Steroids

The problem with steroids is not only that athletes who use them might have an unfair advantage over others (not always tho. as the case of the hockey player shows), but that once use reaches critical mass, others who might not want to use them could feel pressured to do so b/c of trying to keep up. And as in the case of East Germany, athletes were expected by coaches to use them--even kids, who were given "vitamins" and not told what they were really taking. But enforcement seems to be so elusive. All the testing, yet still ppl manage to use--and find drugs easier to mask. So how to eradicate their use? I wonder if, along with the constant vigilance and testing, there needs to be sufficient consciousness raising across sports about the longterm effects of steroids--and closing down the big labs like Balco that market them so aggressively. When I've had plantar fascitis (a running injury), I could not take NSAIDs b/c I'm allergic to them, so I have occasionally had to take cortisone by injection or by mouth. During one year, I had three shots, and later that year developed a monster case of the flu, one that lasted about a month and spawned sinus infections that lingered all during the winter. Since then, I've been very leery about taking cortisone in any form. There might have been no connection, but that was a case of the flu I never want to repeat. So I've been looking at alternative forms of inflammation control--have had success w/ glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM and massage. I think my allergy to NSAIDs (once I got past the idea that the only other alternative was cortisone) was a blessing in disguise, b/c I have found ways to deal w/ inflammation w/out dangerous side effects. I think sometimes steroids are needed for some medical conditions. But even there, they need to be used w/ caution. This is strong medicine and should be treated w/ respect.

The problem with steroids is not only that athletes who use them might have an unfair advantage over others (not always tho. as the case of the hockey player shows), but that once use reaches critical mass, others who might not want to use them could feel pressured to do so b/c of trying to keep up. And as in the case of East Germany, athletes were expected by coaches to use them--even kids, who were given "vitamins" and not told what they were really taking. But enforcement seems to be so elusive. All the testing, yet still ppl manage to use--and find drugs easier to mask. So how to eradicate their use? I wonder if, along with the constant vigilance and testing, there needs to be sufficient consciousness raising across sports about the longterm effects of steroids--and closing down the big labs like Balco that market them so aggressively. When I've had plantar fascitis (a running injury), I could not take NSAIDs b/c I'm allergic to them, so I have occasionally had to take cortisone by injection or by mouth. During one year, I had three shots, and later that year developed a monster case of the flu, one that lasted about a month and spawned sinus infections that lingered all during the winter. Since then, I've been very leery about taking cortisone in any form. There might have been no connection, but that was a case of the flu I never want to repeat. So I've been looking at alternative forms of inflammation control--have had success w/ glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM and massage. I think my allergy to NSAIDs (once I got past the idea that the only other alternative was cortisone) was a blessing in disguise, b/c I have found ways to deal w/ inflammation w/out dangerous side effects. I think sometimes steroids are needed for some medical conditions. But even there, they need to be used w/ caution. This is strong medicine and should be treated w/ respect.