I got the news today. I had my MRI last Thursday and the results are in. First off, I am not crazy or a hypochondriac. I do, in fact, have an injury. And it's not one, but TWO bulging disks in my back.
Yo, I told you I don't do things halfway - it's two disks or none at all - go hard or go home, right?
Per my doctor, "Well, the one that is causing the most problem seems to be flattening (reducing), but it's still fairly sizable, so I can't even imagine what it must have looked like nine weeks ago."
In addition, I have some degenerative cartilage between vertebrate that is causing my vertebrae to snack together and give me bone spurs.
Also per my doctor, "Your long running days are over."
Good-bye stand-alone marathon. It was nice knowing ya.
And you would think that this news would make me sad or angry, but you cannot even believe how relieved and ecstatic I am. I feel like a new person. I left his office and went to the gym, love handles and little belly all sticking out, and got my jelly ass on the Elliptical and ellipticalled myself into a sweaty stupor. And tomorrow its back in the pool. Gotta start somewhere.
There is something about knowing this finally, and about having the last six days almost pain-free that seems to be giving me new life. I feel almost manic right now.
So while I may not be able to race this season, or join in the stories of long rides and group runs, I feel somewhat "back" in the game. Hey, the Elliptical might not be all that fun, and it is inside, but I'll tell ya what, it sure gives me a lot of time to think about posts, and the people watching is beyond stellar. So I guess I'll have lots to say as I work my way back to Iron-form.
So thanks for dealing with me for the last nine weeks. As my doctor said, "It's nice that your not so crabby and disgruntled today." Hey, a good ten pounds around the waist and on the ass will do that to anyone. Cut me some slack.
Train on, y'all.
7 comments:
You could rock sprints!
I guess a diagnosis is good news, although the prognosis of no distance running pretty much sucks. Good luck with your treatment.
congratulations on the relief! from an md perspective though, bulging disks DO get better, and degenerative spines and disappearing cartilages are pretty damned common, even among long distance runners.
so... don't give up hope of distance in future years but plan on lots of healing time...
Glad to hear you're feeling better!!! But you know different docs have different opinions, so don't rule out distance running yet.
I had a doc once tell me that I couldn't run marathons without getting stress fractures because I have bowed legs!
I'm with Stronger on this one...
Rock on!
ah, meg - its good to have a diagnosis finally, it gives you a starting point. i'm excited for you!
and listen to what trijack says. never say never. he's a doctor, ya know.
(and i never thought you were a hypochondriac.)
Glad you finally have a diagnosis and some hope. But somehow I just can't picture you with "love handles and little belly all sticking out, and . . .my jelly ass . . ." Glad you're back in the saddle!
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