So Your Doctor Said to Stop Running
How runners can get the most out of medical visits
The unthinkable (but also kind of inevitable?) has happened: you’re injured. That little niggle took a turn for the worse, and now you’re sitting in your doctor’s exam room. She listens to your story, pokes and prods a little, and delivers the prescription: stop running, and your pain will go away.
Before I get into the ins and outs of this discussion, I have some disclaimers, caveats, and general common sense reminders. Yes, there ARE some medical issues for which total rest definitely is indicated (some cardiac issues and bone injuries come to mind). A licensed healthcare provider can evaluate your particular circumstances and risk factors, and though you can seek alternate opinions and advice, simply ignoring professional advice you don’t like is inherently risky. Similarly, nothing I could write in an article for a general audience could ever substitute for individual medical advice. This article is intended to help you navigate your care in collaboration with healthcare professionals. Get it? Got it? Good.
Let’s get back to the exam room.
Some doctors get it right away, and some don’t. Doctors are humans, and they don’t know everything! Not all of them are experts in the particular issues runners tend to face, and this can be frustrating if you’re not prepared for it. How can you use this visit to help you on your way to being a healthy runner rather than a ball of rage and disappointment?
Here are some points to consider as you have a conversation with your doctor.
- What is your goal in seeking care? Maybe you’re seeking to rule out something like a fracture, and as long as you find out you’re not doing permanent damage, you’re happy. Maybe you want advice on what to use to safely manage pain. Or maybe your significant other insisted you go and you promised you’d hear them out. Let your doctor know what you’re looking for and you have a much better chance of getting it.
- What is your doctor’s goal for you? When your doctor says “stop running,” she may be looking for the most effective way to quickly resolve the symptom that brought you in. In that paradigm, “stop running” is probably a good answer.
- Do you have your expectations aligned? What is an adverse outcome and what is success? You need to get on the same page. If your doctor is shooting for “pain-free” and trying to avoid chronic injury or surgery, but you’re shooting for “running as soon as possible,” you’re both going to be frustrated. Ask upfront about your doctor’s approach and what her expectations are, but. . .
- Be realistic. There are limits to what’s possible, and sometimes prolonged rest is a good idea. Sometimes cross-training or reducing volume will turn out to be the right thing for you. Go in with your questions in hand, but keep an open mind.
How can you increase your chances of success?
- Get to know your doctor well. A doctor who knows you and your priorities will be able to work with you better than whoever’s on duty at urgent care that day. If you have health insurance and don’t yet have a primary care provider, consider establishing care with one when you’re well. This can help you get better care when you need it.
- Seek out a sports medicine practice — some primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, naturopathic physicians, physician assistants) focus on treating active people through a sports medicine lens. Sports medicine doesn’t just mean orthopedics for elite athletes! You may also find adding a physical therapist, registered dietician, or other professional focused on athletes to your care team will be useful.
- Develop good body maintenance habits long-term, and don’t ignore red flags. If you go in to see a massage therapist, chiropractor, or physical therapist at least a few times a year, you’ll be less likely to develop a ticking-time-bomb type injury that could have been prevented or corrected at home.
What does it look like to collaborate with your doctor?
To illustrate how even a serious health challenge may be approached differently for runners than the rest of the population, consider the story of runner and coach Megan Roche. Megan has shared candidly about her recent diagnosis of autoimmune myocarditis and the medical care she’s received. Though the standard of care for this illness involves prolonged rest from all activity, Megan sought care from a cardiology team who recognized that as an elite athlete, her physiology and life goals were markedly different from those of the people the guidelines were based on. Through a clear assessment of her current state and careful monitoring of her progress, she’s been able to create a plan to move her recovery forward in a direction that’s much more appropriate for her.
What’s the bottom line?
The moral of the story is, one size doesn’t fit all, and you and your doctor can’t read each other’s minds. Take a deep breath, consider what your priorities are, and talk with your doctor like two human beings with different information seeking a common solution — which is what you are. So get help, get healthy, and I’ll see you on the trails.
