My JourKNEE Back

Running has become a big part of my life. I certainly never thought those words would come out of my mouth! About ten years ago, my sister got me started with the Couch 2 5K App. It did not take me six weeks to get up to the goal of 3.1 miles.  In reality, it was more like six months.  I remember the first time I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes without any walk breaks. I literally cried, I sobbed. This was a huge accomplishment for the one always identified as the "chubby girl". While I was not completing my 5Ks in the suggested time of 30 minutes, mine were more like 39-45 minutes with intervals of walking and running, that was okay with me. So began the love affair of just getting out there, covering miles of roadways and reuniting with God and nature. It was my time with God, and I loved it! I completed several 5Ks and even a Half Marathon. I had mileage goals, and I was actually achieving them! At 38 years of age, for the first time in my life I became ...

 In early 2023, I began having some new aches and pains which, being in my late 40's, was not necessarily unusual. I was a runner with a three day a week, 3-to-6-mile routine established, and I had been dealing with Plantar Fasciitis for about nine months at this time, but the pain was starting to change and seemed to be moving further up my left leg. I talked to my family doctor about it, and he referred me to a physical therapist. I started there in May 2023, with visits up to three days a week lasting an hour to an hour and a half each and each session having a co-pay. The time commitment and money started to add up. After a month of PT sessions, nothing had really changed, and we determined that I should probably see an Orthopedic Doctor. I was able to get a visit within a few weeks.  My first visit with the Orthopedic office was on June 26, 2023. X-rays were taken that day in the office. The results showed some arthritis but nothing else significant. At first it was sugge...