Injury Report: The MRI Results and Treatment

Hey, guys, happy Tuesday!

Yesterday I got to see Dr. Chin from The Running Institute for my MRI results.

Let me just say that I am very, very happy with how well I've been taken care of from these professionals.  Part of being an injured patient, let alone being an injured runner (we're the worst!), is having confidence in your Doctor and their team.  After a wonderful, hopeful first visit with Dr. Chin, I knew I was in great hands.  I felt very confident walking into their offices yesterday, knowing that no matter what was going on with my foot, that they were going to provide the best care for it and for me.

This team did not disappoint.

Dr. Chin pulled up my MRI and pointed out several issues, including a huge (HUGE) contusion on my heel that was *thisclose* to causing a stress fracture, acute Plantar Fasciitis, and what appeared to be a tear in my Plantar Fascia.  There were a couple of other minor issues, but ones that Dr. Chin assured me weren't abnormal for someone who's active.



Dr. Chin went over the treatment options with me.  *Very brief summaries of each:.

One was EPAT Shockwave treatment; I had originally sought out the help from this group of professionals because of this particular treatment -- my PT had referred me to them.  I did a (tiny) bit of research before seeing Dr. Chin; it seems legit and Dr. Chin did speak highly of it as a treatment option.

TENEX surgery -- again, another great option.  Dr. Chin had briefly gone over this option at my last visit.  I honestly thought that I was going to go for this, not really knowing how bad (or good) my condition was at the time.  There isn't a ton of downtime after the surgery, but you do have to go through PT.  Again, another legit treatment option.

Ultimately, I chose an AmnioFix injection.  Dr. Chin gave me a brochure on it, and went over it and the treatment process.  *VERY BASICALLY* -- this stuff acts like glue to treat microtears and pain.  The time in the boot is two to four weeks.

NO LIE:  The injection costs a pretty penny.  While going through the options (including costs) once more, I knew that this was something I wanted to try.  For the most part, I chalked this up to me buying time.  I'm very hopeful that it will be worth it!

The office was happy to get me squared away yesterday.  What a blessing.  Dr. Chin used an ultrasound to guide the injection, which was a fun process to observe.  No, I'm not trolling you.  I'm fascinated by stuff like this, even when it's happening to me.  :D

And just like that, I was on the road to recovery.

Soooooooooo yup, I'm in a boot, which means *all* of the restrictions, basically.  I did ask if I could swim -- Dr. Chin said this was fine, but to give it a few days (injection site + pool water = possibility for an infection disaster).  Cycling is out of the question.  I am going to check out the two gyms near me and my school to see if they have an Ergometer; this will probably be my best bet for trying to maintain any level of cardio. 

I ain't even mad, though!  For the past four months, THIS HAPPY is all that I have been thinking about.  Just knowing that it can happen again is keeping the corners of my mouth up up up!:)

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Have you had an awesome experience with healing?  TELL ME or link your blog post about it below!  I'll need some good reading material, haha!

What "Healthy" is not...

Oh hey!  Let me brief you on my day yesterday, and then I'm going on a major-crazy rant!

(Not really, I just wanted you to get excited for drams...but there's really no drama...)

My run yesterday morning = warm, humid, yucky, but kinda gorgeous.

+ tunes from one of my favorite books/movies.

I nearly turned around because of these jerk birds.  I was like "Uh, that's okay...I'll just go back...", and then I heard a couple of them hiss at me.  Well no freaking way am I going to let some future featherdusters scare me!  I walked slowwwwwwwly toward them, and they got off the path.  Take THAT!

I spent exactly three minutes and 34 seconds in the shower, then head off to work.  After a long day, I got home and apparently had the munchies?  I put these two things together, as though they were PB and J.  But they really, really aren't.  I guess I'm just in a snacky mood.

One PLLs episode, and I was on my way to the track to hang with the /R/iver /R/unners crew.

Beautiful?  Yes.  Hot as all getout?  YES YES YES.

We ended our night here; it was really nothing to do a write-up over, though.  We were kind of disappointed (too many $$$$, food wasn't great, service was blah), but at least there was beer.

