After three months of at-home muscle rolling/sticking/abusing and rehab exercises, my hamstring injury is still just kind of, there. Not getting worse but not getting better, and I’m finally just fed up of not feeling 100%.
symbolic “these are my legs, they want to feel better so they can want to run again instead of feeling like the bird poop they’re stepping in” pic
The massage and Active Release Therapy that Dr AJ did back in January made me feel like a new person with a brand new leg – all the crap built up in my muscles was being worked out and put in its place and it felt like rainbows and glitter and happy marathons (<— oxy moron?) Unfortunately as I continued to run and workout, that build up slowly started coming back. It finally became apparent I wasn’t going to clear up this tendonosis shit on my own, so I started the search for a local office to beg healing from (I saw Dr AJ in Arizona on a work trip, ICYMI.)
Friday I pulled out all our insurance paperwork – there is a disturbing amount of verbage regarding whether certain cosmetic surgeries are covered or not, by the way – and tried to translate what might be the most cost-effective form of treatment for me. Other than a sinus-related rhinoplasty or medically-necessary tummy tuck, which are real things I guess. I’m still not 100% confident that months down the road bills for a billion dollars won’t show up, but it seemed a chiropractor was the way to go. If anyone reading works for Cigna in CA and can tell me if “Covered, $15 copay” actually means “you’re about to fuck your financial world up, honey” I’d appreciate it.
Anyway, my first appointment was this morning. I blindly picked a name off the network list based on who was closest and who had anything “sport”-related in the name. It’s early going, but the signed athlete posters (surfers, motocross, soccer, mountain bikers) and casual “former triathlete” mention made me feel in good hands. Well that and my currently bruised, numb, and taped, but pain-less left leg.
I’m going back for more treatment in a few days, and in the meantime he said to just “be smart” about workouts and running. No, there’s no need to shut down. Yes, the treadmill is your friend. Yes, running faster and shorter is better than slower and longer. You said marathons? You look like a 5k or 1500 runner. Thanks dude, I know I have boobs and a body fat % in the double digits, I’d be mad but that metal knife tool you’re digging into my ass hurts more than your words so keep on, man.
now do I look like a track runner to you, doc?
Why is someone saying “you don’t look like a marathoner” the only thing that triggers my desire to run one? Instead of saying I hate long distance and actually prefer shorter and faster, I got way defensive and played my 2-minutes-from-BQ [lame] card like my only goal in the world was to get back to a 26.2 start line.
Tell me I can’t so I will.
[haha jk not running a marathon]
[[… right now]]
Ok I’m going now before I say something I’ll regret.
Sarah OUaL
Sarah OUaL 
While I obvs can’t confirm or deny your insurance coverage… as someone in the industry… if it says copay, you should be good. Most booklets would indicate a certain number of allowed visits (I think I get 24 per yr) and honestly… you shouldn’t need to use them all, I never have. Most chiros goals are to rehab you as quickly as possible because it makes them look good too. I’ve had Graston/ART done by mine on a few different injuries and within usually 5-ish visits I’m pain free and a happy camper. So I think you are probably pretty safe to proceed with it! And Good luck!!! I personally think that form of rehab is the best, and I am glad that he’s only sidelined me once (and honestly, I physically couldn’t run so it’s not like he was having to tie me down). He told me once “Most people would be in a boot, but you won’t listen, so we’ll just fix it” and we move on.
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This gave me so much hope and happiness – so much so I forgot to reply 3 days ago. Thanks!
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I’ve been dealing with a back/hip injury for 8 months now and have seen my primary, ortho, and PT. Nothing has helped. Today I walked into the chiropractors office after doing some serious research and finally feel like I’m going to get somewhere. He explained everything and almost immediately told me why I had pain and what he was going to do to fix it. None of the other doctors had any answers (besides “let’s shoot you up with cortisone”) and none would even explain what was going on. I’m relieved to finally know what is wrong with me (inflamed bursitis on hip/bulging disk in my back…each related to an off balance and feeding each other) and that there is a fix besides pain meds and cortisone shots. I hope you find relief soon!! It sux being in pain.
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Happy to hear! Mine was very adamant about finding and fixing the root cause, not just bandaging me up, too. Fast healing to ya
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So funny how one comment can jack up our day, huh? My husband had a doctor that once told him he wasn’t built to run marathons (was a catcher in college). I told him to find a new doc, and he’s run 8 marathons since then!
