A mean Dr, some upset and...

[Jundal]

SHOE PORN!

Last week, I managed an 8k that completely wiped me out left me feeling a bit worse for wear, so I held off running again for a few days. I then ran a 2.5 recovery, not too many problems, but a night on the beer the night before emptied the fuel tanks, so I kept the distance down. And then after a couple of nights where I went to be early, was a good boy and ate well, yesterday I popped out for a nice easy old 5k. Wasn't too bad a run, until I got back...

After the relax I had after the run, my right knee felt stiff, very tender and generally quite unhappy. The wife asked for my help doing a few bits, carrying things up and downstairs. After the second trip, I had to tell her I couldn't do any more, as I was in an increasing amount of pain with a lot of cracking and grinding feelings coming from my knee. So, off to the physician, thinks I, and booked an appt this morning.

(Brace yourselves, here comes the woe, unhappiness, general feelings of offence, fury and outright violence...)

I went to see the 'other' Dr at my local surgery, he's new, and has been really good so far. But today... He moved my leg about, asked some questions and diagnosed me with a sprained tendon in my knee. All good. So far. Then, the poor fool opened his mouth, meaning I'll never visit him again. I'll go and see the other one. The 'proper doctor'.

"You do realise there are other things you can do to exercise? There's cycling and swimming? Neither are as high impact as running is. Don't get me wrong, it's great that your staying fit, but with your 'problems' you've had, running might not be the activity for you." (Just so you all know, I had arthroscopic surgery 3 years ago for a tear in the cartilage in my left knee.)

I was actually quite astonished. I did tell him that I don't run fast, I can still talk when I run, and then asked him two questions. 1: will getting my gait tested so that my shoes give me proper support whilst I run help? And 2: will wearing supports for my knees help to alleviate the symptoms? He just looked blank, and went 'umm, yeah' whilst looking blank.

So I left, in an absolutely foul mood. And went to my local running shop. The ladies there were AMAZING. (Running Fox in Loughborough if you want to know which it was.) As I walked in, saying I wanted running shoes, one of the ladies looked down and tole me she could already tell I over pronated, just looking at my ankles. So I spent a lovely 45 minutes talking shoes, knee supports, (one of the ladies even got a tape measure out to make sure I had the right size knee support!) And hopping on and off the treadmill, where they even showed me the effect of the shoes I tried on on the camcorder, explaining everything that was happening.

Best thing is, when I explained about my knee, she took me to a video of me running with my current trainers on and showed me exactly WHY I've sprained the tendon in my knee, showing me how a certain roll on my left foot and ankle effects my right knee, and how the new shoes stop that from happening!

So after starting badly, the afternoon ended up lovely, and I'll never go anywhere else for running shoes. And so you know, these are New Balance Support 860 v8's.

Sexy aren't they?

Oh, and I've been given anti inflammatory meds for a month to take twice a day. I promise I'll try not to run for at least ten days.

[Jell6 Graduate10]

Sorry you are on the IC.

I am not anti GP, but my feeling is, they are generalists, and their knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics is not a patch on that of a sports physio.

Rest up and ease yourself back in when you have healed.

[Jundal in reply to Jell6]

My thoughts exactly. I'll be starting slow (er than usual) and short, thing is though, whilst in the new shoes, my knee didn't hurt on the treadmill. Change back to my usual ones and OUCH!

[Katnap Graduate10]

Try a physio for a 2nd / 3rd opinion?

[Jundal in reply to Katnap]

I'll stick with my shoes for the first couple of runs, see how I go and if I need to, it'll be sports physio next. I tend to heal quickly and well though.

[SlowLoris]

First thing my GP said was that I should try cycling instead of running. There was also a bit of a hint about my age etc. It was the physio that put me straight and suggested I needed to take it gradually. That's when I found C25K.

[Jundal in reply to SlowLoris]

My GP might as well have said "you are a bit lardy aren't you? Maybe running isn't for you, fatty." I was a touch miffed when I left, I can tell you! I'll stop running when they take my running shoes out of my cold dead hands!

[Oldlady57]

Take it easy Jundal. I think I’ll take a leaf out of your book & get another gait analysis done. I’ve been told to rest for up to 8weeks. Going stir crazy & not run since graduation!! Speedy recovery. Love your new shoes!!👍🏻

[Jundal in reply to Oldlady57]

8 WEEKS?!? SWEET JESUS, THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!!

That's wrong on many levels.

