in 2009, I tore my gastrocnemius muscle in my right calf. It's the shorter muscle - the one that runs on the inside of your leg. It starts about midpoint up on your calf. I tore it doing banded sprint runs at my gym.
I aggravated it by ignoring it and walking on it for ten days. Well, no. I didn't walk on it. I pulled that leg behind me every where I went, and when the pain became so acute I couldn't stand it, I started crying and was asked to leave work. I wasn't to come back until I was better. I went to a very very good sports ortho in the area - it helps when you know people, I'm a firm believer in that - and was given crutches and a walking boot and told to sit on my rump and do nothing for a long, long time.
I wore that boot for over five months. I went to PT forever and ever and ever and rehab and it was mostly better. When I started running to earn my black belt, it crapped out on me and I ended up having to ditch the running. Well, no. I *could* run, but it was a slow and pitiful thing and, also, somewhat discomfortable.
Now it is 2012. And my leg STILL HURTS. ALL THE TIME.
It's not an acute pain. It's a constant, dull, nagging pain. I liken it to the feeling you have in your muscle right before it spasms into a cramp. My leg always feels as if it needs a good stretch - but that doesn't help. I stretch every day. I warm up slow. I don't jump. I don't run. I get massages. I wear compression sleeves. I roll it out with a foam roller. I leave my right foot on the ground ALWAYS while in Zumba. I wear really good and supportive shoes and stop when it hurts.
If I walk further than about 4 miles, the pain becomes more acute and goes down to my achilles. I can feel a dull ache every minute of the day, and even doing something as stupid as driving - I can feel it cramp just from pushing the pedal for a long time.
I feel like I'm 197 years old with the most babied leg in the history of legs. See also - I feel like a poser, because I don't limp and so most people don't think that there's anything wrong. It's affected my cardio and my weight and my mental state. Even if I could afford to go back to boxing, I probably wouldn't because I can't stand in kick stance (on your toes) for that long now - it's too painful. And I loves me some boxing.
About a month ago, I started having random, out of nowhere, muscle spasms. It's kinda like a party trick - I can look at my leg when it's happening and see the muscle quivering. I ramped up my calcium/magnesium/potassium intake, but it kept on happening.
Today, I went back to sports ortho. It appears that the original tear is either not fully healed, or, more likely, has reintroduced itself to my leg. It may have decided to bring a few friends along for the fun - as in, there may be a few smaller tears hanging out in there as well.
I am so pissed.
I have an MRI scheduled for next week. (Which, hello, I almost cancelled, because it's going to be more than $2000 !!!!!!) My husband told me to get it done - he's tired of hearing me complain about my leg. I'M tired of hearing my complain about my leg. EVERYONE is tired of hearing me complain about my leg.
After that, we decide. I have three options:
- Have surgery, which would entail cutting the muscle and reattaching it. Would probably be *very* successful. Would definitely be *very* painful. Would take a lot of healing time.
- Undergo an experimental procedure called PRP that has a decent success rate in this type of case. Would be very painful. Not as painful as surgery and has a quicker recovery time. Would not be covered by insurance probably.
- Do nothing and continue in discomfort forever, and maybe one day have a total and full tear that would decide the entire matter for me.
Gee. I don't have any idea which of those situations is better.
That really stinks, Carmen. :( Whether I went with option 1 or 2 would probably depend on how much the cost was. (Do they do trials for these sorts of procedures like with drug trials? Probably not). Good luck in making your decision.
Posted by: KatieButler | July 12, 2012 at 04:35 PM
I would go back to PT first. Pre-op PT is a good idea because it helps get the muscles surrounding the area in better shape before surgery, should you go that route. Then you go back after surgery. just my .02!!
Posted by: Jill H | July 12, 2012 at 05:15 PM
That sucks, I'm so sorry. I have no advice.
Posted by: Alana Sheldahl | July 12, 2012 at 05:25 PM
There are no good choices there! I am so sorry. Constant pain is demoralizing. I hope you find a workable solution.
Posted by: addy | July 12, 2012 at 07:34 PM
Carmen, I adore you. You are a very active person. You need to take care of you to make sure you are able to remain active well into your 80/90's. I don't think that #3 is an option. I think you need the MRI to make sure you know what is wrong. If the doctor can say 80% that's what it is without it, then don't get it and move forwards on the big decision.
