I don't post blog entries often. So seldom do I post here I had to look up how. 

 This one is a rant and if you don't feel like listening (reading) I fully understand and suggest you move on.

Some of you know that last fall I managed to tear a small part of my hamstring off of the bone at the upper end.  To quote a friend, "What a pain in the ass!"

Three doctors, months of limited activity, various physical therapy treatments and lots of discomfort later, the rock I sit on has gotten no smaller, no less uncomfortable, and lots more emotionally annoying.

Basically the bit of muscle (tendon? ligament?) has come away from the bone.  All the PT has strengthened the rest, and the structures surrounding it, but apparently nothing can really be done for the knot formed by the loose bit, and that is what I sit on. At today's appointment (one that has been postponed 6 times over the last 3 months, thank you very much mr. covid 19) I was told that no amount of exercise, stretching, or medication will give me any more improvement, and surgery is not an option.

Before being given this little gem of info, Dr Quack had suggested PRP therapy to promote healing during a teleconference check in during the shut down. Being who I am, that kicked off a round of research so I was armed when I actually saw him again today.  The issue is a knot of muscle that is no longer attached to the bone.  It cannot be surgically reattached, trimmed away or otherwise alleviated. I have made all the progress I can with exercise.  Deep tissue massage may help soften it a bit and we are going to give it a shot, but the thought of someone digging their fingers deep into my butt muscles does not sound too promising, or comfortable for that matter. There are few side effects, but a small possibility I could have an allergic reaction to the injection. Yes, to my own serum platelets. My luck? I would be the one in 10,000 who does. I told him to keep his PRP since any healing that it might have aided occurred 10 months ago when I first injured it, and the cost vs probable result was not promising. I could have built a baby in the amount of time I have been trying to get this rock out of my pants!

Which brings me to the title question. If there is nothing to be done but treat the symptom and alleviate the pain with otc meds, Why the hell could he not tell me that( or one of the other two docs) back in the fall. Once the surrounding muscles had been built up ( around Christmas) I could have embarked on remedial solutions to allow me to ride again, like a gel seat pad for my saddle. WTF? They knew they could do nothing for it, jerked my chain, charged me large sums of money over and above what my insurance pays, and the only thing I can do is take a Tylenol?  I have learned on my own how to sit differently to reduce the discomfort without throwing my back out of alignment. Now to learn to ride again.

My horse thinks I don't love him any more because I have not ridden since last September.  Anyone with a pet will understand. Bo literally tries to push me to the mounting block outside the barn door any time I am walking him to his field. He is a very smart horse, but that is the subject for another blog