How would you feel if you were told there was a possibility that you could never run again?

Barefoot TJ

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Mar 5, 2010
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I began to feel hot, very, very hot, like a flush coming over me from head to toe. With each passing word from his mouth, I got hotter and hotter. The whole room got so hot, I felt like I could fall into a crumpled mess on the floor. I tried to hold back the tears, and I did pretty well doing it too, but it was obvious from the looks on their faces that I more than understood what he was saying and that what I was dealing with was going to possibly change my life, forever.

But you all know me. I've been through foot hell and back, and I am not a quitter. I haven't given up yet, but what he was telling me is a real possibility. I may never run again.

How would you feel if you were told there was a possibility that you could never run again?
 
TJ, I have been told that very thing by my orthopedic surgeon 15 years ago in a emergency room waiting for to fix my shattered heels and ankles. And you know what, I believed him right until 3 years later I ran out of patience waiting for a elevator in the hotel I was staying at. So I decided I was going to walk up the stairs 10 floors. I got out of the stairway on the 4th floor because I was out of breath and dying. I reflected later that day (over a beer) that this was going to be a fatal injury to me, if I did not start running again because I was so out shape. So when I got home at the end of the week I very slowly got myself back into running and shape. Now 15 years later back to halfs and maybe another full next year (waiting for Dama and Lee). You deal with the hand that you dealt, if you say you can, then there is usually a way. ;)
 
I would assume that I would have a similiar reaction. But at least the word "possibility" is there so nothing is definite. I think a lot of times doc's say those thing just so the patient understands all potential outcomes. From people I have known who have been in similiar circumstances, recovery and future potential is driven by the person's will. The stronger they fight the better they'll get. If they give up, well, the doc was right.
I see you as the former, I believe you'll fight with all you've got to get back on the road.
 
Wow. I guess I'd be pretty depressed, but on the other hand I know several long-time runners who have had to give it up because of injuries or health issues, so I know there are alternatives. I know several runners who had to quit running due to bad knees or ankles, and got heavily into bike riding. Not quite the same, but you need to realize that having to give up running is not the end of the world.
I hope "they" are wrong, and that you'll be able to continue running, but if not - find something to take its place.
 
First I'd be absolutely gutted. Then I'd make myself watch the paralympics, even if I didn't want to, for inspiration from people who found a way to exercise at the highest level, against the odds. Then I'd maybe start planning other sports/activities that I could try to give myself something to look forward to/aim for, just in case I needed that backup plan. Oh, and I'd not do the second two points until I'd had a proper cry & grump, beat the hell out of a pillow & consumed a vat of ice cream & I'd reserve the right to repeat that as needed.

I really hope it works out for you. As a very inspirational woman I knew said when told she had a one in hundred chance of a positive outcome; someone's got to be that one.
 
remember your Dr is NOT god. they don't know the future. they aren't in direct communication with him either. many people will just believe what the Dr tells them and accept that as fact. your attitude and will, will be the bigger factor in deciding your outcome and may well fall under the medical miracles they can't explain.

or maybe it's time to seek out alternative medicine.
 
I've actually thought about this a lot, especially during periods where I was injured over the years. The conclusion I came to is that I would hate not running, but I would find something else to do to stay active, maybe hiking, biking, walking, swimming, roller blading or something else.

In your case, I don't think you can go by absolutes or think in black and white at this time. Okay, so the doc said you may never run again. But then again, you might prove him wrong. As hard as it is, you'll have to wait until your treatment/surgery is done and you've recovered to see where you're at. I don't mean to minimize it, it sucks.

I feel for you, and I really wish our collective good thoughts and prayers would magically make you 100% again.

Hang in there.
 
I'd be upset no doubt, but I'd be likely to do two things within a few hours.

1. Accept the advice I was given, but leave the door open that it is entirely incorrect. I'd also know it will take some time before I will know the answer to that....so I'd move on to #2.
2. Find alternatives to running. I'd start figuring out what else I think I'd enjoy. Biking maybe, cross country skiing (depending on where you live)...whatever kept me outdoors and moving.

I'd miss running, without question. But it is what it is, at least for now. I'd feel sorry for myself for a while (understandable) but hopefully I'd get on with life pretty soon. He didn't just tell me I'll never walk again, or I'll never see or hear again. There are worse things.

Hang tough TJ. Don't let it beat you. I know the whole BRS has a big fat R in it that stands for something, so understandably that cuts pretty deep. But not running (for a while :)) doesn't change who you are or what you're about. You can still deliver your message, and champion the cause. You lose absolutely NO credibility with anyone here just because you can go out and beat the pavement for a while. Quite the contrary. I'm sure we all respect the heck out of the challenges you've faced, and how you've met them. So keep fighting, keep the faith, and keep moving forward.

