Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Thursday Stoke!

I'm stoked for steroids!

Yeah.... that's right, STEROIDS!

After not being able to walk Monday (the day after running and finishing the Daytona Beach Half Marathon) I decided it was time to finally face reality and go see my doctor. First, let me say how awesome my doctor is as he is a runner and a surfer. He is probably the nicest doctor I've ever talked to as a patient. His waiting room gets backed up not only because he is busy, but because he is so personable and will talk your ear off. He actually cares about what's going on and even remembers things about you other than your medical condition. No wonder he is so popular.

So I make and appointment and can't get in until Tuesday as the very last patient of the day. This means I don't see him until about 6 p.m. I explain my story. Hurt the old Achilles tendon five weeks ago, thought it was healed up and decided to run a little 13.1 mile race. Now I can't freaking walk! I remove the ACE bandage and the first words out of his mouth are "HOLY CRAP!" I kid not.... he really said that! I call him by his first name and tell him that's really not what I want to hear from my doctor. He sees the fear on my face and down plays it a bit by telling me most Achilles tendon injures he sees are closer to the heel and mine is higher up more near my lower calf muscle.

Long story short; I'm sidelined for at least two weeks. I don't need an X-ray or MRI or Surgery or anything crazy thank God! I have multiple torn spots in the "sheathing" that is the outside layer of the tendon, which has caused some really gnarly inflammation and discoloration. In other words, it looks a lot worse than it really is...

The solution; I'm on steroids baby!

Seriously, it's some kind of week-long pack of steroids called methyprednisolone. All I know is I couldn't hardly walk yesterday morning. I took the first few pills with breakfast and by lunch time I was almost walking normally. Amazing. No wonder athletes abuse this stuff. I hope my balls don't shrink up! The most important thing is I have to stay off it for at least two weeks, which will be my nemesis as I have a hard enough time sitting still normally. I'm determined though and the doctor, who ironically is a Disney Marathon Finisher, told me that "I'll be fine and I've got this," when it comes to still running the Disney in January. Only thing is he says I probably shouldn't train until December, which will give me about four weeks. It's crazy when I think about it, but hey, I did just finish a Half Marathon without running an entire month before so this way at least I'll get a few long runs in... probably won't get the best time, but at least I'll be able to run and finish!

So yeah... I'm stoked for steroids!


8 comments:

  1. I was on the same exact stuff when I had the worst sinus infection in history over the summer. Wait... is that what happened to my balls?

    Hope you heal up quickly and are back to the board and the road before December!

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  2. "No wonder athletes abuse this stuff. I hope my balls don't shrink up!"

    LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's the TGS that I know and love...

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  3. please be careful- you only have 1 set of legs and several DECADES to run marathons. don't blow it for a single race!

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  4. Just discovered your blog via your comment on Hot Piece of Sass... this post almost made me spit out my coffee laughing.

    Heal well and quickly!

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  5. It's an anti-inflammatory, not an anabolic steroid. The diff is anabolics bulk you up and anti-inflammatories kill the inflammation that causes the pain (the most brief way of putting a complicated drug class). And pred will slow healing so you feel better and get back to work, thereby worsening the damage. Be careful. Give yourself time to *gasp* heal!!

    I'm in sports med so trust me, you want to be cautious. Good luck!

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  6. Oh and tendons take MONTHS to heal. Ask your doctor, he should know this stuff. Nothing heals in 2 weeks - nothing.

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  7. make sure you take advantage of this legal opportunity, start bench-pressing 600lbs and lifting small cars...this could be the break you need to get into the superhero racket.

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  8. I wonder how many people got directed to your blog b/c of the title. Lots of pissed off roid ragers to be certain! LOL!

    Glad they helped though and congrats again on the half!!

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