The Tiger Rebuilt: August 2013

I feel something so right

Doing the wrong thing

I feel something so wrong

Doing the right thing

I could lie, could lie, could lie

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

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One Republic - Counting Stars

This special edition will contain my first Tri Race Report. As well as injury analysis and my emotional experiences. So those of you who've been waiting for an update sorry for the delay. Sit back, grab a glass of wine and enjoy.

ITBS

Illiotibial Band (Friction) Syndrome, the name of my enemy.

It began mid June. I was running on the treadmill doing a 5k warmup before my swim workout. About 2 miles in my leg started to become fatigued. Which is fairly odd because I've been regularly doing 4-5 miles, however, something felt off, somewhat different. My shins started to hurt, then the very edge of my quads started hurting and then my ankle stop lifting. I had to stop something was wrong. I figured I was just tired so I jumped into the pool and did 15 laps.

I didn't think anything of it until later that night when I could barely walk. I was limping so bad. I didn't go and see a doctor because I was so scared as to what they might have said. I was escorting a female friend of mine home after a show. It was so bad it was like she was walking me home not the other way around.

I healed up in a few days and rested a few more. I biked and swam for a bit as part of my normal training regimen but stayed off for a few extra days. I ran again a week and a half later and did 5k with no problem at all. So I thought oh yes i'm back. The issue was gone?

No not even close. It happened again a week later in July. After my metric century ride the pain came back after a mile run. I needed to see a doctor. Something was terribly wrong with this picture. I was unbelievably terrified. So I went to see my primary. Unfortunately my primary was not there so I had been given one of her colleagues.

At first she didn't know what to make of it. She said it was Osgood–Schlatter disease. All I needed to do was do RICE. (rest, ice, compression, elevation) Something told me that she didn't have a clue what she was talking about. I mean she wasn't a sports medicine doctor and her hesitation. She prescribed anti-inflam medicine and sent me on my way.

2 weeks rest and I could try again. I swam the entire two weeks. My swimming is getting better and I was doing well. I put on my running shoes got on the treadmill at the gym. It happened again. I called my coach and was pacing back and forth talking to him. I was probably out of the race.

After the third time my knee started to give up on me I began to lose it. Mentally I was going through so many emotions. I believe the below image summarizes it very well. I was ready to cut off the leg. I felt like my dream was stolen from me with this weak and frail body.

I felt all of these emotions. I mean all of them. Despair, pain, grief, anger, hatred, desperation, madness, fear. I was desperately seeking a quick fix. I cursed God, I yelled at people I shouldn't have. I dropped out of the Chicago 10k because of it. I haven't even been able to train solidly for the Chicago Triathlon. I moved from the Olympic Distance to the Sprint distance. I still don't know what the future will hold. I'm very worried.

I came close to asking the doctor to remove my leg from the knee down. I was prepared to make a life without it if it meant I could continue doing races. It was a legitimate thought in my head. I mean I've seen so many ironman competitors without legs, why not me?

I don't mean to be so harsh in my words but that is how I truly felt. Here is a funny photo.

I saw 3 doctors, had 6 Xrays, 1 MRI. My medical bills have yet to arrive but I expect something like the following image. I'm sure my bills are in the thousands of dollars. My physical therapy sessions are $600/session without insurance. (My insurance does cover it but I need to pay a co-pay)

Another funny photo to lighten the mood.

I am in physical therapy trying my best to resolve ITBS. There are so many issues I want/need to confront. I have a very severe form of ITBS. The symptoms cripple me. ITBS is a very generalized diagnosis. It affects people different. Most runners get ITBS. For me I basically get to the point where my leg shuts down. For others its just pain.

What is ITBS? We need to understand what the band is first. It is a ligament that helps to rotate your hips, it also contributes to stabilizing lateral movement in the knee. ITBS is common amongst runners and is generally referred to as an overuse injury.

The ligament attaches near the knee and will rub if the ligament is too tight. That is what its doing for me. It's rubbing and getting inflamed. This causes me to start running differently which causes a cascading failure of my muscles in my legs.

Why do I still strive? Why do I still want to do triathlons if i'm so broken, so injured?

For her

For her and for dogs like her. That was my foster pup Mini Girl. I love her to death. She's such a brat but she deserves a forever home. I wish I could keep her and be her dad, alas I can't. My schedule is crazy and I wouldn't be able to give her enough hours in the day.

I volunteer and I joined Team PAWS to help animals like Mini Girl.

http://www.pawschicago.org/adoptions/dogs-available-for-adoption/mini-girl-2/

Scores of animals are killed each year due to overcrowding in city pounds because its impossible to care for that many animals with so little resources. It's places like PAWS Chicago that save the day. I do my very best to contribute to PAWS but I need your help as well. If I was a millionaire i'd donate a big portion of my health to PAWS, but I'm not.

I keep emphasizing it but, please if you could throw together a few bucks i'd really appreciate it.

https://tinyurl.com/TigerRebuilt4PAWS

....To Be Continued....