Firefly FINALLY broke down...

...and went to the doctor. The knee kept me up for another late night. I was up until 3:30 a.m. again. That was the LAST straw......period. (Plus it helps that someone insisted on me getting it checked out...Thank you!) After waking up at 10:45, I got myself fed, dressed, and set aside my work clothes so I could change when I made it to work on time. I headed the clinic where I usually go and expected to to the urgent care. There was a 90 minute wait, but the receptionist - who was a total saint - looked to see if there were any appointments available right now. Sure enough there was one available for 1:00 - 4 minutes away. Whoohoo! I paid my co-pay and walked the waiting area until I was seen by the doctor. After having my weight checked (I do not want to talk about it..please!), I was seen by the doctor. I explained to her about the pain and crap that I was going through. I even explained that when I applied ice on top of the patella that a lot of pressure and pain came with it that I thought my patella would pop right out through the skin (and you thought the acupuncture was bad...nahhhh!). She did not like the description at all. She performed her exam of the knee, which was partically torture. Afterwards, she had me get some x-rays done. She told me that depending on the results I will either be referred to an Orthopaedic Specialist or Surgeon. She also thought it might be Patello-Temoral Syndrome. The X-ray tech was just as bad as the doc. The doctor wanted the x-rays while I had weight on my knee. UGHHHHH! I thought the last x-ray would not be so bad. I let a sigh of relief because I would be on my stomach. Again....I was WRONG! They had me BEND my knee and allowing the x-ray machine to keep my leg up in the air, while the x-ray slab (which was VERY hard) right underneath my knees (which put a TON of pressure and pain on the bad knee). OWWWWW! Then they were all done. (THANK GOD!) I went back to the room where I sat and waited for the results. Well, the doctor came back into the room. Good news is that the patella looked fine. Thank goodness! Bad news is that I need to wait and then see an Orthopaedic Specialist. **sigh** I was able to get an appointment for next Tuesday afternoon....thank GOODNESS! In the meantime, I have stretches that I can do. The doctor also gave me some Tylenol #3 tablets to take until I see the Orthopaedic Specialist. All I can do now is to ICE, take Advil, stretch, and rest. **sigh** I am SO mad because today was one of the LAST nice days to go out running until the huge cold snap ends in two weeks. I could not be out there and run. It's SO unfair! Right now, registering for the Shamrock Shuffle is on hold for me. I already have my plane ticket purchase so I will be there anyway to cheer all of the RBF bloggers who will running and attend Josh's awesome post-race party, if I can not do so. Well, that's all for now. But I do have one request. If you are going to run today or tomorrow, please run a couple of miles for me. Thank you!