Trips to the Orthopedist

For my supposedly hamstring pain, I go back and forth thinking if I should visit a chiropractor or a real physician. After two months I decided to visit an orthopedist recommended by my parents.

During my first visit I explained how I think I got myself into this injury and he suggested that I postponed running and in exchange have myself try swimming instead as a recovery exercise. I said yes and since it doesn't get better for over 2 months I request him for an MRI recommendation.

In a short while I booked an MRI session in Abdi Waluyo Hospital and picked up the result two days later.

Abdi Waluyo recommended me to go back to dr. Joserizal, the orthopedist. On my way to the office that morning I read the test result inside the MRI photographs. It is presented in a simple piece of paper.

The piece of paper that changed they way I viewed my life.

(I thought) I have a pulled hamstring!

I have a pulled hamstring.

That’s what I said to everyone who asked whether I would go for a run or not. I was an avid runner for about 4 years and planned on participating in a half marathon in Bali in June this year. I trained like never before. I usually trained 3 times a week top, but ever since I've had my mind on being in a half marathon course, I trained 4 times a week with a rapid increase of mileage.

Early May this year when running would give me pain afterwards and I would have a very slow recovery days. Previously, I would recover after 1 or 2 days, but ever since that incident (which I'm not so sure what) I would have to wait for at least a week to recover from a 5K run. A very frustrating situation for a budding runner like me. I know I may not be the fastest runner, or a runner who have ran marathons and all but this is certainly been the most annoying situation I've had since my “running career” (if I ever had one).

Then came June.

My hamstring feels so much better and I considered to start a slow and short run at the treadmill again. I would walk for 2 miles and close the session with a mile jog. Gosh, I really use the term “jog” here.. hehe.

I've tried so many things to speed up the recovery process. I even bought myself the smart grid foam roller and it really did help after each running session. But the click in my hip bone is still here. It still clicked. I even have inside joke: I couldn't click with a decent man, but at least my hip bone click! Hah! How bout that! My old sarcastic self is baaaaack! If it ever went away.

Then, I decided to visit an Orthopedist.