They shoot horses, don't they?

Sunday June 5, 2011 (:-| )
I dreamt last night that the last few weeks did not relly happen and I would wake up this morning and go out for my usual Sunday morning long run. Last Fridays visit to the doctor did not produce good news.
The fracture of the lateral femoral condyle has developed a complication referred to as SONK - spontenous osteonecrosis of the knee. An area of the knee bone is dead. Oops this was not part of the plan. What to do now. Doctor recommneded no weight bearing for the next month (i.e. crutches), strong anti-inflammatories to  reduce the bone marrow swelling and then a follow up scan in 3 months time.
Prognosis for this disease varies from good to awful. Depending on the area of dead bone - it may reverse itself or it may continue to expand leading to osteoarthitis and crumbling of the bone. It is ironic really as I have never had any running related problems with my knees.So at best my running life is on hold for 3 months or at worst running is over for good.
If I were a horse I would have been shot and put out of my mysery.   Trying to stay positive and keeping it in perspective, only one of my wheels is broken but the motor is still good. I will be staying focussed on finding a use for my vestigial arms by taking up swimmining and paddling.

Winter is Here

Wednesday June 1, 2011 ( :-< )

First day of winter and I am feeling decreasingly excellent. 

I tried running last week, at the encouragement of sports doctor and the physio,  as according to both, the hamstring tendon tear should not restrict me from running.   So last Thursday, I nervously trotted off and about 5 minutes into the run the knee pain was just as bad as during the TNF race, 10 days ago.  Figuring it was just neural patterning ( i.e.expecting pain and registering it even when it is not really there) I persisted for another 50 minutes before finally limping home in tears.  Back to the osteopath, the sports doc and then the physio. The osteo suggested it may be a meniscus tear, the doctor thought maybe bursa so suggested options of either  Ultrasound with cortisone injection or MRI and the physio thinks overactive hamstrings which could be addressed by taping and then running again.  I decided to take the physios advice, but waited a few days for the knee pain to disappear. I was encouraged by Hammers fine recent form. Last Saturday, he ran another 10k PB at the Striders 10k at North Head - a blistering 42.45 and fifth in his age group.  

First Day of Winter and the Weather is Fine

So Wednesday,  first day of winter, the rain had stopped and what better way to celebrate then hitting the road. But a few minutes into the run, the knee pain started again. This time I did not persist but walked home and booked in for an MRI of the left knee in the afternoon. 

The MRI news is not good - turns out I have been trying to run on a fractured knee. Who would have guessed? A subchondral femoral condyle fracture with swelling of the bone marrow in the tibia and femur. Most likely sustained from the trauma of the fall on the night run a month ago.   I am  back to see the sports doctor on Friday for a full prognosis and treatment. The best bit of news though is that - it is not an overuse injury.  So the learning continues.