This was the first time I'd been in for my knees in 18 or so years . When the doctor saw my history and examined my knee he sent in for x-rays of both . My left looked ok, the arthritis I knew was there wasn't too bad , the screws were where they should have been . My problem knee also had the arthritis and a bone spur in the back , which still seems strange to me . My knee cap was ok , I have had a lateral release in the past in the back of my mind I was hoping it was still tracking correctly .
Here's where I went stupid , he came in with the shot . I have had this knee injected many times in the past but it's been at least 15 years . The TRT was 7 weeks away I was entered in the 50 it was a huge part of my training for the Pony Express 100 my brain got scrambled and I took the shot . It hurt . I had told him I had a 50 mile race in 7 weeks he said I should be fine . I asked when I could run again and he said tomorrow .
It felt ok so the next day I ran 3.5 miles at lunch on the treadmill , didn't feel good but was mechanically working correctly . The next day I woke up to a canteloupe sized knee and pain . I called they the doctor they asked about other reactions , fever , redness , sick . I told them no I don't believe there was any infection I felt fine . They said do the ice , don't run , NSAID's if it's no better call in a week . It never got better I waited a week and attemped a sad 1 mile run , same thing mechnically it worked , there was pain , the next day even more swelling . I didn't call I have an appointment on the 2nd and I just don't think they can do anything anyway .
I knew I had to give up my spot on the TRT which breaks my heart , it was my first ultra and I have done it every year since . On the web site it had a 350 person waiting list so there was no point in me holding on to my spot hoping for fairy dust or a miracle overnight cure .
So I'm now 6 weeks past the Silver State . There is some improvement but as long as I'm weight bearing there is pain . I am wearing a Professionals Choice knee brace that I have had forever because it's one of the only on the market you can ride in . I use my Cold Flex compression polos every day . I am taking my regular joint supplement Joint Health from springtimeinc.com plus MSM , HA and I have added the Hammer Tissue Rejuvinator so I could get off the NSAID's . I also purchased a TENS/e stim unit to help my quads . I do a bunch of straight leg raises and stretches every day . I have done as little as possible since my last run June 11th .
My plan right now is to start walking/hiking this weekend see how that goes . If it goes well I will add miles to each walk/hike and start on my bike . If the bike/hike plan goes ok for two weeks I will try to run again .
Looking back on it I believe that my broken first metatarsal in my left foot may have caused the problem . I kept running on it because I could, I know it changed how I was running and I think it put too much strain on my right side/knee . On the positive side it is now healed and I have no pain in my foot for the first time in 6 months .
I may or may not do an MRI if the doctor thinks that's the way to go next. I wouldn't have any type of surgery so I'm not sure what value there would be . I will not ever do another cortisone shot and I think my improvement is simply it wearing off . I may or may not update this after my appointment .
( I didn't not use the spell checker but will come back and possibly edit typos sorry )
TENS EMS unit
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