Nathan's ITB syndrome

I think this lack of posting on the blog is all Mark's fault. Once he found his new group of real running pals on the "other" blog it all went downhill from there! And now that I think about it, it's all Elaine's fault for posting all the time when it slows down...that's teaching us we just have to wait a little longer between posting and sooner or later she'll step up again.

Alright, I'll quit with the blame game as I do actually have something to say.

I've been officially diagnosed with ITB syndrome from a doctor that I believe knows what he's talking about. Dr. Waslowski is a well known here in the valley among professional atheletes. I'm excited and frustrated all at the same time and here's why. After my original injury took place last September, I was pretty sure it was an ITB issue, then changed my mind to it being a meniscus tear, and now I'm back on the ITB band wagon due to the doctor's diagnosis. I'm excited because a know what I have and don't have. I don't have a tear, but I do have a syndrome. Webster's defines syndrome as, "1 : a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition". In other words, signs and symptoms occur together that cause stress, strain and pain on my iliotibial band. Those signs and symptoms manifest themselves in my natural gait. This is where the frustrating part of my injury comes into play. ITB syndrome shows itself due to the way someone is running. I'M RUNNING WRONG!! In order to get better, I've got to alter the way my existing gait lands my body via orthotics, braces and shoes or actually change the way I run. Has anyone ever really thought about how difficult that would be. That's like asking someone to change the way they walk! I realize that form is alterable on a small scale, but to change someone's gait is not as easily done as said.

I'm going to be researching physical therapists here in the next week or two. Hopefully I find someone who puts a plan together that I can believe in, cause right now, I'm having a hard time swallowing the fact that someone can just tell me to run differently (don't overpronate) and it'll happen.

I gotta go to work now...