Mike's Marathon Blog

I have mentioned my back pain in a few different posts. It started a little at the beginning of the year and got worse over the course of the summer. At first, it was more aggravating than anything. I figured it was from a 20-year old mattress and running over 40 miles per week. After the marathon in April, I took a month off from pretty much everything. My back worsened. This was obviously not a good sign.

I blamed the pain throughout the summer on golf and lifting heavy objects at work. The pain became a bit concerning when I started canceling my weekly golf league matches. Jack and I spent a few days in Ogunquit in the beginning of August. After sitting in a beach chair all day, I woke up the next morning and could barely walk. I was at Lahey the next morning.

After an initial appointment and a few unconcerning x-rays, I met with a back specialist. He scheduled me for an MRI and I had it done at 11 pm, the night before I left for Texas. I had my follow-up appointment this morning.

I have 2 degenerative discs and 1 herniated disc, all in a row, in my lower back. Degenerative discs, from what I understand, are discs that lose fluid. This reduces the ability of the discs to act as shock absorbers and makes them less flexible. Loss of fluid also makes the discs thinner and narrows the distance between the vertebrae. A herniated disc is a disc that slips outside the normal position. The slipped disc wouldn’t be so much of a problem if it weren’t for the surrounding nerves. The herniated disc sits on the nerve (s), which is the root of all the pain in my back and leg. The nerves are so sensitive, I some times feel it in my lower leg and foot.

I have an appointment with another doctor next week. He will recommend next steps, which will most likely be a cortisone injection. Is this temporary? Long term? Will it even work? I have no idea.

Can I still run NYC? “If you can withstand the pain, you can do anything you want,” said the back specialist. To be honest, I have already tried to back out of the race. Children’s Hospital won’t let me. I don’t have to run, but I still have to raise the money. It’s too late to go into a rant about this, but let’s just say I have a completely different opinion about the Miles for Miracles team this time around and this will undoubtedly be the last time I run or do anything for them.

So, we will see. I can run, I can golf, I can do most things. It simply depends on the day. If those nerves are being pinched, I would honestly pay someone to cut off my leg. Other days, I am training for a marathon. I don’t know how else to describe it. My appointment is next Tuesday and I will know more then.

Now I don’t feel so bad about my handicap going from an 11 to a 17 in 4 months. I’m putting an asterisk on my GHIN card!