My endeavors in running, while quite fruitful, have resulted in a rather annoying injury. At first it appeared to be an IT band issue. This wasn't too surprising, as I fit all the "likely causes" checklist:
- Too quick an increase in distance (I went from panting after 50 feet in Nov to 5K in January to 8K in February.)
- Too much running downhill (There's nowhere to go but down from our apartment!)
- Too much running on uneven surfaces (These wee Tokyo streets aren't exactly flat.)
- Too much excessive pressure on the knees from weight (ahem!)
- Not enough rest time between runs (Minimum 4 days a week running)
I was recommended a bodywork guy who was here from Hawaii. Absolutely amazing, He released my IT band and even helped my old injury prone ankles. Go find Demian and tell him I sent ya!
But now that those injuries were releasing, there was some other major underlying pain. Something feeling very inflamed and even worse. It was hard to take anti-inflammatories, as all those over the counter helpmates in the states are perscription only here. Sure, there's Tylenol, but it has a smaller dosage than Children's Tylenol back home. And I don't need to be popping 10 pills a day on my stomach!
The pain got worse. The IT band area seemed ok now but there was just so much more pain. I couldn't walk more than 2 minutes. All my hard-earned running body pluses were now turning back into doughy sedentary minuses. So off to the doctor I went. Or did I?
I was planning on heading to a clinic known for English speaking doctors, but they did not have an orthopedist the day I was free, so I hobbled across the street to the spanking new Japanese Red Cross. I have National Health Care, so I hoped it wouldn't be too pricey. The Japanese National Healthcare System has some nice aspects, but even here it's all about the waiting. Appointments are not the norm. You just have to sit and be patient.
On the plus side, they give you a nifty device that buzzes and texts you when you're needed in a certain area, so you can wander around the building and have a coffee.
Look, it's telling me that....that....well, I see my number flashing somewhere, so I'll just bring this over.
On the hard, negative side, it consisted of 4 hours of waiting for two 5 minute sessions with a doctor and an x-ray in between.And the doctor didn't even want me to remove me pants to inspect my leg, nor were the x-ray techs too excited about it. This is the country where people bathe together, read porn openly on the subway and have little old ladies hanging out in men's bathrooms while we all pee (ostensibly to clean up) and yet you make the inhale "I don't think so" sound when it comes time to examining an injury without pants?
I was told I had no broken bones, and was prescribed a 1% anti-inflammatory cream. I think my anger and frustration were the only thing that got me mobile back home, as by then I really couldn't walk at all. Oh, and while it was inexpensive, there was an added 4500Yen for coming in without an "introductory letter."
Thankfully, some congregants scored me aleve and ibuprofen from the States, which helped some, but the pain began to increase. I really was worried I tore something. I went back to the English speaking clinic only to be told the orthopedist was only in 2 afternoons a week and this was not one of them. They recommended an orthopedic clinic where they were certain English was spoken. (I had believed that perhaps the lack of understanding between doctor and patient might have been an issue in the previous milieu).
So, after a 30 minute limp to get a few hundred meters, I found the place. The receptionist said that they had an English speaking doctor and I'd have to wait. Only five minutes later, I get to meet him. He really doesn't speak English. He does, however, take my pants off and touches exactly where it hurts, so I'm assuming it might be good. He then places a cooling patch on the back of my knee and says, "OK, Finished" and sends me away. I ask about an MRI. He nods and says "OK. Finished." I asked what he thinks it might be. He says...well, you get the idea.
I am sooooo not happy. People at work and the synagogue are concerned. They offer some specialists, but they all say I'd need an MRI before any of them saw me. But I have this cream and patch! Now, can you carry me to the bus so I can get to work? My leg buckles whenever I stand up.
Last week, I finally got to the English speaking clinic when the orthopedist was there. And they had a translator on hand, too. A real exam, an MRI, a cortisone shot in the knee and honest-to-g*d anti-inflammatories. Huzzah! There was some concern that the MRI and my tattoos wouldn't mix, but I guess my artists didn't use metal ink, so no pain (except from the vibrations on the bum leg).
Today I got my MRI results back. Nothing torn or broken and the patella and ligaments are all fine. But the bone is inflamed, along with some of the muscles, even after a week of major anti-inflammatories. A few more weeks respite and drugs and then hopefully things will be good. But the doctor commented that this was something that didn't just happen overnight. And of course, the 4 weeks trying to get to see him didn't help the situation.
All this from running. Was my thinner waist and better endurance worth it? Actually, yes. I hope to be able to run again soon. The Rabbi would rather it didn't happen. We'll see what he says after a week of carby matzo balls!
And speaking of which, let's end on a happy food filled note. I had our third Japanese Wives Cooking Class this past weekend. A sort of pre-Pesach warm-up. I showed the ladies a choroset recipe and then one of my own faves (made up myself!), Chicken with Matzo "Stuffing". It's a nifty technique that, as the matzo cooks with the bird, it gets both crispy and mushy, sort of like Jewish Yorkshire pudding.
Try it, you'll plotz! The Rabbi can only manage 4 helpings a night of this.
Rebbetzin Dan's Chicken with "Matzo Stuffing"
Chicken, cut into pieces (skin on)
Olive oil
Onions, sliced thin
Lemons, sliced thin
Fresh thyme
Salt & pepper
Matzo
Marinate chicken in next 4 ingredients in fridge for at least an hour (I prefer several hours), turning on occasion
Preheat oven to 350F (or 180C)
Place matzo in roasting pan in two layers, drizzling olive oil on all sides (and in between layers)
Sprinkle some extra sliced onions on matzo
Place chicken pieces in pan and then pour over marinade
Add a few more lemon slices
Salt and pepper to taste
Add a few thyme sprigs
Bake for one hour or until the skin is crispy and the juices run clear
Remove chicken from pan. Scrape up matzo into a bowl. It will be both crispy and mushy.
Mangia!
Posts
Dan, my mouth is watering. Do you have suggestions for making the stuffing as a side dish?
ReplyDeleteElaine L
Elaine, The part that makes it so good is all the chicken juices and fat getting into the matzo. I guess if you had some extra wings, you could just use them, or maybe some stock and schmaltz. But it needs the meat to make the stuffing.
ReplyDelete