Pulled muscle (?) for about six months now...

C

captainam3rica

Guest
I ran high school cross country earlier this school year. When I came back from Labor Day break, I felt like I had a really bad cramp in my stomach during the whole practice. The school's athletic trainer had me do some stretches and it definitely wasn't a cramp. I went to the Chiropractor and they did X-rays and it didn't appear to be a rib out of place or anything.

I sat out of cross country practice and meets almost the entire season and it didn't get any better. Near the end of the season, I felt like I had recovered and I ran for about one week without any problems, but then it started up at my next meet.

After not doing any exercise for quite a while I tried running at home and only lasted about 15 minutes before I had to stop because the pain in the sides of my stomach were so bad. I went to the doctor and he said it's probably a pulled muscle and to not run or anything for six weeks. I didn't do any exercise really for over six weeks and as soon as I tried running again it hadn't changed.

It's been about 6 months now since it first started and the problem doesn't seem to have gotten any better. The pain pretty much feels like a really bad cramp, and it gets worse the more I run. The pain hangs around my stomach area, sometimes one side or the other hurts, and sometimes both. Around the time when it started I could feel the pain moderately when walking from class to class at school.

I plan on joining the Marines next summer and I really don't need this to get in the way of training and getting ready for boot camp. Does anyone know if it's something besides a pulled muscle? Or if it is, do I just need to sit on my hands for a few months to let it completely heal? Do I need to start walking a little bit further each day and work my way up until I can run? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
You definitely need a followup opinion; I'd hate to hear that your appendix burst! I would see an internist.
 
My next question is what kind of doctor should I see. g8r80 said I should see an internist, anyone else have input on what kind of doctor to see?
 
My next question is what kind of doctor should I see. g8r80 said I should see an internist, anyone else have input on what kind of doctor to see?

None of us here are doctors, and even then, we can't recommend you to a specific type of specialist because we can't examine you.

Generally speaking, you're going to need a referral to see a decent specialist, and that means a trip to your general practitioner. As you have had pain for greater than a 2 week period, I highly doubt he will deny you a referral and try to at least determine what type of specialist you need to see, and if he does, then you need to see a different G.P.

Best of luck.
 
I think Gr8 might be a doctor :D

I'm a biologist, but I play a doctor when I role play with my wife...

None of us here are doctors, and even then, we can't recommend you to a specific type of specialist because we can't examine you.

True, but you need to see some doctor first.

I don't know what country you live in or what kind of insurance, if any, you have, but I do not have to go through a primary care provider (usually a GP) to see a specialist. If I were in your shoes and since I don't have to go through a PCP, I would see an internist directly.

Here is what an internist does and why I would see an internist first:

What's an Internist?

An internist's specialty is internal medicine, a primary care specialty focusing on the care and treatment of adults.

Internists provide long-term, comprehensive care, managing both common illnesses and complex problems. General internists incorporate an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of common ailments ranging from the eyes and ears to the skin and nervous system.

Internists are characterized by an extensive knowledge of diagnosis and treatment and often act as consultants to other specialists.

from:

The reason I don't recommend GPs as the first doctor to see (assuming you don't have to go through a GP first) is that my GP has missed too many issues with me above the simplistic issues, so maybe I'm biased.

Just my 2 cents; take it for what its worth
 
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