Couch to 5K died this morning on an ER gurney, where our heroine writhed in abject agony and begged for sweet release. Or Percocet.
That's right, sports fans. Turns "Runner's Knee" is the most euphemistically monikered ailment in the Physician's Desk Reference, because at some point after midnight last night, the pain went from bad but mostly tolerable to a searing hot poker of the sun itself burrowing into my ligaments.
I held out until 4:30a.m., when I tearfully begged Mr. M to call his mother to make the two hour drive down so we could leave the kids and drive to the hospital. Because she is a saint, she did this immediately, and just over two hours and later, we were on our way.
I was convinced I had ripped or torn something essential to life itself, because otherwise I would not feel like I was dying. I also insisted to the ER doc that this could not simply be "Runner's Knee," because there would be a lot more self-amputees around, if it were. She listened sweetly, rubbing my back and handing me a tissue, before suggesting that it was perhaps not wise to go from the particular stasis of pregnancy into what was really a rather strenuous workout, running/walking mix be damned. She explained how every pregnancy widens the hips and shifts the center of gravity a little bit more, making some forms of exercise a lot more hazardous for some women. She said some more things then about staying off my feet, and R.I.C.E.,but it was all kind of a mumbling blur until I heard "Percocet."
And so, to make a long story short, I'm not running right now. Or probably anymore, ever. I don't know-- maybe I'll come back around to it, but I'm not sure I want to risk this again.
6 comments:
oh no! Did they tell you to see a physical therapist? I had terrible, not able to walk on my ankle pain and my PT fixed it right up. I hated that guy, but it really worked.
I hope you feel better soon. Take all the drugs you can get!
Oh no!! I'm sorry :( that sucks. And here I was going to use you as my inspiration to get off my flabby butt to get those last 10 pounds that breastfeeding is not taking off. I guess I can use you as my warning and reason to NOT take up running. Maybe boxing ;)
Amber, nobody said anything about PT, and this is after I went to my doc on Tuesday (the ER was early Wednesday morning). I have another appointment with her Monday morning, because I'm going to ask for a PT.
Wendy, I'm going to just switch to walking and yoga. I'm thinking it won't matter too much what I do as long as it's aerobic in nature and habitual! (But boxing would rock)
Oh, no, I'm so sorry you're in so much pain! Bodies can really suck. I'm a big fan of swimming because of the non-impact factor, if that's a possibility.
I know that there are people who run even as they get older, but after training for and running a marathon, a half, and other various races between Luke and Henry with no knee trouble, all of a sudden in the last few years I can't run any more than three minutes without my knees hurting horribly. I can do everything else just fine (walking, biking, zumba class, weight lifting) so I figure it is just my time to be done with running. I'm so sorry you had to go through so much pain!
Oh hon! Be careful and I'm sorry! I hope that the feeling of not being yourself subsides soon and that you emerge and new and different-but-still-the-same Milkweed! Take care!
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