Debating Runners!

[FinalEnigma]

An idea struck me while out running today, I'm trying to get in shape and get some exercise, and I'm sure there's others on here who are as well, so why not do it together and be accountable to one another? we all know that if you just do it on your own, with nobody to keep you honorable you're gonna cheat.

Now You don't have to run if running isn't your thing, you can walk, swim, bike, skip, fly or marathon somersault down the street if you like, the important thing is to get some exercise and keep up with it. You don't actually have to debate while running either, although that is worth bonus points.

I'm making a usergroup for this, and I know it's a bit silly and has nothing to do with the forum, but this is for everyone who's trying to get in shape, lose weight, or bring down their mile time.

I know I'm a few days late, but here's my new years resolution: To outrun everyone on DC&R! Now who's gonna stop me?
That's gonna be a tough one I know, as I'm not much of a runner at the moment, and I know at least Confused can outrun me, and I doubt shes gonna give ground without a fight.
And I know some of you have resolutions to get in shape. according to a poll on the news a few days ago that's the most common resolution, so who's up for doing it together? maybe a little competition and fun while we are at it?

So if you are interested, just post here with your current status(running time and distance, biking, swimming, walking, weight you're trying to lose[don't have to tell us your weight, just how much your trying to lose!]) and keep us updated every week or two weeks and post your latest accomplishment. Feel free to join the usergroup Debating Runners as well.(which I'm making right after this post)
I'll put up my mile time tomorrow once I get it timed.

[FinalEnigma]

Well, I'm not running for a few days.

Guess I was wrong. I wasn't going to run, but I gave in and ran anyway. I noticed it starting about the third mile, and by the time I got home, my leg was numb below the knee - still that way now a couple hours later. It isn't discolored or anything like my circulation is messed up, so I'm guessing swelling is pushing on a nerve.

Think I need to go waste my time at the doctor?

[Cmass]

Well, I'm not running for a few days.

Guess I was wrong. I wasn't going to run, but I gave in and ran anyway. I noticed it starting about the third mile, and by the time I got home, my leg was numb below the knee - still that way now a couple hours later. It isn't discolored or anything like my circulation is messed up, so I'm guessing swelling is pushing on a nerve.

Think I need to go waste my time at the doctor?

Sweet jeezus man, why the hell would you NOT go to the doctor with this?! Depending upon what is wrong with it you could screw it up permanently. Joints are, obviously, critical - especially the knee. Don't ask me how I have found this out numerous times - but my avatar gives you some idea.
Michelle is a trauma nurse so she can obviously suggest the appropriate drug, but I have had great results from Naproxine for my various issues related to being all banged up - especially my hands and arms which I abuse relentlessly with hard core labor landscaping and carpentry projects - not to mention motorcycling, mountain biking, snowmobiling, downhill skiing and rock climbing. My joints pop and snap and can get pretty swollen if I really slam it hard. (like I did cleaning brush out of a large ravine today) Nonetheless, go to the doc and ask for a referral to a sports medicine specialist.
Do it tomorrow.

- Chris

[FinalEnigma]

Well, I'm not running for a few days.

Guess I was wrong. I wasn't going to run, but I gave in and ran anyway. I noticed it starting about the third mile, and by the time I got home, my leg was numb below the knee - still that way now a couple hours later. It isn't discolored or anything like my circulation is messed up, so I'm guessing swelling is pushing on a nerve.

Think I need to go waste my time at the doctor?

Sweet jeezus man, why the hell would you NOT go to the doctor with this?! Depending upon what is wrong with it you could screw it up permanently. Joints are, obviously, critical - especially the knee. Don't ask me how I have found this out numerous times - but my avatar gives you some idea.
Michelle is a trauma nurse so she can obviously suggest the appropriate drug, but I have had great results from Naproxine for my various issues related to being all banged up - especially my hands and arms which I abuse relentlessly with hard core labor landscaping and carpentry projects - not to mention motorcycling, mountain biking, snowmobiling, downhill skiing and rock climbing. My joints pop and snap and can get pretty swollen if I really slam it hard. (like I did cleaning brush out of a large ravine today) Nonetheless, go to the doc and ask for a referral to a sports medicine specialist.
Do it tomorrow.

- Chris

my knee is already permanently damaged, this is just it reacting to being overused I'm sure. it's been four days since it was quite that bad...I have feeling again, and much of the swelling has gone down. Do I really still need to see a doctor? he's just gonna tell me the same thing he always has...there isn't really much they can do short of surgery, which I am not terribly enthused by and cannot afford anyway.

[Cmass]

my knee is already permanently damaged, this is just it reacting to being overused I'm sure. it's been four days since it was quite that bad...I have feeling again, and much of the swelling has gone down. Do I really still need to see a doctor? he's just gonna tell me the same thing he always has...there isn't really much they can do short of surgery, which I am not terribly enthused by and cannot afford anyway.
_________________

Go to the dock. If you are getting numbness due to swelling, that is very serious stuff going on. You probably do need ice but you should probably also have a strong anti-inflammatory. If you need surgery, borrow the money to get it done. Why screw up the rest of your life for some stubbornness and a few extra bucks.
Set up a meeting tomorrow.

[FinalEnigma]

my knee is already permanently damaged, this is just it reacting to being overused I'm sure. it's been four days since it was quite that bad...I have feeling again, and much of the swelling has gone down. Do I really still need to see a doctor? he's just gonna tell me the same thing he always has...there isn't really much they can do short of surgery, which I am not terribly enthused by and cannot afford anyway.
_________________

Go to the dock. If you are getting numbness due to swelling, that is very serious stuff going on. You probably do need ice but you should probably also have a strong anti-inflammatory. If you need surgery, borrow the money to get it done. Why screw up the rest of your life for some stubbornness and a few extra bucks.
Set up a meeting tomorrow.

