Entry bubble Muscle Pains

By: Colleen | September 23, 2009 | Category: Health

Apparently because I've turned 26 my body has started to break down on me. Okay, that's being a little dramatic, but it feels like the truth.

Last year I set a goal to run in and survive my first 10-miler. I did, and it was great. After years of just hitting the treadmill to keep myself from looking like a whale, it was nice to have another purpose for my efforts. After completing the 10, I figured why not try for a half-marathon? It's only 3.3 miles more.

This leads me to today. I'm trying to get serious about this training, but my body just won't let me. On an average day, I like to run about 40 minutes and I can do that comfortably. A few weeks ago my left achilles started to get tender and sensitive. This is not an uncommon injury for a runner, and I've had to deal with it being much worse in the past. I'd let it rest a few days, and then get back to business. It would be fine for that first run back, but only get irritated again as I continued my work-outs. With lots of stretching and icing, I seem to have that under control.

Now my problems have shifted to my right calf muscle. It's very, very tight and is significantly painful enough to not let me get much past 20 minutes of running. As far as I know, I'm doing everything to ease this away, but it won't budge. I stretch, apply heat compression, massage, and you can smell the icy-hot on me a mile away. (Which may have a direct effect on my dating life...)

Since I haven't been able to train the way I'd like due to injury, I've started taking spin classes. Spinning is NO JOKE and it applies a lot less pressure to my joints and calf muscles. Now I'm starting to worry if I'll be able to fit in the proper training I need before the race in November.

Any runners / athletes out there have any similar experiences? What helped / hurt your healing process? Any recommendations?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [11] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: calf_muscle   injury   marathon   running  

 

Entry bubble Trampoline (un)Safety

By: Joanne | September 08, 2009 | Category: Health

Joanne's swolen, bruised left foot and ankleEach year tens of thousands of people (mostly children) are seen in emergency rooms for injuries they suffer as a result of trampoline accidents. This year, I’m one of them.

You see, the accident happened weeks ago while I was having a little fun with my daughter on a trampoline. It’s important that children are supervised on trampolines, and besides, I think they can be fun to bounce around on too.

We were having a grand time bouncing around, until I turned my ankle on a landing. I knew it was hurt pretty badly, and it showed all the signs of a serious sprain. I didn’t go to the doctor right away (mistake) because I was certain that I didn’t break a bone (wrong). The ankle seemed to be healing well, until suddenly it became very painful and swollen again. A sensible friend who is a nursing student shuffled me off to the emergency room for an x-ray.

So here I sit with my ankle elevated and in a splint. I have an avulsion fracture.

There are a few lessons I take away from this:

  • Practice trampoline safety especially not having too many people on a trampoline.
  • If you have a trampoline at home, you may want to consider changing your insurance in case someone hurts themselves on your trampoline and decides to sue you.
  • I’ll never avoid a doctor visit when I have a serious ankle injury again.
  • My mom is right – trampolines are dangerous!

| View Comments [0] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: injury   joanne   safety   trampoline  

 

Entry bubble Health Care Reform

By: Joanne | June 16, 2009 | Category: Health

Two doctors standing together, holding a clip board

The topic of health care reform is everywhere. It’s on the TV, the radio and the conversation is even happening in your living room. We’re in for some big changes…maybe.

Personally, I think it’s a good idea to look for ways to improve the system. This weekend I was talking about health care reform with an older man that I know. Before he was old enough for Medicare coverage, he didn’t have any health insurance. Because he had no health insurance, he lived in terrible pain every day because he needed knee replacement surgery, but couldn’t afford the price tag: $30,000 per knee. When he turned 65 he had the surgery and now he’s a new man – mobile, productive, pain free. So he’s one person, but don’t we all know someone who has suffered either physically or financially?

I’m lucky because my employer helps with heath insurance costs. I still pay a lot for health insurance each month, but I’ve got it good compared to so many people in this country.

Here’s my biggest concern about health care reform – I’m afraid that the voices of the people won’t be heard - so speak up. If you think we need health care reform in our country, let the President know. Share your story and ideas for improving our health care system with the Department of Health and Human Services and also contact your representatives in congress and tell them how they can reform the health care system to better serve you.

| View Comments [15] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: care   health   illness   injury   insurance   joanne   medicare   reform  

 

Entry bubble Breaking down and calling the doc

By: Jess | February 19, 2009 | Category: Health

The human kneeI’m a runner, and I have a bum knee. Last summer when running hurt so much it brought me to tears, I decided it was time to see the doc. I was sent to physical therapy where I did a bunch of exercises to get things taken care of and off I went when I was fixed.

Except, it turns out I wasn’t so fixed.

So this time when the nagging pain came back, I did a little research. I punched the name of my issue into WebMD, into USA.gov, into every runner’s training resource I could find.

After reading about the symptoms and causes, and running a 5K that left me hobbling around for the rest of the weekend, I finally broke down and called a doctor.

I’m pretty sure he’ll send me for x-rays like last time to make sure nothing is structurally wrong, and then I can only hope for good news.

From what I’ve read it sounds like patellofemoral syndrome (or patellar tracking disorder) takes up to several months to heal. I’m still crossing my fingers that my doc will have some voo-doo magic that will heal me up right quick so I can run a race I’m registered for at the end of March.

I've been pretty lucky that this is the only real medical problem I've ever faced and could easily find information on it. Where do you look for advice and information when you have medical questions or need advice? I'm always interested in hearing about what resources are available.

As for my knee, cross your fingers for me and I’ll keep you posted on how the appointment goes.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: injuries   injury   jess   knee   knees   overuse   racing   runner's   running   sports  

 

Entry bubble Root Canal Awareness Week

By: Colleen | March 26, 2008 | Category: Health

Direct from the "strange but true" file: Next week is Root Canal Awareness Week!root canal

Sponsored by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), it lasts from March 30-April 5th.

An endodontist is a dentist that specializes in root canals.

This year endodontists unite to stress the importance of protecting your teeth during sports activities with the theme "Watch Your Mouth!"—a phrase I typically associate with my childhood and mother.

While mouth guards are typically associated with full-contact sports like football and hockey, it is actually eight times more likely a dental injury will occur while playing a game like soccer.

Parents and coaches should encourage (or flat out force) their budding Michael Jordans and Mia Hamms to wear a protective mouth guard for all sports. (Although I'm pretty sure your young Tiger Woods should be okay without one—unless severely uncoordinated.)

It may not be the coolest accessory on the field or court, but it can really pay off. In high school, after thousands of dollars in orthodontia my sister took an elbow right to the kisser. You better believe the very next day I was not only sporting the coolest red and black Nike Air high-tops ever, but a bright yellow "boil and bite" mouth guard as well. I had prom dates lining up around the block.

Regardless, I can credit my beautiful pearly whites to protecting my teeth during all those years of athletic competition. A public "thanks" to Mom and Pops.

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to injure oneself while engaged in athletics. For additional information check out "Sports Injuries"—and keep smiling!

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: canal   colleen   injury   protection   root   sports   teeth