And never accept that you will not run again.
 
I was told that repeatedly for years and as recent as 2 years ago because of my knees. I had a operation to clean out my knees again of bone chips, etc and the ortho laughed when I told him I was planning to run a 10 km the following weekend. His exact words were, "That is not going to happen, and with your knees you would be lucky to run 1 or 2 miles maximum." Well I do not like being told I can not do something, so the following weekend I ran that 10km and then I followed up with a half marathon, a full and a 50km within 2 months. Persistance, determination and the will to not give up is key, and I know you have all of those in spades.
 
The thing with life changing events is that all your energies are focused on that one thing, that situation that is beyond your control, it's the not knowing that's hard, once you have definitive results you can start to re-focus and make plans for the future, whatever the outcome.
That's the way i view situations like this, whatever happens underneath it all, you'll still be you, so maybe things aren't as life-changing as you imagine.
I wish you well TJ, you are an inspiration.
 
Going on what Hawkbilly said...If I can be welcomed here without meeting the "B" component, you're all good with out the "R." I'm sure it was soul crushing to face that possibility; I'm also in agreement with the others that the game isn't over yet. Anything can still happen before all is said and done, so buck up little camper:)

We're here for you!
 
I'd feel terrible, but then remind myself that that warning is just standard for most surgical procedures involving feet, legs, backs, necks, etc.
You know you are undergoing this in an attempt at improving your quality of life as well as chance of running again, so nothing to lose, plenty to gain.
 
I'd be a total crying baby from the get go from the first week of met pain you ever had. Devastated doesn't begin. Allow yourself a time to freakout.
I do agree that there are many other fun things to be done outside that give you exercise. I also know that there is nothing quite the same as running.

The only thing that stopped me in my tracks from being totally depressed from a silly little bout of tendonitis was the memory of the one day I was in the waiting room for phys. therapy. In came a couple of girls, both around 4 yrs old, in wheel chairs. They did not seem to have acute injuries, but I rather suspected they had never run.
 
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I'd seriously look into amputation. Not joking.

And.... can you swim, TJ? Like, well? If you swim well, did you know that there are 3K and 5K open water swim events? If you can't, did you know that you can get a coach and learn to swim well enough to do a 3K open water swim? Yeah, you CAN swim that well, TJ.

If I were told I might not be able to run again, my ass would be in the pool training for a badass open water 5K. The only thing that keeps me from training for an open water 5K is that I run too much.
 
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I wouldn't be upset, I would buy a bike and start riding. I got into running very late in life, I was about 21 years old. Before that I was a bike rider, then around 15 I got into road bike racing, then that faded then started running. Anyways, I am looking to get a road bike in the spring. To be honest I think it's BS that you won't be able to run anymore. Start walking barefoot everyday, maybe your body can push through this.
 
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I thought I was kind of close to what you describe. I was having hip pain a few years ago and many docs couldn't figure it out. Then one I really like said the x-ray sort of looked like arthritis. Me: "What does that mean for running?" Him: "Well - it would be really hard to run with arthritis." To be honest - I don't remember what he said. The implication, clearly, is that my running days would be virtually over. I had to wait for the MRI to be scheduled and then get the results. (They were negative.) But during that time I was headed down a path that BG above writes of: Getting a bike.

None of us, obviously, are accurate predictors of the future. But many a people have been told they won't run again, and they do. Is your doc a runner? What's that great line from the Lore Of Running? "Never take as final word the advice of a non-runner, even if that person is called 'Doctor'."

Good luck.

Jim
 
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I'd fall in to a deep blue funk. Probably would have to go buy bigger clothes because I'd be gorging myself with cookings to prevent me from starting drinking again, but I'd probably fail at that. Cry. Throw stuff. Get pissed off. I mean, I could still bike and hike and swim but those are secondary, tertiary and quaternary; running to me is the one thing I've done consistently intermittently (I stop, then always go back) for the past 24 years - I don't really do that with anything else. After I dealt with the initial shock of it all and got past it, I'd find something else and throw myself in to it, I guess. But it still wouldn't be the same, I don't think.

True, it's not the end of the world, but that doesn't help one iota - nor does thinking about people with Cancer, AIDS or no legs. Hell, I've been sick (stupid lingering cold) that has been interfering with my running and it's sucked. Can't fathom getting the Big Red Light.

Now, again, as mentioned above, the Dr. is not God. Even House makes a mistake every now and again, so just remember that. What happens if you try to run? I mean, I try to be good, but I don't always listen to the Dr.

So sorry, Love. As my alter ego said, above, if he's allowed to hang around without meeting the "B" aspect of BRS, then you're more than welcome without the "R". B'sides, we need a den mother to keep us under control.