Just one comment, you can definitely go and see a PT about this problem directly! I am in PT school and let me tell you, we are well educated in knee anatomy and tests and could have led you to this diagnosis without the $900 MRI. I feel like PTs are in general underutilized amongst runners and in the state of CO you can visit a PT without a referral. We are trained to help these kinds of injuries! We are also doctors! Come and see us!
At least, accidentally, I got into the hands of good quality team (Ortho surgeon, PA, PT) when I, accidentally, tore my knee (skiing). They are nonsense yet accept my own (medical and athletic) knowledge, don't try to make me "recover the off-the-couch" patient way, don't freak out of the goals I set for myself, and when (this past Monday) I straight up asked when should I be concerned about potential of knee replacement (with my seems like similar "mild meniscus and cartilage fissuring and degeneration", they said "chill, not even remotely for a decade". I mean we're talking insurance covered team normally being extra cautious for their protection. I was thrilled. Because, like you, after MRI 's (related to acute injuries in my case) discovered that my "pride and jor knees that never hurt before" are sort of doing things due to the combination of age and use/abuse I put them through, I started having "I'm running out of time" paranoia. Well, not so fast. I can do fun things and chase my dreams for awhile, still.
Glad to hear that you found care and solution for your knees! We totally need them!
Further to your impression of Steadman Vail ... two summers ago I got blindsided by a 50-lb puppy (ours) on a trail run and completely ruptured my patellar tendon. An orthopod acquaintance told me “That’s usually a career-ending injury.” When my wife heard that, her response was “You’re going to Steadman!” (She’s one of their better customers, and knew they accepted traditional Medicare 😎.). She reviewed all the orthopedists’ histories, and within a few days i was under the knife of a surgeon who had most recently spent eight years as the orthopedist of the Patriots during the Brady years, after spending a number of years dealing with Navy Seals. Despite his background, he was extremely personable and relaxed (as has every other Steadman medico i’ve encountered). I’m still amazed at the level of treatment I received, without paying a penny.
Needless to say, the surgery went very well, and my luck continued in connecting with one of the best PTs in the neighborhood. I took it seriously, and was hiking at four months and running at six. I’d say my knee is at 99% of what it was, with essentially no limitations. I’m a fan of Steadman(and traditional Medicare)!
As someone once wisely advised, “Be as a serious about treating your injury as you are about training.”
I read that on your Runner's Trip blog back in 2014 when I was in my rookie year of mountain running. Much like the convoluted route for you to get to Steadman, my journey to the right doctor over the course of 6 months was much the same.
But that quote kept me buoyant when I thought I was drowning.
As a fellow 50 something runner, this post is reminder to remember that quote and double down on the self care.
This is really informative and reassuring. It’s a great reminder on how to proceed when dealing with injury--and there’s the important lesson that injuries teach us. I hope your injury continues to improve!
Thank you for sharing your injury journey, and I'm glad the story has finally turned for the better. I've heard plenty of my patients (Doctor of Physical Therapy here) tell me about seeing a Medical Doctor or Podiatrist that diagnosed something without ever even laying hands on them. I understand in this case you had an MRI to inform things, but medical providers don't do their patients any good by using such harmful language, and that language alone could have caused your brain to increase its pain response. Regarding the IT band hurting into the tibia, the IT band is massive, and while it's known insertion is Gerdy's tubercle, it also has fibers that attach a third of the way down onto the tibial crest. Most texts don't show that, but getting to see it first hand with a cadaver dissection gave me a whole new appreciation for it.
Thank you for sharing Sarah. I'm so happy you switched to a "caring" HealthCARE provider. That first doc had no care in her at all. It makes me so upset to hear stories like yours. I'm so glad you're on the path of calm things down and build back up. :) Way to go! Of course your knees are amazing...You run. :)
Thanks for this, the rushed and robotic state of healthcare is frustrating.
