I’ve entered the pain cave during races and training - the time when every stride seems to take the effort of running a full mile and every breath, well, HURTS - but fortunately it always comes to an end. And rather quickly, too. But no pain cave has ever lasted for 6 months before, until now it seems.
Visual representation of the pain cave. I’m in pain, and in a cave: Pain cave.

Let me explain…

I got in for a second opinion today, this time seeing Dr. Kitchen at the San Luis Valley PRO (Performance. Rehabilitation. Orthopedics.) Center. From the beginning I was much more optimistic about seeing Dr. Kitchen than I was about the “specialist” I saw a month and a half ago. Firstly, Dr. Kitchen treats more athletes than the last doc I saw. Whereas I walked into the Foot & Ankle Clinic and was the only person without a walker or oxygen tank, when arriving at the PRO Center there were other people there who clearly shared similar passions to mine, and not just a passion for Pat Sajak and Wheel of Fortune. Secondly, there are people on staff with Dr. Kitchen’s team that share very similar passions to mine, such as mountain racer Simon Guttierez. These two things gave me a great deal of hope that perhaps this visit would mark the end of uncertainty.

The moment I shook his hand, he already seemed more sympathetic to my situation and open to hearing what I’ve experienced and tried over the last 6 months. Plus, he didn’t tell me to spend $400 on custom orthotics without hearing me out, which I greatly enjoyed.

But, to skip the details of the chat, I got the two main things I wanted out of the visit:

1) An appointmnet for an MRI. I’v filled out the paperwork and am now just waiting for a call this afternoon to let me know when the appointment is schedule for. This will tell us if there is a tear in the achilles, and if so, what the extent of that damage is.

2) A new idea, based on the evidence, of what the problem may be. Based on my symptoms and what I’ve attempted to do for healing so far, Dr. Kitchen was able to rule out compartment syndrome and nerve damage. However, in addition to an MRI, I will also be getting an X-Ray to check for calcific achilles tendonitis - or, the build of hard calcium deposits around the tendon which causes pain.

So, much stalactites and stalagmites form as a build-up of calcium on cave ceilings and floors, my achilles has had its own stalactites and stalagmites form on it, casuing me pain. Hence, a 6-month trip to the pain cave, albeit a very small yet very frustrating one.

When taking an X-Ray was first mentioned, I felt a bit peeved. I’d taken an X-Ray a 1.5 months ago. But that one was only on my heels and feet, and didn’t go high enough to see if there was any problem in the area that I told him I was experiencing the pain.

So, though I won’t know for sure until the end of next week - hopefully - I at least feel way more confident about this visit to the doctor than after the first.