Howdy sports fans. Just thought I'd drop a quick note updating how the recovery is going.
I think my last note was just before New Years. Anyhow, the ortho "quasi" cleared me for running -- nothing too long and definitely nothing too fast. "What doesn't hurt?" he asked at once visit. "Easy miles" was my reply. "Then stick to that." So, my recovery training plan has focussed on slowly building back mileage at a slower pace -- leaving building back pace for another time.
So, I turned to my old distance progression chart -- 2 weeks of 12 miles (4 x 3 miles), 2 weeks of 16 miles (4 x 4 miles), 2 weeks of 20 miles (4 x 5 miles), and 2 weeks of 24 miles (4 x 6 miles). I finished that last week and am doing one more week of 4 x 6 miles.
Next week, I see the bone specialist at the University of Maryland, so I figured I'd do one more week of 24 miles. See what the specialist has to say. Then, the ortho is going to prescribe another MRI to make sure everything is healing properly. After that, I'll add a 5th day of 6 miles which will become my long run (hopefully).
Not much more to say right now. I guess I'm in a wait and see sort of mood.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Tendonitis of the...elbow?
Howdy sports fans! Just so you know, I give equal coverage to other parts of the body as well. In addition to dealing with another pelvic stress fracture, since mid-summer I have been dealing with a very painful tendonitis of the right elbow. Technically called "tennis elbow," although I have no clue where the tennis comes from because I don't play (it hurt so bad, the doctor told me to cut back, so now I only play five-is - -get it?)
Anyhow, back in August, the ortho gave me a cortisone shot for the elbow. That worked, for a couple of months, then the pain came back. Hard to grip with the right hand, pain in the elbow when working or typing or using a mouse, etc. So the ortho recommended a procedure called platelet rich infusion therapy or PRP. They remove blood from the left arm, spin out the platelets, and inject the platelets directly into the tendon (apparently the elbow is not a very vascular area so it can be hard to heal from certain types of tendonitis).
Today was the first of two platelet injections. Let me tell you friends, it hurt like hell!! The ortho has to inject the platelets directly into the heart of the tendon near where it connects to the bone. Youch! I can barely move my arm and, several hours later, can only just now start using my hand (it went a bit numb). I go back in two weeks for the final set of injections. Yippee!!
Anyhoo, for your viewing pleasure, some pictures:
Anyhow, back in August, the ortho gave me a cortisone shot for the elbow. That worked, for a couple of months, then the pain came back. Hard to grip with the right hand, pain in the elbow when working or typing or using a mouse, etc. So the ortho recommended a procedure called platelet rich infusion therapy or PRP. They remove blood from the left arm, spin out the platelets, and inject the platelets directly into the tendon (apparently the elbow is not a very vascular area so it can be hard to heal from certain types of tendonitis).
Today was the first of two platelet injections. Let me tell you friends, it hurt like hell!! The ortho has to inject the platelets directly into the heart of the tendon near where it connects to the bone. Youch! I can barely move my arm and, several hours later, can only just now start using my hand (it went a bit numb). I go back in two weeks for the final set of injections. Yippee!!
Anyhoo, for your viewing pleasure, some pictures:
Taking the blood from my left arm
spinning out the platelets in the centrifuge
X or rather "dots" mark the spots for injection
preparing the injection site
Platelets!!
Owwwww!
All done, for now
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