When I recently walked into my podiatrist with ankle/foot pain, the docs first comment was “well you ran 100 miles, what do you expect?”. After an X-ray confirming a stress fracture, his team hurriedly got me in a boot ($300 out of pocket) and out the door.
6 weeks later the doctor explained that I was healed and could ease back into normal. I mentioned to him that my left foot was also aching and I’d like him to take a look before I “eased back into my normal”. He took a 10 second look and told me that I had arthritis and shuffled me out. I thought about this (after the emotional dip of realizing I would need to deal with chronic pain) I went back again, as the diagnosis made no sense as it was sudden and acute. This time I insisted on an X-ray. After review he declared it was only tendonitis. I asked about the arthritis diagnosis from my previous visit and his reply was “oh no, you don’t have arthritis”. My head was spinning!
As I left the office the doctor commented “see you soon”. I asked why he thought he would see me soon and his reply was, “because your a runner”.
My worst experience was when I went to an ortho for stabbing pain in my groin, which he said was a groin strain and I could continue to run. Weeks later, it was determined I had THREE separate stress fractures in my pelvis...it looked like I had been in a car accident.
Now for the positive story: After considering it for a few years, my husband and I joined a direct care primary medicine group. Sometimes called “concierge medicine”, it is a non-insurance based primary care model where we have unlimited access to a dedicated doctor for a monthly fee. My initial visit was an hour on a couch talking about my lifestyle and my first physical was a total of three hours over multiple appointments, including a complete bloodwork panel analysis. She also has training in sports medicine, so walked through my injury history and training to incorporate that into her recommendations...in her mind, she is there to treat my whole body and my activities are an important part of this. Both my husband and I are floored by this experience versus the annual 7 minute visit we are used to.
Long story short, your health is the most important thing. There is good care to be had, but you may need to work to find it. I recognize we are privileged to have access to alternate structures, but no matter what, you should ask the questions you need to get the answers you deserve.
Just one comment, you can definitely go and see a PT about this problem directly! I am in PT school and let me tell you, we are well educated in knee anatomy and tests and could have led you to this diagnosis without the $900 MRI. I feel like PTs are in general underutilized amongst runners and in the state of CO you can visit a PT without a referral. We are trained to help these kinds of injuries! We are also doctors! Come and see us!
At least, accidentally, I got into the hands of good quality team (Ortho surgeon, PA, PT) when I, accidentally, tore my knee (skiing). They are nonsense yet accept my own (medical and athletic) knowledge, don't try to make me "recover the off-the-couch" patient way, don't freak out of the goals I set for myself, and when (this past Monday) I straight up asked when should I be concerned about potential of knee replacement (with my seems like similar "mild meniscus and cartilage fissuring and degeneration", they said "chill, not even remotely for a decade". I mean we're talking insurance covered team normally being extra cautious for their protection. I was thrilled. Because, like you, after MRI 's (related to acute injuries in my case) discovered that my "pride and jor knees that never hurt before" are sort of doing things due to the combination of age and use/abuse I put them through, I started having "I'm running out of time" paranoia. Well, not so fast. I can do fun things and chase my dreams for awhile, still.
Glad to hear that you found care and solution for your knees! We totally need them!
Further to your impression of Steadman Vail ... two summers ago I got blindsided by a 50-lb puppy (ours) on a trail run and completely ruptured my patellar tendon. An orthopod acquaintance told me “That’s usually a career-ending injury.” When my wife heard that, her response was “You’re going to Steadman!” (She’s one of their better customers, and knew they accepted traditional Medicare 😎.). She reviewed all the orthopedists’ histories, and within a few days i was under the knife of a surgeon who had most recently spent eight years as the orthopedist of the Patriots during the Brady years, after spending a number of years dealing with Navy Seals. Despite his background, he was extremely personable and relaxed (as has every other Steadman medico i’ve encountered). I’m still amazed at the level of treatment I received, without paying a penny.
