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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Hip strength: 1 out of 10

That's what I read on my chart at the PT's. I went back to the PT I saw last year, and it was embarrassing to see  the difference a year of injury makes. Last year, all my muscles were strong, 10/10.This year? Some are 1/10!
Things I learned:
1. Muscles are very deconditioned. I'll need to make a slow comeback to allow them to regain strength.
2. Hips and hamstrings are weak, but calves, quads, and adductors are strong. They pull the leg inward as I strike, rotating the femur.
3. Fractures are at the area of torsion.
4. Allowing complete healing of the bone this time plus strengthening weak hips and hamstrings should prevent recurrence. But I have to go slowly!
The good news - the BEST news for me, I think - is that my PT immediately recognized my problem from a collegiate runner he'd treated last year. The runner had the exact symptoms I've had, including two femoral fractures, and his weaknesses were identical to mine. His gait analysis video looked exactly like mine! He hasn't been back in over a year (incidentally, his aggressive rehab included running on the Alter-G for an hour daily throughout the fracture healing time once the PT's felt his hip strength was adequate to control the twist of the bone). So, I feel like this group of PTs is experienced in treating my particular combination of gait, footstrike, muscular imbalance, and running history.

Also in the good news category, I've been on calcitonin nasal spray for a weak now, and my pain has subsided considerably. No more waking up at night in pain, or sudden deep aching. Actually, it's just the occasional reminder now.
Bad news? The spray irritates my nose. I'm already prone to nosebleeds, and for the past week I've had one or two everyday (I had one on the road, in the rain, on a bike today. NOT FUN AT ALL.)

I feel a lot more positive now after seeing the physical therapist. It's the first time anyone has pointed to a cause of the problem: before I just heard,"Rest it". Now I'm hearing, "Rehab it, and here's how."


12 comments:

  1. Whoooooooot! You certainly were due for some good news. :)

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  2. Yay!!!! Rehab is a plan for progress so that is awesome!!!!

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  3. Oh how wonderful to have helpful news!!

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  4. that does sound like good news, glad that you are on a path to run again. And real bummer on the nose bleeds, I get those sometimes too, they are scary.

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  5. This is GREAT news!! (Well; except for the nosebleeds.) So glad to hear you're getting somewhere, finally!!

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  6. GREAT NEWS!!! Sounds like you're with the appropriate PT and you're on the road to recovery. Michael sometimes struggles with the nose thing too, not fun - But glad you got some good news today - looks like soon you'll Feels So Right. Thank you.

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  7. Oh hope... Light at the tunnel. I love that. That PT is a keeper. It is so important to trust the person who is trying to help you.

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  8. Great news! I had a feeling you just needed to find the right person's help. :)

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  9. Fantastic! So glad you are getting some actual helpful information about treatment.

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  10. Hooray! Hopefully these exercises and tips will help. Glad the spray is working but hopefully you can stop that soon and save your nose. It's MUCH better to have a plan of action than just a "take 6-8 months off" ugh.

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  11. I am so happy for you! Now you will be able to catch up on all the Alabama songs you have missed while practicing your recovery exercises!

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  12. So glad to hear this. Take it slow...patience is a virtue :)

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