The Verdict (Part II of...)

Back to the sports doctor on Friday. Results?  Diagnosis frustration.

I was told I need an MRI to really diagnose the problem.  However, a lovely little thing called health insurance in the grand USofA decided they like to do paperwork, so an approval was sent to the insurance company.  If it is OK’d, I can get the MRI (at a later date, of course, not the actual day I was there, saving me time off from work).  If denied, I will have to go to PT for a few weeks before getting the MRI.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

What the doctor said was this: I showed her along the outside edge of my foot where I felt more pain than my ankle (which has subsided in pain the last week or so) and she said possibly it could be peroneal tendonitis.  Still can’t run, but can swim, bike and do an elliptical for mileage (which is SO not the same and will not compensate for marathon miles).

I’m so lost.  Nothing concrete diagnosed.  Time is wasting away with this marathon training plan, and even if I could start back up running in a week or so, I’d be starting all over because 4 weeks off is deadly for any running regimen, particularly mine.  Hell, I could barely run 4 miles after my honeymoon of one week.  Totally screwed. 

I would rather just know – even if it was 4 months off from running or something that extreme – just so I could pour my energy into rehabilitation.  But I can’t. 

Though I am being told otherwise to do so, I’ve about all but officially given up my marathon for the fall.  This weekend is my last scheduled “short-long” run and then it’s 14 miles and higher practically every week.  14 miles is my longest run ever, from 3 years ago.  I’m beyond disappointed and I know I should get over it, and sometimes I feel like I am, but it never seems to stick. 

I just want to walk into a doctor’s office, tell them what’s wrong, have them say it’s This or That, leave with a rehabilitation plan, and begin. I feel like it’s never going to end.

Worst of all, I miss my friends.  This would be a whole differnet story if I just ran on my own.  Sure, I'd be upset but there are so many in my running club who are attemtping this for the first time - along with the veterans.  No other way to describe except it breaks my heart.