Epic Healing Week--1st Installation!

So, since my training is minimal, I figured I have time to write in my blog, and cook, ignore the laundry, catch up on some trashy tv, and finish my book.

On Monday, I went to my normal sports chiro, and we decided on a really focused strategy for my recovery. It is called the "Throw darts and see what sticks" strategy. I think that is an official medical diagnosis. I filled him in on all of my appointments for the week, and we decided to move forward.

Dart 1: Emory

Oh man I was excited. Going to the big dogs and getting some answers. They are going to just KNOW what is wrong with me and how to fix it.

And....well....Guess what? They don't. Regular doctors are a serious disappointment (sorry doctors). The answer: "You have contusions on your knee (really, bruises? You think? I fell like 15 times....I know that!), and you have inflamed tendons." So now I know.....exactly what I already knew. Awesome. I mostly felt bad that I had gotten a substitute teacher and my kids weren't getting a good lesson so I could be told what I already knew. The RX? Physical Therapy, advil, and call in 6 weeks. Great. Really thought long and hard over my treatment didn't ya?

Back to less traditional stuff, since I am clearly not a big fan of the traditional treatments (who would be?).

Dart #2 Sports Chiro who focuses on Active Release Therapy

This was such a different experience than emory. I was really nervous about going. I love my regular sports chiro guy, and I was only going to try out some of his different techniques. He spent a long time with me, and I move in every possible way. He then did a lot of nerve work and a ton of ART.

He asked me what my pain was on the pain charts. Now, really I have a hard time with these.

I don't really get it. He kept on making me walk down stairs to see if the treatment was loosening anything up.

He said, "what was your initial pain level going down the stairs."

I said, "Well, I am reading this book called Unbroken. It is all about Louie Zamparini, who was one of the hopes to break the 4 minute mile. But then, he had to go to war in WWII. His plane crased, and he had to survive in a tiny raft for months in the open ocean fighting sharks and starvation. Then he was captured as a POW and had a really sadistic guard who beat him unconsious daily. I feel like HE gets a pain chart. Really, I am just whiny cause I can't run, so I don't even think I am on it."

Dr., "um....I guess I have to clarify that this is YOUR pain chart, and not HIS pain chart."

Me, " well I guess maybe a 3. I mean, I don't want to walk down any more stairs, or I could turn around and go backwards."

Dr., "well, if something hurts enough that you want to stop immediately, that is more than a three."

Ok, well, this book is really good. Even if I it makes you seem like a jerk in the Dr.'s office, you should read it! It'll change your pain scale!

Oh right....back to the dr. So, he kept working on me, and I kept going down the stairs, and this went on for a while. It was cool stuff, but I was still hurting going down the stairs. The LAST trip down the stairs though, was awesome. I felt about 90% better.

In his words, "We're on the right track." Fantastic. This was one of the first times I have started to feel better! I made 6 more appointments, and I will be back on Thursday. (I don't do things halfway very well).

Dart #3 a.

Phyical therapy that my awesome teammate Andree told me about. I will be headed there tomorrow after I see the Dart #2 Doctor again.

Dart #3b.

Physical therapy. I have a second PT appointment at a place I have been before on Friday. Figure I will just keep it and make a decision later on who I will continue to work with. I have plenty of darts people.

Dart #4

I am considering acupuncture. I have done dry needling, and that might become Dart#5, but not acupuncture. Figure it might be worth a shot. I talked to a guy my coach recommended. I am going to keep thinking about it!

In the meantime, I am doing a lot of swimming. My coach made me take today off because maybe I had been swimming too much..... ;-) OH, which reminds me that I am REALLY excited that SBR sports is going to be sponsoring Team Trakkers! That means that very soon, I will not have to smell like chlorine ALL the time, because I am going to to get some tri swim! I will tell you about it later!!

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Any more dart suggestions?

Anyone tried acupuncture?