At 23 years old I was told that I couldn't stay in because I have a underdeveloped hip so the hip joint doesn't fit properly. I was born this way and never had a hint of a hip issue my whole life until had a small pulled muscle on my leg on the other side. Through that silly pulled muscle I began to favor the other leg, the other hip. I was running and doing everything and had this nagging hip pain. It would not go away. No matter what I did nothing helped. In the USMC if you are injured you are basically useless. This was a time when the federal government was downsizing military. So after MRIs and X-rays, they decided to med-board me out. It was devastating. A failure. Its something I don't like to talk about.
For nearly 20 years, Ive always questioned that time in my life. Should I have fought it? Should I have just pretended that I was okay? Was I just a big crybaby sis that couldn't handle it? Its a haunting feeling. It hovers over you.
Training for this marathon. My hip hurts. I went from running 25 miles a week to barely running a 1/2 mile last week. I thought "Not again. Not this weak stupid hip." It takes me right back to the day they said it was over for me... 1997. All those feelings and emotions still there. Just buried.
After trying everything to heal myself I knew it was time to see the doctor. I had to decide to go and see him so he can tell me his medical opinion about going on with this marathon training or stop. I figured if I get a cortisone shot to get rid of the inflammation and get me to the marathon, I would stop running if he told me that was the best for me. I can't have one event in my life ruin the rest of my life by constant pain. Am I doing permanent damage? I had already decided this was the only marathon I was going to run.
It was good news (in my eyes)! I have tendinitis of the IT Band at the Hip. I have a new training plan and healing plan. I'll be doing physical therapy and trying acupuncture. Heat and cold treatment. So I can train for this marathon and get there AND finish!
Just don't give up. Sometimes you have to take an alternate route from the one you planned bc its just better for you.
Ciao
USMCdaffy
PS. I got my answer. It was the right thing to do, to get out. Because this is exactly where I am supposed to be right now.
