Stuff is going on

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

- Lewis Carroll

Here's a rather boring report about what's going on with me. As usual, bold used so you can skip some or all of this!

That limping I was doing, the use of the elevator, the sitting to get my pants and shoes on, all legitimate. I've got a stress fracture of the femoral neck. I'm on strict orders to use crutches and keep weight off the right hip at the very least until I see the orthopedic doc. It hurts a lot less now that I'm not walking on it.

What did I do to cause this? No one knows but here's my theory...My bone density is excellent, running training was quite reasonable. I think it was a combination of factors, not enough cross training, wearing Crocs to run in when my heel hurt, and basic hormonal problems (Addison's, hypothyroid, low free T3, lowish estrogen). In addition, I kicked the hell out of a couple of things after the aching started and that probably put me over the edge. I also tried to ignore the pain for a couple of weeks before seeking treatment. I suspect many of you feel as I do, I feel like a hypochondriac every time I go into the doctor's office or mention a pain at home. I try to avoid going to the doctor's office unless I'm in a lot of pain or really sick.

What now? I'm on crutches and trying to learn how to carry crap around at the same time. I need to keep weight off the leg. Nuclear bone scan today or tomorrow and an appointment with an orthopedic doc Saturday.

Excellent small town medical treatment! Right from the start, I was treated very well by our local medical staff. I was able to get appointments immediately when I requested them.

• The first appointment with the NP was excellent, upon finding out I had hip pain, she was not shy about bringing in a medical text book and going "by the book" in trying to diagnose me. I refused an Xray and MRI, dismissing my pain as muscular. She prescribed some physical therapy.
• Dan Streubel, the physical therapist and athlete, listened to my concerns, treated my pain and suggested that I get the MRI (several times!).
• I saw my GP about some thyroid adjustments last week, he treated the thyroid stuff quickly and then got going on the hip (I didn't really talk about it, just limped into the office). He told me I had to go for an Xray immediately and set up an MRI for yesterday.
• I got the MRI, my appointment was 30 minutes late because the door was frozen shut on the MRI trailer. Welcome to Idaho!!! Because I'm not a patient patient, I walked immediately to the clinic where I bumped into the GP to tell him I had done the MRI and I wanted the results when he had a chance.
• Noon Tuesday, I got a call telling me that I had the stress fracture (not going to say who but thank you!!). Well, I freaked out a little bit because I was hoping for tendinitis or something. I called the local clinic IMMEDIATELY and got a walk in appointment for 1:30 pm. I was seen immediately by my GP. He gave me some basics, kept me from freaking out, arranged a bone scan, gave me lab orders, got me an appointment with the orthopedic guy much earlier than the girls at the appointment desk could.
• 8 pm Tuesday, I got a call from Dan, my physical therapist, checking on my mental health. Good call Dan!

I'm incredibly pleased that within hours of my MRI, I knew what the basic problem was, had an idea of what I could and couldn't do and had a follow up appointment set.

What now?

• I've got to figure out what caused this despite my good bone density and weight bearing activity. Low estrogen??
• Catch up on stuff I've let go over the last few months of running :)
• Create a workout program that allows me to maintain my fitness without hurting myself.
• I'm exhausted. Need to figure out what the hell I can do to not be so tired, headachy and nauseous. Adjust my hydrocortisone amounts? Adjust my hydrocortisone schedule? Both?
• Research about healing stress fractures and getting back to walking.
• This is an excellent opportunity to set new goals and complete goals that were avoided because I was too busy.

That's enough for now.