Pez is my problem

I had no idea what I'd done wrong - I got good shoes, I started my running program as if I'd never exercised before, I'd even taken almost a week off - yet here I was on a Sunday afternoon, laid up with my knees on ice.  This isn't how it was supposed to be.

So when things weren't better this morning, I finally decided to go to an orthopedist. I may not know how I got here, but I hoped the doctor could tell me how to get better.  After describing the workouts I'd done the last week, checking both knees for pain, and doing an x-ray, he confirmed what he'd expected. "Pez Bursitis"

Well, "pes anserine bursitis" to be technical (but I swear it sounded like "pez")

Apparently, even though I was convinced it wasn't the reason, my running down that hill last Monday did more damage than I imagined.  All the first week, my first running interval didn't start until after I'd gone up, over, and down the hill near my house - but last Monday, it started at the top of the hill.  And down the hill I ran, trying not to fall in the dark, pounding my knees in a way they've never been pounded before.  It was no wonder they felt like somebody had whacked them with a board.  In a way, I had.

Fortunately, the diagnosis - while frustrating - results in a prognosis I can live with:  Rest the knees as much as possible, ice 1-2x per day, take Tylenol for pain (my Crohn's prevents any ibuprofen or related anti-inflammatories), and let them heal.  And, most importantly, I can keep running - "Just take it easy, and No More Hills."

That shouldn't be too difficult for me.  It's pretty flat around here.  I can extend my warmup walk to the bottom of the one hill close by.  And during my years of cycling, I've become pretty adept at avoiding climbs - now, at least when I'm on foot, I'll have to avoid descents too.

Comments

[Jim Brasic]

I am sure you have ton's of people giving you advice, but a big help for me was taking a "Good Form Running" class. These are sponsored by New Balance and are free from a local running store. It was on my running store website ( http://www.davesrunning.com/index.php/nav-left/resources/good-form-running/ ). They film you, go over your technique, etc. It wasn't intimidating and I got a ton out of it. The changes I made in my running really helped me avoid injuries, esp my knee that was bothering me.

[suitcaseofcourage]

Thanks Jim - that's great advice and I appreciate your sharing it. I'm definitely going to go for an evaluation soon