I have been having pain in the back of my leg for the last three months. I have had both knees operated on and limited my running significantly. I thought I had a bakers Cyst again. My orthopedist suggested an MRI to check things out. Today I got the results. I was totally not prepared for what I heard. "Your knees area mess. There is worn cartiledge, ripped ligaments and an assortment of other damage. The report was two pages long. Bottom line - NO MORE RUNNING EVER!
I haven’t been running much as of late because I just didn’t want to. That was my choice. To be told that unequivocally you may not run was different. I no longer had choice.
I went home and told my wife. She suggested that we go into Central Park for a bike ride. Loop after loop I gazed longingly at the runners. It was so sad. I had such a profound sense of loss. I could no longer count myself as one of them.
I am going to find a duathlon comprised of swimming and biking until I get, as Monty Python says,“Another flesh wound.”
I feel you pain. Well, sort of. I have a lingering calf problem that just won’t go away. I have a race on May 1 and I don’t know how I’m going to get through the run. Done about 5 total miles in the last 3 months. Hate it his time of year when the weather gets warm.
Oh well, I’m taking our my frustrations on my new bike and in the pool.
Holy crap, I’m so sorry about that. I would feel the same way because even though I’m not that fast of a runner, it is a huge part of who I am and it provides me great stress relief. You are what, 60ish? Look at it this way. You have had a great 60 years of running. Most people don’t get that chance because they get a doctor’s report similar to your much, much earlier in life. Or they don’t get any years of running in because they made a choice to sit on the couch on Saturdays watching college football drinking beer, eating wings and Twinkies. You have done the best with what your knees have given you. Sorry, once again.
Have you looked into the POSE method of running? It’s kept me injury free for four years. Basically I could not run without pain in my knees and hips while landing on my heels. Once I made the change to midfoot running I can pound out the miles without fear of injury.
Seriously, that’s got to be tough to take in. Hang in there, and as someone else mentioned, the silver lining is that the aquathon format showed up at just the right time, right?
In addition to the Aquabike, you can swim/bike/DNF anything you want to.
Can you walk long distances? You can do halfs and IM and walk 'em–no its not glorious, but do you love the excitement, the people, etc.? And you can wear people out on the bike and then say “Have a nice run!”
I’m sorry to hear that. Just wanted to mention that you may want to consider a second opinion. There are doctors out there who understand what we’re doing, and some that don’t.
My wife was told never to run again. Her doctor, old school didn’t believe in running. A second doctor, specialized in sports injuries, did want to give it a shot. She ran the NY marathon 6 months later.
Thanks for your input. I have been with my orthopedists for many years and I have had both knees operated on. When comparing my previous MRI and this one it showed progressive degeneration.
I am closing the book on running and working on my on-impact sports: swimming and biking. I knew it was coming it was just a matter of when.