Fine, fine. I'll go to the doctor, but I can't set it up tomorrow because he isn't there on weekends. And I'm gonna say I told you so at you if he tells me what I said he would even though that would accomplish absolutely nothing. I've already been to the doctor for it many times - though I hadn't had numbness like that before.

I really don't want surgery on my knee. I don't like doctors most of the time, I've never had surgery before, and the idea of surgery is rather offputting. I do not like to entrust important things - like my ability to walk/run - to other people's skills. It's been three years since I injured it, and I've gotten by so far, and I really don't have the money for surgery, nor do I know anybody with money lying around who would lend it to me.

and yes, I know. I'm coming up with too many reasons not to.

Can I at least still run this weekend?

[Cmass]

And I'm gonna say I told you so at you if he tells me what I said he would even though that would accomplish absolutely nothing. I've already been to the doctor for it many times - though I hadn't had numbness like that before.

The numbness is a new development that cannot be ignored. The swelling is likely pressing on a nerve - I think they are called neoropathy. Ironically, I went to the clinic just this afternoon (I prefer a local walk-in clinic here because it is fast and they are good) to be checked for the 3rd time for numbness and pain in my right hands & arm as well as sharp pain in my left arm when I lift at a certain angle. It appears to be a combination of issues for me related to extreme overuse. I have been cleaning out a stream as well as a huge ravine it runs through - often putting in 15 hours straight hard labor in harsh conditions. The difference is, I actually go in when the problem gets bad and between the Naproxen and Oxycodone, I'm good to go. Mine actually is caused by inflammation but no trauma so it is a little more straightforward.
If you decided to go running anyway, take a full doze of Ibuprofen as well as a full doze of tylenol together at the same time 1/2 hour before you go running. This will help get the swelling down first before you beat on it again.

I really don't want surgery on my knee. I don't like doctors most of the time, I've never had surgery before, and the idea of surgery is rather offputting.

I can relate to that completely. But just focus on the final result and how you will feel normal and healthy. You're going to kick yourself the rest of your life if you did not get this fixed and continue to damage it.

I do not like to entrust important things - like my ability to walk/run - to other people's skills. It's been three years since I injured it, and I've gotten by so far, and I really don't have the money for surgery, nor do I know anybody with money lying around who would lend it to me.

Get over the trust issue. This is not something you are going to fix on your own. You can get creative about that $ is requred. Do you have any health insurance?

and yes, I know. I'm coming up with too many reasons not to.

Why yes, you are.

Can I at least still run this weekend?

Do whatever you want. But don't complain about it if you end your running carerr.

[FinalEnigma]

I'm covered by my dad's insurance for the moment, but they don't want to pay for stuff to do with my knee because they claim the army should pay for it, and the army doctors told me it wasn't their responsibility to pay because they claim it was the result of stressing a pre-exiting injury that I didn't notify them of(which it wasn't. Though I did injure my knee once before, it wasn't really serious, and certainly nothing like what happened to it then).

[FinalEnigma]

I have an appointment in the morning at the doctor's office. eww.

I did something really stupid, and so am very upset with myself. I was upset enough that I skipped class and went running. I left the house and just started running and ran myself into the ground at about 15 miles, and had to call my mom to come pick me up. This was probably really stupid on my knee right now, but I'm an ass and I deserve it. I did at least take plenty of anti-inflammatory, but I will probably not be able to walk tomorrow, and the doctor will definitely have something to look at.

[FinalEnigma]

Yeah, I can't really walk today, but there is good news: The doctor said the numbness was probably exertion compartment syndrome(which is admittedly odd considering the swelling in my knee, but apparently it could be causing the numbness - two things wrong with me leg at once). There isn't anything they can do about it, except for surgery, but it may go away on its own as my body gets more used to the amount of running I'm doing. Also, it is not a problem unless it forces me to stop running - so I can just ignore it unless it gets pretty severe. Since there isn't the type of pain that frequently comes with that(my pain is in my knee, rather than my shin) it probably isn't even a very severe case of it, but just manages to push on my nerve pretty well.

Anyway, the doctor did say something slightly different than what I said he would, but it was close enough, so - I told you so.

[Cmass]

Yeah, I can't really walk today, but there is good news: The doctor said the numbness was probably exertion compartment syndrome(which is admittedly odd considering the swelling in my knee, but apparently it could be causing the numbness - two things wrong with me leg at once). There isn't anything they can do about it, except for surgery, but it may go away on its own as my body gets more used to the amount of running I'm doing. Also, it is not a problem unless it forces me to stop running - so I can just ignore it unless it gets pretty severe. Since there isn't the type of pain that frequently comes with that(my pain is in my knee, rather than my shin) it probably isn't even a very severe case of it, but just manages to push on my nerve pretty well.

Anyway, the doctor did say something slightly different than what I said he would, but it was close enough, so - I told you so.

Good for you going to the doc!
But shame on you!
You screwed up your knee even further; to the point you couldn't even walk. If you are actually 21 as your profile states, trust me, this will come back to haunt you BIG TIME if you keep abusing it. You will then be seriously pizzed off with yourself for not treating it properly when you were younger.
I would suggest getting a referral to a sports medicine specialist. They are really good at helping you come up with ways to mitigate your injuries. You may be helped by custom orthotics or better shoes or running on natural trails rather than pavement or heat or ice or custom braces etc... I'm also surprised he did not prescribe some sort of anti-inflammatory for this.