My right hip has been hurting me since the 10k. I was able to run and work out, so I just figured (hoped) it would go away. Yesterday I begged my neighbor to watch the kids so I could squeeze in a three mile run. Approximately .25 miles into it, I had to stop and walk. My hip felt like it was going to come flying off my leg and explode into a bunch of tiny bony bits.
I’ll admit it: my frustration level bubbled up and over. I sat in my neighbor’s kitchen and said, “Please, what next? Not the running! PLEASE NOT THE RUNNING!” It’s not just the exercise factor; it’s a mental thing, and having goals to work toward make life easier. If I can pick off this target, I can pick off the next. It mirrors my life: if I can get to the next hurdle, and through it, the next one won’t be so bad. Or painful.
A friend recommended a local sports medicine doc. I called and begged for an appointment today. They squeezed me in at 1. I was initially turned off by the plethora of sales stuff out there - shoes that firm your butt by walking? Yep, and I’ve got a diet pill that will allow you to eat cake and donuts and hot dogs and still lose 10 pounds a week. The doc also conveniently gives Botox injections and prescriptions for Latisse - the eyelash lengthening drug. I was confused - was I in a plastic surgeon’s office, or a sports medicine office? Wait, it’s sports medicine because there on the wall are the PT beds and balls and some weird looking treadmill thing.
I was taken aback by the odd reptilian color of my doctor’s eyes. They were a blazing green. I found I couldn’t look straight at them. I’m hoping they were colored contacts. The exam was quick. Not sure if the hip is bursitis or a stress fracture. Ankle is missing a ligament; nothing can be done about that other than to strengthen the muscles around the bone by standing on one foot as much as possible and balancing. A cortisone shot was quickly ordered up and I was told to stock up on Naproxen and take 2 twice a day for inflammation
Never having had a cortisone shot before, I was a little nervous. First she tried injecting it into my hip while I stood up. When I nearly passed out and started to sway, she decided to remove the needle and put me on the table. The needle went back in; so did the cortisone. During the shot experience, I asked the question, “If I have bursitis, why now?” The answer?
“Our creator meant for your body to be 120, 125 pounds max.”
Blink blink.
I looked up at her. “Did I tell you I’ve lost 35 pounds in the last year?”
“No,” she said. “But that will make the next 25 even easier to lose.”
Blink, blink.
“I’ve been stuck at this weight for a while. I was thinking I’d like to lose another 10-15. I’m never going to look like I did in college or before kids, and I’m completely OK with that.”
“I need to set you up with my nutritionist.”
Blink, blink.
“I do Weight Watchers. Works great for me, when I work it.”
“We have a great nutritionist here.”
“Like I said, no thanks. I have a therapist, a psychiatrist, and a general practitioner.” Unsaid: and even if I DID want a nutritionist, I’d go to someone who specializes in my particular needs, not some random Sports Medicine person.
I was sent out with a script for PT and some massage therapy and told to follow up in two weeks.
The elevators had glass doors. 30 minutes before, I was feeling pretty good about my accomplishments. At the present moment, all I could see were the problem areas of my body. I could still see her collarbones jutting out as she stabbed the needle into my hip and probably stared disgustedly at my love handles. Perhaps in her world, everyone should look like a starving triathlete. Maybe it’s just the nature of the job.
Either way, hearing what basically amounted to “Fat Girls Don’t Run” was not particularly inspirational.
I’m going to get my PT and massage Thursday, and then I’m finding a new doc for the follow up.
Sorry you are dealing with the hip issue on top of dealing with life in general… I can’t believe she actually said that crap to you about the weight. That’s A+ bedside manner right there…. don’t let her comment get you down. The botox has obviously gotten to her brain. Honestley, I would send a complaint to their office manager.
Sorry about your experience there. I saw her right before the race for ITB syndrome and hip bursitis. I needed the cortisone so I could walk without pain. I was put off by all the commercialism, but figured she had found her niche, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior to you.
I highly recommend Chad Taylor at Sports & Occupational Rehab in American Family-Short Pump. I used to work with him, and I just went to him for some PT help. He could also recommend another doc for your follow-up.
Hope you feel better soon & I see you running with the RLAM group.
WOW. That doctor sounds like a mean, nasty cross between a Stepford wife and a compulsively athletic and/or anorexic sorority girl. So sorry you had to deal with that. Perhaps you could simply regard her as another obstacle you encountered, and proceed with pride to the next step of whatever your (self-defined, thankyouverymuch) path needs to be. What you’ve accomplished so far sounds pretty damned awesome, and worth celebrating. No doubt, the rest will be too.
ALSO, strongly suggest sticking to a regular anti-inflammatory med regimen for a bit, whether or not you’re sympomatic at any given time. Dicofenac is good if naproxen sodium isn’t making enough of a difference. (Note: I am neither a medical professional nor an athlete, but deal with a fair amount of neuromuscular and orthopedic pain of unclear origin. Your mileage may vary, etc.)
Good luck. Rah rah, cheer cheer, you’re doing great!
She’s an idiot. You look great.
How did you keep from bitch slapping her after she said “No,” she said. “But that will make the next 25 even easier to lose.”? I would’ve bitch slapped her.
You do not need to lose 25 pounds. There’d be nothing left.
People like you and I don’t take nutritionist recommendations from someone who also gives botox injections. WE DO NOT DO.
I am proud of you.
That’s terrible! Don’t let her get to you, I can’t believe she said that. Good for you running toward your goals! I ran a 10k in Charleston the same day as yours and I haven’t gotten back out there since recovering from that (knees, ouch). Keep it up and don’t listen to some rude appearance-driven doctor.
What the!? Whatever lady! Grrr… I had a doc who treated me like that once, and I’m ashamed to stay it was yet another thing that stuck with me and that I dwelled on for years. It’s not worth it and it’s just not true in your case, so write her off for her stupidity. Sorry Homes. I know how much that can shake a girl…from experience.
It sounded like from the conversation we had, that minus the weight comment (which, she’s a doctor, one, and treating an injury, two, so from a medical standpoint weight is going to be brought up, regardless of the patients weight or hangups about said weight.
The MBTs are akin to the plethora of pharma junk that drug reps throw out there. Does that practice recommend those shoes? No. Do they get money if you buy them from there instead of Saxon? No. Just like with Latisse, it’s pharmaceutical crap, in shoe form.
Knowing her/her family for as long as I have, I’m greatly surprised that faith was brought up. Especially with a new patient.
The PT there is great. She’s young, about my age. Energetic. Wear running clothes, or clothes you can move in. She’ll go through what you can do as far as exercises/strengthening and print out a sheet of the strengthening exercises to continue at home.
The Massage therapist there isn’t too great. If you think it will help, go. Depending on your insurance, it may be included in your PT copay as well, which is nice. I know the name of a kick-ass MT, and I like her work a lot more than the new age chick who is at this practice currently.
I’m sorry you heard what she said as ‘Fat Girls Don’t Run.’ She has seen me 30 lbs heavier than I am now, at my current weight, and 40 lbs lighter. The entire time she has treated me with respect and together we have modified my exercise/eating plan (because I refuse to see her RD).