler and then no matter what it took, I would finish the marathon. Limping, hobbling, or crawling, I would finish and then take a break.

You'll remember my post about Red Rock. You'll remember I saw the IC doc and he thought it was a trashed tendon. Well, I took the antinflammatories, rested the prescribed days and when I didn't get any better, I headed for my OWN doctor. One day I'll get his permission to use his name on the blog and pimp him out, cause really, I think the world of him! If you live in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley and need a good family doc he's your man. Email me and I'll send you his way. But I digress.

He examined me, we talked it over, I told him how I felt about things and what my gut said. He ordered a bone scan and instructed me to get in with my Sports medicine Orthopedist. See he actually listens to his patients. He also put me on crutches and said to stay off of it until we got a definitive answer.


Monday, I had the bone scan. Of course, I wanted results before I ever got off the table, but the tech just gives you the standard answer of "your doc will have the results by Wednesday". Wednesday? ARRGGHHHHH.

Tuesday afternoon I had an appointment with my Sports Med Orthopod. While I was sitting in the lobby waiting to be called back to the waiting room, my FP doc calls with the scan results:
Stress Fracture in the left femoral neck.

He's glad I'm seeing the orthopod and asks me to keep him in the loop as he is interested to see how I am treated.

Sports med doc. Love him. He's a runner. After he ripped into me for running so long with it hurting and masking the pain with ibuprofen and lortab, he gave me his directions.

1. Absolutely no weight bearing for at least 3 weeks. None. Don't even accidentally step down on your leg.
2. After 3 weeks, attempt stepping on your left and monitor pain. Any pain? Back on crutches until you can do it pain free. If it's not hurting, then ditch the crutches, and begin walking. Again, as long as you stay pain free.
3. A couple of weeks of just walking, I can get back on the treadmill and walk, gradually adding in some running.
4. I'll see him again in 4 weeks, he'll see how it's healing and how I am feeling and he'll put together more of a definitive rehab plan.

He did say that I could run in the pool as early as next week. I could possibly cycle on a stationary bike in 3 weeks. BUT.......every single thing I do, I need to monitor by pain. If it hurts at all. STOP.

Well, as much as I prepared for having to be sidelined, it still felt like a punch to the gut. And while I realize it could be much worse. It's in such a tricky spot that they have to be careful that it heals. Sometimes fractures in this particular area require surgery. None for me thanks!

So, I get all that. I understand I need to listen to my body....blah blah blah. I get it really. But I can still say that this blows! Seriously. Bad. If you've ever been on crutches for an extended period of time, you know exactly what I mean. And since I don't want to accidentally put weight on there, I basically stay down as much as I possibly can. Boy, isn't that fun!

I can not stand having to have assistance with every little thing I do. I can't stand having people look at me while I hobble around. I can't stand that kind of attention. Now, sure if I'm being funny and entertaining, then by all means, freaking pay attention to me. I demand to BE the center of attention then! But this? No...... I can't stand it.

I know the standard lines. "Things happen for a reason." "You need to learn to let others help you." blah blah blah and more blah. Save it. I know all that. I understand all that. I am learning to let people help me and believe you me, I am MORE than grateful for all the help I have had. People around me are SAINTS. But for right now. This minute. I am pissed.
At least I get the up close parking spots now right?
Whatever......