Needless to say, the surgery went very well, and my luck continued in connecting with one of the best PTs in the neighborhood. I took it seriously, and was hiking at four months and running at six. I’d say my knee is at 99% of what it was, with essentially no limitations. I’m a fan of Steadman(and traditional Medicare)!
Thank you for sharing! I’ve been battling a chronic issue with my foot all year. You have inspired me to start the search for a specialist!
I appreciate that you took the time and care for yourself at the Steadman Clinic. Keep going, Sarah. I am ❤️
As someone once wisely advised, “Be as a serious about treating your injury as you are about training.”
I read that on your Runner's Trip blog back in 2014 when I was in my rookie year of mountain running. Much like the convoluted route for you to get to Steadman, my journey to the right doctor over the course of 6 months was much the same.
But that quote kept me buoyant when I thought I was drowning.
As a fellow 50 something runner, this post is reminder to remember that quote and double down on the self care.
This is really informative and reassuring. It’s a great reminder on how to proceed when dealing with injury--and there’s the important lesson that injuries teach us. I hope your injury continues to improve!
Thank you for sharing your injury journey, and I'm glad the story has finally turned for the better. I've heard plenty of my patients (Doctor of Physical Therapy here) tell me about seeing a Medical Doctor or Podiatrist that diagnosed something without ever even laying hands on them. I understand in this case you had an MRI to inform things, but medical providers don't do their patients any good by using such harmful language, and that language alone could have caused your brain to increase its pain response. Regarding the IT band hurting into the tibia, the IT band is massive, and while it's known insertion is Gerdy's tubercle, it also has fibers that attach a third of the way down onto the tibial crest. Most texts don't show that, but getting to see it first hand with a cadaver dissection gave me a whole new appreciation for it.
Thank you for sharing Sarah. I'm so happy you switched to a "caring" HealthCARE provider. That first doc had no care in her at all. It makes me so upset to hear stories like yours. I'm so glad you're on the path of calm things down and build back up. :) Way to go! Of course your knees are amazing...You run. :)
Thanks for this, the rushed and robotic state of healthcare is frustrating.
When I recently walked into my podiatrist with ankle/foot pain, the docs first comment was “well you ran 100 miles, what do you expect?”. After an X-ray confirming a stress fracture, his team hurriedly got me in a boot ($300 out of pocket) and out the door.
6 weeks later the doctor explained that I was healed and could ease back into normal. I mentioned to him that my left foot was also aching and I’d like him to take a look before I “eased back into my normal”. He took a 10 second look and told me that I had arthritis and shuffled me out. I thought about this (after the emotional dip of realizing I would need to deal with chronic pain) I went back again, as the diagnosis made no sense as it was sudden and acute. This time I insisted on an X-ray. After review he declared it was only tendonitis. I asked about the arthritis diagnosis from my previous visit and his reply was “oh no, you don’t have arthritis”. My head was spinning!
As I left the office the doctor commented “see you soon”. I asked why he thought he would see me soon and his reply was, “because your a runner”.
My worst experience was when I went to an ortho for stabbing pain in my groin, which he said was a groin strain and I could continue to run. Weeks later, it was determined I had THREE separate stress fractures in my pelvis...it looked like I had been in a car accident.
Now for the positive story: After considering it for a few years, my husband and I joined a direct care primary medicine group. Sometimes called “concierge medicine”, it is a non-insurance based primary care model where we have unlimited access to a dedicated doctor for a monthly fee. My initial visit was an hour on a couch talking about my lifestyle and my first physical was a total of three hours over multiple appointments, including a complete bloodwork panel analysis. She also has training in sports medicine, so walked through my injury history and training to incorporate that into her recommendations...in her mind, she is there to treat my whole body and my activities are an important part of this. Both my husband and I are floored by this experience versus the annual 7 minute visit we are used to.
Long story short, your health is the most important thing. There is good care to be had, but you may need to work to find it. I recognize we are privileged to have access to alternate structures, but no matter what, you should ask the questions you need to get the answers you deserve.
Great article!