Injuries are driving me nuts

I have been trying my best to train for I-day. Wanting to be ready, I was running about 5 miles each day...until my knee started hurting. I gave it time and rest, bought new running shoes, and iced/heated/stretched each day, and yet I still have not recovered after a month. I tried running a mile today, and while the pain is not intense and I could push through it, its still there. From my research, I have been thinking it is IT band syndrome, for which my treatment this far should have been somewhat effective. The next option would be a cortisone shot or something of the sort, requiring a doctor. Should I go through with it? I need to be better, and the longer I wait, the more training time I am losing. But I fear going to a doctor will cause complications with Dodmerb and I will be stripped of my appointment. I have dreamed far too long for this and surrendered too many things. Please help

All I can tell you is you better not be running on roads everyday. Knee pain typically comes from hard surface running. Try sand or dirt trails. Other than that you are unfortunately losing training time, running that is, if I were you I would hop on a bike (probably a static one) to give my knee rest but still exercise my legs to a great extent. Hope to see you, I-Day and beyond.

Ive been trying a static bike. At first i was training on it, then even the bike was causing issues so i laid off that too. I don't have access to a pool, so i don't know what to do.

When DD was rehabbing from knee surgery, the phys therapist put her on an elliptical. It isn't as strenuous as running, but definitely better for your joints. Try interval training on one of those to keep your stamina up.

Do you guys think I should try the cortisone injection though? I know I'll still have to rest and take things easy, but I've been having issues with my knee for a month now

But of course I don't want to risk disqualification by seeing a doctor

A couple of thoughts that might help. First, last Plebe Summer my DS ran about 103 miles over 7 weeks if I recall the number correctly from the Class of 2017 Plebe Summer video. That's a couple of miles a day on average, although I think they ran 3 miles a few times. So, if you can run a 5K at a 8 minute/mile pace or so on I-Day I think you are fine. I am guessing that my DS ran a little faster than that and he was in the middle of the pack. Also, you don't need to run 5 miles a day. Secondly, both my kids ran cross country in HS, and one of them had serious pain issues running. Turned out she had an issue with pronation. We took both of them to a good running shoe store and let them correctly size shoes (and deal with the pronation problem). That helped a lot for both of them. DS has a long slender foot, so it really helped to get the runner's advice on what shoe would work best for him. The best to you.

bandad

If you show up at PS and, on Day 2 (first day of PEP) cannot run due to injury, you risk a DQ and being sent home.

Going to an MD does not DQ you -- only a serious medical condition could. If you have a medical issue, it may well be minor and, in any event, you have nearly 3 months to get it resolved. Doing nothing is unlikely to cause it to get better faster and every day you wait gives you one less day to correct whatever is ailing you. Thus, I would seek medical attention now.

Reach out to a local physical therapist -- ours gives a free "screening" -- frankly they spend 30-40 minutes evaluating an injury and have much better insight into what needs to be done to fix the cause -- if necessary they will refer you back to a doctor. A cortisone shot is just addressing the symptoms.

Its a simple matter of runner's knee (IT band syndrome). It just has been persistent no matter what I've tried. Luckily, my sister's ex-boyfriends dad is an orthopedic doctor. Awkward connection, but I think I'll be seeing him this week.

Thanks for the help guys. I've just been in a panic because this is my dream and I have given up so much so far to get here. I can't imagine giving it up. (and the offer for Aeronautical Engineering in Georgia Tech's Honors Program is fading fast). The threat of medical disqualification has been luring over my head as I train and faced this injury. I guess I exaggerate to myself the things that people are disqualified for.

Take the time to recuperate

You've got three months. If it comes to that, you'd be better off showing up out of shape but fully healed. Keep pushing while you're injured, or start working out again too soon, and you could work yourself right out of your appointment.

AveragePlebe said:

Its a simple matter of runner's knee (IT band syndrome). It just has been persistent no matter what I've tried. Luckily, my sister's ex-boyfriends dad is an orthopedic doctor. Awkward connection, but I think I'll be seeing him this week.

Thanks for the help guys. I've just been in a panic because this is my dream and I have given up so much so far to get here. I can't imagine giving it up. (and the offer for Aeronautical Engineering in Georgia Tech's Honors Program is fading fast). The threat of medical disqualification has been luring over my head as I train and faced this injury. I guess I exaggerate to myself the things that people are disqualified for.

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