They Try to Make Me Go to Rehab...

I called NovaCare immediately after I woke up on Friday morning to try to schedule a free injury screening at the Lake Zurich clinic.  Of course they didn't have anything open.  After a bit of phone tag I finally scheduled an evaluation at the Loop office on Wabash for Tuesday morning during work.  Work was OK with me taking the time off to go to the evaluation since it would only take about 15 to 20 minutes.

My ITB definitely felt worse this morning and I seriously regretted getting a massage and having the therapist work it so hard.  I figured it would be like the foam roller x2 if the therapist worked his magic on it.  Then again, I still have been bad about the foam roller!!  Honestly, I need to make it part of my daily routine - I had been good until about Sunday and then I fell off the boat again.  :(

My ITB pulled a bit on the way to work as well.  Definitely not a good sign!! At this point, I have pretty much accepted the fact that the evaluator will tell me to do a full rehab.  That will pretty much wipe out my plan to become a marathoner this year.  I mean, let's face it.  I'm not going to try to pick up that program in the middle of it and hope to get my ass to the starting line.  That's just not smart.  And, if the world ends in 2012, then I will have lived a life never having run a marathon!  I doubt it'll end, but nevertheless... I digress.

I went over to NovaCare on Wabash which is a short walk from the office.  The facility is small, but has what it needs and the staff was really friendly.

Basically, my evaluation boils down to this:

• Weak glutes and hips - having weak hips as a runner is bad because it causes pressure to be put on other areas - in my case, my right IT band.
• We did strength tests, which I failed.  He had me on my side with my leg extended and he told me to try to keep it up as he applied pressure to it. He only had his hand on it for like a second before my leg came crashing down. Not good.
• I probably shouldn't run in my beautiful Brooks Pure Flows ever again. :(  They aren't supportive enough for my feet since I have flat arches.  I kind of knew this going it, but wanted to give them a try anyway.  Back to the Adreneline GTS shoes I go (if I can run).
• My right kneecap is not sliding the way it should due to the tightness of my ITB.  I'm not having knee problem now, but I probably will later if I don't fix my ITB.

His recommendation was as follows:

• Get seen by sports medicine doctor who will do a more through evaluation of my issues and recommend that I get full rehab done.  I scheduled an appointment for next Thursday with this doctor who's supposed to be good.  He's a runner so he supposedly gets the "runner mentality" whatever that means.  And, I can just go to the Wabash office which is even better.  I really did not want to have to get on the Red Line (I hate the El) to get there or make a special weekend trip to do so.
• Have gait analysis done - which I definitely will if I can run!  The evaluator said that maybe my injuries are coming from my form not necessarily what shoes I wear and maybe I can just fix that and wear what I want.  This, I highly doubt, but only an extensive gait analysis will tell.
• Be fitted properly for shoes - I've done this before, but I may as well do it again.  I got to visit the Running Institute while I was at NovaCare.  It's located in the same building.  They do a gait analysis program there and they have a running shoe guru who can help you find the perfect running shoes for you.  I definitely have to do that.  I would hope that he's more knowledgeable about shoes than the people at the running shops.

How do I feel?  Well... I kinda knew that this day would come since I hadn't been taking care of myself.  I probably only made it through the 2011 season because I didn't push myself as hard as I could have.  I took some time off toward the end of the season so I could make it to Big Sur. 

It sucks to think that I may not be able to run the marathon this year and that I will lose out on $135 (race fee) and $170ish (training program).  More so, it sucks that the activity that I love very much will be put on the back burner while I rehab.  I hated having to rehab my knee and the fact that it took me out of running for about 4-5 months.  I can't possibly think about what I will do if I can't run.

Running is my passion and my stress release.  I love it so much and it sucks to think that it will most likely not be happening for a while.

But, it is what it is and if I wanted to be like my dad and be running when I am in my 60s then I have to get better about everything and fix these issues so I don't have anymore injuries (if I can help it).

And, maybe I can find some new sports to fit my fancy.  I have always been interested in yoga and maybe I will do that while I rehab (if they let me).