Sports Medicine
By Alison Colavecchia
3.7.01 (www.slowtwitch.com)

Since beginning my Ironjourney, I have had the occasion to visit more doctors and health care types than I have done throughout the rest of my entire life. Initially, I felt that so many visits must be a reflection of a previously undetected hypochondriacal disposition. Now, I am coming to see that I am simply more attuned to every tweak and twinge in my body but at this stage do not have the experience to reliably differentiate between discomfort and destruction. I am still reacting to it all. What I do know for certain, though, is that if I do not advocate for my own health no one else will.

As a woman seeking healthcare services, often on a preventive basis, I am not always a welcome sight in the offices of traditional healthcare providers. I have felt that to some I appear neurotic, overreacting or worse, wasting valuable appointments needed for the truly genuinely ill. So in the beginning, I would often sneak in a health-related question during a visit with one of the kids––with three of them, there were ample opportunities. Even I wasn't convinced that my questions, concerns, aches and pains deserved a visit unto themselves.

I have discovered or endured a range of injuries and ailments: severely sprained ankle (self-treated … need I say more); stress fracture to my left tibia; overpronation helped along by the birthing process-times-three; foot neuroma; pelvic rotation problems; differentially wide feet; knees that are wearing out and pointing out; a hamstring pull; piriformis strain; and shoulder problems dating back to my swimming days as a flyer.

Perhaps the most humbling are the, um, bladder difficulty––also thanks to the birthing process. I have been to see a urologist, chiropodist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, sports physiotherapist, massage therapist, sports medicine physician and of course visits to my family doctor. I have had X-Rays, an MRI, a bladder scope thing and a pelvic ultrasound (the first one not related to childbearing).

My approach to my health and toward health practitioners changed when I correctly self-diagnosed the stress fracture. This was when I fully realized that I knew my body best and that I had to take my healthcare and sports related aches and pains seriously. Otherwise, I would have to accept others' ideas about when I was truly injured, deserving of appointments or even on the road to recovery. When I developed a hip/groin/hamstring/butt thing without a clear diagnosis and watched the bulk of my last year’s racing season go by without me, all the while listening to the sound of hundreds of out-of-pocket dollars drain from my (our) wallet, I reached a crossroads. It was time to go elsewhere for assessment, treatment and diagnosis. It was time to advocate for my own health. It was time to hit the sports medicine clinic. Despite my goals of a half-Ironman this year, full Ironman next year––though I wasn't sure that I qualified as an "athlete" given that I was mostly "Molly domestic" and not a member of one of our local or national sport teams (or any team for that matter)––I made the appointment anyway and have no regrets.

Several things have impressed me to date regarding the leap to sports medicine. First, I have been impressed with the level of sports related biomechanic knowledge that these people have. This greatly speeds up the assessment, diagnosis and treatment process. Some of you are saying Duh! But I truly believed that good treatment was good treatment and in truth, do feel I received decent treatment from decent providers, perhaps just not specific enough. My wallet has been quick to take note of the sports medicine difference.

I admitted during my first sports physiotherapy appointment that I was probably a bit neurotic over my aches and pains. The physio. and another staff member laughed and thought it was so nice to have someone actually admit to it!. I didn't get the "Honey, maybe you should just slow down," or "Maybe you should lay off for a while." I got an apology with the recommendation that I back off the hard run and speed work for a few weeks . As I had JUST started this kind of training and was suffering, a part of me was not disappointed at having been "told" to cut back…long runs would have been a different story. When I described my race goals and training, I didn't get the "You must be crazy" look. I was taken seriously.

The physiotherapist thought out loud as she assessed me. It was hard not to notice her ability to think in 3-D as she rotated and moved around my joints and muscles. I received an education in the biomechanics of my own body. I was also told that the problems I had would not mean imminent retirement or permanent problems. How cool to hear out loud how my body is as it adapts to the work being demanded of it.
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Perhaps the most honest feedback I have received to date is from the sports doc who, while laughing at my concerns about neurosis, said, "Alison, you're 38 years old, you've had three kids… your body is going to complain!" OK I hear ya! However, I trust that by attending to the complaints with proper care, I won't have to worry about the shutting down.

So if you're in Peterborough (Ont., Canada) this summer or Lake Placid or Penticton in 2002 and you see a graying middle aged woman crossing the finish line who is wrapped in duct tape and wearing a Depends logo, that'll be me! Just wave, bring me a fresh diaper, cold beer and a geri-walker and I'm sure I'll be fine!

Still tri'n

PS: Wonderful resource and inspiration for seeking out sports medicine specialists:

Running Injury Free: How to Prevent, Treat and Recover from Dozens of Painful Problems by Joe Ellis with Joe Henderson (1994) Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

PPS: Great sports injury website:

Dr. Pribut's Running Injuries Page (covers general sports medicine as well)