Trip to The Neurosurgeon Office

What's written in that piece of paper puzzled me. Syringohydromyelia.

I've never even heard of the word. So I did my research. I googled the word and got even more worried than I've ever been my entire life.

So many thoughts crossed my mind at that time. I've read horrible stories of people with the same condition and got terrified by them. One of my main concern was: Will I ever run again?

Imagine that! I have this life threatening condition and all I can think about was Will I ever run again? 

After reading it I went back to the Orthopedist and instead he made a recommendation that I visit his colleague, a senior neurosurgeon who did the separation of the Siamese Twins decades ago. I thought to myself, I'm in a real deep shit!

Syringohydromyelia or Syringomyelia

Syringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord. The damage may result in pain, paralysis, weakness, and stiffness in the back, shoulders, and extremities. Syringomyelia may also cause a loss of the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold, especially in the hands. The disorder generally leads to a cape-like loss of pain and temperature sensation along the back and arms. Each patient experiences a different combination of symptoms. These symptoms typically vary depending on the extent and, often more critically, to the location of the syrinx within the spinal cord.

Scary huh?!

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.