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I figured that, since most of my posts are completely random, I might as well make one post that's actually filled with some information or ever-so-slightly educational.  So YEAH, Amanda, I'm using #TOLT for something...well...not as random as I usually use it for.:)

Here we go:  Healthy IS NOT --------->

1.  ...all about weight loss/being skinny.  Have you ever Google'd or searched for "Healthy" on Pinterest?  IT.IS.BA.NA.NAS how many "weight loss tips" show up in your feed.  As though that's the only way to true health, is more weight loss.  *shakes head furiously*

2.  (bouncing off of number 1) ...is only in regard to how you look.  Health can be synonymous with Wellness.  Depending on where you look, there are six to nine components of Wellness.  Here are the seven that I adhere to:

As you can see, our Wellness Wheel covers what I would consider the seven major chunks of our lives.  Your health is broken down into these categories to help prioritize, and to help discover how to enrich those categories individually.  I love subscribing to the idea that my Physical Wellness is nothing without my Social, Environmental, Intellectual, etc. Wellness.

3.  ...expensive.  It's easy to get caught up in all of the supplements, the organics (which we'd all strive for in a perfect World), the gym memberships, the personal training, etc.

Regarding organic foods and products:  Check out the Environmental Working Group's website regarding the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 -- which foods you SHOULD BE BUYING organic, and foods you can totes get away with not buying organic.

For instance!

Aaaaaaaaaaand...

In other words, if you don't want to spend a ton of money on food, at least try to buy the organic option from the foods on the Dirty Dozen list and avoid the non-organic.

4.  ...only all about six-pack abs.  I'm not hating on anyone here.  What I'm saying is that if your end goal is only to have a six-pack, then eat a ton of broccoli and chicken (not really all that healthy in the long run).  There's a solid reason why bodybuilders cycle their diets ------- staying on a low-fat, lower carb (and at some point, ketogenic diet) ain't great for you for too long.  And to be honest, unless you have a fantastic metabolism, that's what it takes to see more definition and striations in your muscles.

5.  ...Something-Free/Low-Something.  Gluten-free, sugar-free, lactose-free, fat-free, low-carb, low-sugar...I was going to say "the list goes on and on", but I think that's just about it.:)  Regardless, something that claims any of these things aren't HEALTHY.  Albeit, some of these things aren't UNHEALTHY, but they're for specific people (e.g. GF & LF).  If your body cannot take gluten or lactose, then by all means, those foods are for you.  Otherwise, the other foods (SF, FF, LC, etc.) are usually filled with yucky things.  Read labels!

6.  ..."Cleansing".  I.e. The Master Cleanse. Just STOP THIS.  You have an organ that is working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365(+1 leap year day) days a year, to make sure your systems aren't "dirty".  Best believe -- what your body doesn't want, it gets rid of.

7.  ...working out every single day.  Nope.  You hear that "everything in moderation" saying, mostly about diet and nutrition.  I say this about exercise and training, as well.  There are people out there who run or bike seven days a week.  Again, no hate, but you better get your rest at least one day out of the week.

The seventh is the most important point that I have to make.  Please keep an open mind here.

8.  ...UNATTAINABLE.  I've been in the fitness industry for ten years.  I'm constantly asked so many questions regarding weight-loss, "toning" (ugh, stop using that word, please), nutrition and "how can I get this fat off my ____________" (newsflash:  There's no such thing as spot reduction).  No matter how many times we hear it, no matter how often we see it and try to repeat it to ourselves, we shouldn't compare ourselves to anyone else.

But let's face it...most of us do.

And that's okay.

What I never, ever ever want someone to think is that "healthy" is unattainable.  They think a certain weight, a certain glow in the skin, flawless hair and nails, the perfect job, all of the friends, etc.

The best thing that I can possibly say about this is that you define your own "healthy".  Your very best version is the healthiest person you'll meet.  Compare yourself to THAT.  See how attainable that is?  See how perfect you are?  Everything you want is attainable, including Health.:)

/rant
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Tell me ONE THING that you're thinking out loud today!


Weirdest snack items you've put together?


FAVORITE music to listen to while running?
-I cannot even answer my own question here.  I listen to EVERYTHING.