Benched by orthopedic

[Jenny L 45]

So, I've had this right hip pain that's been getting progressively worse. I had been dismissing it as pelvic pain (I have a long and complex history of pcos and endometriosis) It kept getting worse, so I went to the gyno, who told me my lady parts are fine, but the hip needs to be looked at. Orthopedic appointment X-rays and MRI later, and I'm benched and on steroids. He told me my running is the worst thing I could do to my body, followed by my p90x being the second worst. I love running, love it love it need to have it. And I only have 3-1/2 weeks left before I can say I completed p90x. These are huge things that people outside of this community can't possibly understand the significance of. I am devastated!! And terrified of gaining weight now with limited activity and steroids. What now?!?!??!

[lisacaron 5,075]

@@Jenny L I'm sorry to hear that you are having to be benched from doing your work outs. The impact on your joints with running and P90x is pretty rough. Did the Dr. tell you what was going on other then inflammation? Is it arthritis? Why steroids? There are other medications out there that can help you to reduce the inflammation and not cause the weight gain that steroids can cause. My husband was put on Celebrex for pain and inflammation after his hip surgery.

Ask your Ortho more questions and if you can see a Sports medicine orthopedic they are very understanding of people who have joint and other arthritic issues wanting to be fit and healthy etc.

I hope you are feeling better and on the med very soon!! Maybe as you mend you can reduce the intensity of the workouts for impact but not give them up all together.

[swimbikerun 1,038]

Swimming?

[AvaFern 3,516]

Did he give you a date when you should be able to return to working out? I do understand how unhappy you are though. I had plastics 7 weeks ago and a few things took a little longer to heal than I had planned on. I cannot WAIT to go run again and I feel like sitting around doing nothing for 2 months is driving me crazy. On the flip side though, giving yourself time to heal will allow you to make much more significant gains in your fitness in the future without having to worry that you re-injure yourself and end up benched for even a longer amount of time. This is what I keep telling myself, and granted while I did it to myself and your issue is nothing you did to yourself, maybe that line of thought will help you a bit too.

[F_it 101]

That does suck that you are being told not to go after your fitness goals and tame your inner tiger when all it wants to do is roar. Being so close to completing your px90 only makes it more frustrating. But I agree that its better to think of this as a healing hiatus and mentally prepare yourself for the renewed energy once youre better, than to work against your healing and make things worse fir longer.

Also, I empathize with your concerns about the steroids, they are a bummer and if you can have an alternative Id go for it. If not though, expect (and try to accept, for the sake of your own peace if mind) that it will most likely be unpleasant and make you feel puffy and bloated but with a LOT of hydration it WILL and DOES get better. Just hang in there :-)

[SandyM 1,956]

I've been told by my orthopedic not to even try to run, not that I would with my crazy knes.I find that bicycling is great and easy on the joints.

[F_it 101]

Ellipticals are known to be low impact too but not sure if that would apply to someone healing from a medical situation

[Jenny L 45]

Thanks for being supportive! My bariatric doc is very firm on the no NSAID rule, and the ortho wants to bring down the inflammation in the hip. Right now we are pretty sure it is bursitis in the front and back of the hip, also tendonisis in the back where the tendon attaches to the pelvis, possible damage to the IT band...Im sure I'm leaving some out, too!! I used to do the elliptical but always dreamed if being fit enough to run at the park and quickly got hooked on it. Now the elliptical feels sad:(

I'm trying to stay upbeat. I feel like this is the only place I can vent my frustrations where anyone will really get me, though. Thanks for listening!

[jhaymom 38]

What about finding a Water aerobics program at the local ymca? My sister had a hip replacement 2 yrs ago only 37 and she is able to ride a bike which is considered low impact. Hope you find some relief, healing is most important right now.

[Beni 1,484]

I did Water aerobics for years but developed achilles tendonitis doing it. But if you are careful you can manage, I was jumping too much.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Deep Water aerobics is low impact. Definitely consider getting in the water! Its good for the soul.

[terrydumont46 1,954]

I am in physical therapy for bursitis in my left shoulder. but when we do exercises for the left shoulder it makes everything else hurt on my body. our bodies have taken such a beating . thank you God that I have 3 super large ice packs that I trade off for different parts of my body. but I know how you feel about the exercising. after my knee surgery I was so looking forward to increasing my walks but now the synovial cyst in my left knee decided to rear its ugly head.

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

I can sympathize... I have bursitis flare up in my hip every now and then and I had a bad case 2 weeks ago. It KILLED me to lay off exercise for a week but I did it and was able to get back into it quickly. I don't think the steroid shots have the same weight gain effect as oral steroids (but I might be wrong on that).

Once the inflammation dies out, you will feel so much better. It's a cycle -- flare up, stay flared up. Kill the flare and try to avoid re-injuring and it eventually will die out completely.

Do what the doctor says and rest it up -- will heal much more quickly than if you push it too soon.

[mi75 1,235]

another bursitis person here...right hip too! it flares up when i push myself WAY to much. i started running last week after NO running since 2000, and it flared right up on que. i was in SERIOUS pain for several days. heating pad, icy hot, ice packs, and rest did the trick...

[NewLife'sGr8 241]

No NSAIDS for me either. Bummer!

Curcumin, Vita D3, The enzyme in hot peppers, pepper (red, white, black), Omega3's ALL have anti-inflammatory properties. Also, eating an ALKALINE diet (as opposed to acidic) also reduces inflammation. Google it for details on which foods are alkaline and which are acidic. Ice & heat packs reduce inflammation.

Re: exercise- I had long "run" with ortho injuries too. Bummer 2

There's always SOMETHING you can do, regardless of level of incapacity.

My suggestion is to see if you can get a SPORTS MEDICINE PT RX approved by your ins co. Your 1st appt will be with a DOCTOR of PT. Ask them to give you a series of exercises you can do as a runner, now unable to run. They got you! Trust me, they are awesome! Highly skilled & trained in hi-tech biological responses to various "input" (exercises/manipulations) & will keep you top-notch (better than you could do for yourself running alone).

Also ask for re-integration & re-injury prevention exercises/program to ease your way back into SAFE running when/if you're able & ready.

My take-home:

Bummers aren't the end of us as we know. They're obstacles to overcome or circumvent to get to who we're meant to be. Sometimes the universe thumps us down (re-balances us) for being over-achievers and losing focus of what really matters.

You'll get through this better than you were before.

Best luck