Just so you know, it doesn’t feel better to hear that you’re “built like a runner” when it’s couched as a polite way to say you have small boobs!
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Awe, I think you look fab!!! I’m glad your body is feeling better!!! Awesome!! ;)
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I had hamstring tendinitis that started last summer. Was in PT for a good 4 months. Finally PT guy told me he had done all he could for me and encouraged me to go to a chiropractor. I WAS NOT a believer before. I’ve been going to chiropractor for 2.5 months, ran my first 1/2 in 6 months yesterday and feel great again. P.S. I kept running through all treatment as encouraged by both PT guy and chiropractor. Just ran slower and shorter. Good luck!
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Success stories like this make me 1) really happy 2) mad I waited so long to book an appt. Glad your chiro got you figured out and running again!
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I feel your pain, literally. Have been dealing with flare ups in my hamstring/TFL for over a year and a half now. I’ve found that going to the chiro/getting ART has really helped, but my co pay is $60. Yep. Per visit. So, initially, I’d go a few times a week for a couple weeks and then completely stop once I felt a bit better, because, hello! There goes hundreds of dollars :( Now that I’ve had another flare up, I did a few concentrated weeks and decided to bite the bullet and go once a month or so and it’s really helping. I’d be SO STOKED if it only cost me $15 a visit! You’ll be feeling good in no time!
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it sounds like you found a better chiro than the one i was going to a while back. turned out he was just masking the actual issue and was just a big waste of money. hope the bod starts feeling better soon!
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Seriously? He said that? What a jerk. He must have never run a marathon–or even watched one–because he’d know that (non-elite) marathoners come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Poo on him. And for what it’s worth, I think you have a “traditional” slim runner’s physique.
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I wish I could see a chiropractor, it is a $50 co pay….
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You’re treating the symptom not the cause, which is why you’re still injured. You need to get your glutes to fire to take stress off hamstring.
http://m.runnersworld.com/injury-prevention-recovery/the-whole-body-fix?page=single
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when my hip was all jacked up i went to a sports therapy chiropractor and he fixed everything. Took almost a year for everything to be gone completely, but i’m so thankful! Also- you do look like a marathon runner. :)
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Great forum posts, Cheers!
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I love my chiro. I had nagging ITB problems that had me breaking down in tears from frustration. he laughed (out loud) at how weak my hips/glutes were, but has been a godsend. good luck!
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I’d give you a run for your money on the weakest hips/glutes title I think. BRB searching for Buns of Steel on Amazon…
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My husband is a chiro out here in Virginia….if you tell the chiro you have ins but would rather not use it and pay the cash rate, most docs will jump on that (us included). The ins filing is a joke-some ins wants you to pre-approve visits before you come in-max out the number of visits you can get and have astronomically high copays. We do cash discounts-makes the patients happy and us happy too. I started running 3 years ago..couldn’t make it down our street without knee pain (I was NOT the model patient). After finally telling hubby he was right…blah blah…got adjusted more regularly….countless half marathons and 1 full later I feel pretty great. Hope your doc gets to the root of the problem!
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That’s so good to know! I could tell they were a little fed up with talking to my insurance – and after finding out it’s a 20% deductible, not $15 copay, maybe it’d be worth asking about cash rates.
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He said whaaaaaatttt? The nerve! ;) I’d be tempted to run more if someone said that to me. Wishing you speedy recovery!
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Definitely believe that which you stated.
Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net
the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people think about
worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the
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Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
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I love my chiropractor! I have a reverse curvature in my neck (basically as awesome as it sounds) and we’ve been working on changing it to alleviate neck/back/hip pain. My last set of xrays confirmed we’re seeing progress in the right direction!
I hope you see results quickly, too. I’m also jealous of your copay. I definitely pay $40 a visit and go every week. The things we do for sport. (and/or proper spinal alignment, but whatevs)
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i swear by the chiro. I see one every 3 weeks because my hip still ends up tight from all the driving i do for work. Hopefully it’s helping….and it should be covered!
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Hello this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering
if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I
wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any
help would be greatly appreciated!
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Nope, I use wordpress and little/no HTML knowledge is needed. Hopefully you’re real and I didn’t just get duped into replying to a spam comment.
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