Now for the big decision: how much of a risk is the PRP to not correct for your issue? If it's way cheaper, then it might be cheaper than your co-pay with having insurance cover the surgery.
Another thing to consider is that some doctors will work out a plan with you. Either cutting out some of their charges or working through a payment plan.
Again, I think you are worth it. It is expensive, but you deserve to be healthy and active too. Good luck!
Posted by: Liz | July 12, 2012 at 08:22 PM
Def not #3. Sorry, I can really sympathize. I've had lots of (granted, smaller) injuries since I began running 2 years ago and it stinks when the aches hang on for months.
Mary
Posted by: Mary Ostyn (Owlhaven) | July 12, 2012 at 08:24 PM
Get one or two more opinions. And go to a teaching hospital.
Posted by: Tara | July 12, 2012 at 09:25 PM
Tough decision, but I'd probably go with option 1. I don't like to hurt and don't like having my style cramped :)
I need a frequent flier discount at my ortho's office: 1 hip scope and 3 shoulder surgeries.
Don't keep messing around with it...
Posted by: Nelson's Mama | July 12, 2012 at 10:07 PM
#3 is NOT an option. The teaching hospital idea is a good one. If it's bothering you this much at this age, just think how much fun this will be (or debilitating) as you get a little bit older. Ugh. Get it fixed now. It's gone on way too long.
Posted by: Cheryl | July 12, 2012 at 11:32 PM
That really stinks. Go get it fixed. You are worth taking care of.
Posted by: liz | July 13, 2012 at 09:13 AM
While I can't even imagine the discomfort and pain you must be in, I have to say that if it were me I'd go ahead with number one. It's a delay in working out, BUT to have it done now instead of some year in the future means you'll heal better now. And to ignore it and hope it goes away doesn't sound like it's worked so far.
Best wishes for whatever you decide.
Posted by: Brandy | July 13, 2012 at 04:05 PM
I think my brother is having the same type of surgery.
Posted by: kyooty | July 13, 2012 at 08:20 PM
Teaching hosp. and 2nd opinion. Perhaps have the dr. office petition the insurance co to see if they'll cover more?
This sucks. I'm so sorry.
Posted by: Headless Mom | July 15, 2012 at 05:04 PM
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I wish I could take the pain away.
And over $2,000 for an MRI?! Wowsa. That's stinky insurance!
Posted by: Angela | July 16, 2012 at 02:03 PM
I'm so sorry this is happening! I don't have any strong advice about which option (except to do the 2nd one, see if insurance can somehow be persuaded to cover it) but I don't think the 3rd one is the best idea. Long recovery time is better than the forseeable future, no? Anyway ((((hugs)))) and keep us posted, cause we truly care.
Posted by: Laura H. | July 16, 2012 at 07:32 PM
I have just hurt mine and not sure how. I have been limping a long for nearly a month..doing my cub scout camps and hurting!!!! Two more camps after this week and then I can really rest my leg. I do know motrin and Advil to help with the swelling and pain. Stretching too.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Shelly | July 17, 2012 at 11:57 PM
I had PRP that took the blood drawn from me and centrifuged it for platelets only and injected them onto an achilles tear and was wowed at the results. I was still in a boot, but the tear completely healed. Then less than a year later, I went with another procedure to work on the other side, a machine that uses ultrasound to break up calcifications and remove the residue with a minivacuumn. And along with that we injected whole blood directly into a tear on the other achiles. It didn't heal as well as the PRP side's tear. I'm going back for a follow-up next month and think I'm going to go with the PRP for the left side as well to heal any remaining tears. My problem is I want to do the jumps & kicks in TKD and I never take time for the injuries to heal completely, so I've always got something torn or healing.
Posted by: Christal | July 25, 2012 at 02:50 AM
PS on both of these non insurance covered treatments (one of which pissed me off -- because the last treatment would have been covered if I lived in Chicago or Seattle but was denied as experimental in Montana) my doctor allowed me to make monthly payments.
Posted by: Christal | July 25, 2012 at 02:52 AM