[Dragonflies in reply to Oldlady57]

I’m so sorry to hear that Oldlady, been thinking of you and wondering where you got too. 8 weeks... aouch! Sport physio next maybe for strength training???

[Oldlady57 in reply to Dragonflies]

Already sorted Dragonflies & programme already in place👍🏻

[Dragonflies in reply to Oldlady57]

Great stuff 👍

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

What a tale! I was hooked, but very happy to see a positive ending. GPs seem to sit in one of two camps - pro-running and no clue about it at all, so blanket advise to not run. Which is not helpful if you love running. You have a plan now and that’s great. Just be sure to rest up thoroughly before running again, and make your first run back a very slow, short one in your STUNNING new shoes to test things out. So happy that you got some help in the running shop. 👍

[Jundal in reply to Sadie-runs]

Seriously, they were absolutely amazing, nothing was too much trouble. I honestly got million dollar customer service today.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Lovely shoes Jundal and I’m glad you got such great service from your independent running shop.

You might also consider going to see a sports physio and check if there’s any specific exercises you can do to build up muscles to protect your knees. I was told I had lazy gluten so my knees were taking the strain.

Take it easy on the couch and then get your blue shoes on the road.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Oops - just read this and have virtually repeated this below! Ah, great minds think alike, Dexy!🙂

[Jundal in reply to Sandraj39]

I may also have lazy gluten (but apparently a toned and quite firm bum) but I shall if I need to! 😂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

Telepathy Sandraj39 😂😂

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

She means “lazy flutes” btw🙄

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to UpTheStanley]

You mean lazy glutes 🤣🤣

[UpTheStanley Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Crazy boots?

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Oh yes! They are lovely and will sit waiting patiently for you while you heal!🙂 So glad you did not heed the words of your Doctor(😉) - even better that you went straight off to get some advice on your gait. Hope your knee settles soon but if it doesn't, I would definately recommend finding a good Sports Physio to advise on exercises to strengthen and support your gait. They really can be worth their weight in gold. Good luck in your new shoes though, they sound fab!🙂

[Jundal in reply to Sandraj39]

Funnily enough, there is at least three I've passed by in the local area I can easily get to. I keep seeing them and it's as if I'm noting they're there just in case...

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Love the trainers. The Doc obviously got stuck in his other alternative exercise thinking, but though shalt not deny a runner!! Well done for going out on your own search for a running remedy! 💪🏽👌🏽❤️

[Jundal in reply to Fabulous450]

Thankfully, I realise that like me, THAT (I shan't say 'my') doctor is only human!

[SANDI_runs Graduate10]

Ooooo nice shoes! ❤❤ i get my new balance shoes delivered on Thursday, im so excited!

Sorry to hear you are on the IC. Hoping for a speedy recovery x

[Jundal in reply to SANDI_runs]

If only I could wave a magic wand, I'd be out after the school run!

[BarbieW Graduate10]

Great shoes - I so want,

I went to sports physio about my knees and he has given me exercises to strengthen glutes and quads and it is definitely working. Did 8K end of last week and although the knees were a bit sore for a couple of days I have exercised the pain away easily since.

BTW I have been told a while ago that knee supports do nothing for you. But I don’t know if true or not.

[Jundal in reply to BarbieW]

They make me feel better. For me, that's enough.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

Nice shoe porn.

Maybe that GP needs to do some reading up... NHS partnering with parkrun this summer, doctors prescribing parkrun and C25K rather than meds... that’s all new, and it’s working.

You have a great running shop there... you realise this means you can never move far right? 😂

Take the pills and put those shoes out of sight for 10 days! I can almost see you looking at them and wanting to lace them up! Be good, we like you running and 10 days on the IC is better than a few months.

[Jundal in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Oh, tell me about it! Worst thing is, he only said he'd prescribe a month of pills, but i find sprains heal fully in a couple of weeks. So... I'm left to do it by feel. I'll be fine though.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Jundal]

You’ll know when you’re ready, just go gentle when you are... few good recovery runs.

[UpTheStanley Graduate10]

The amazing thing about your GP practice is that you got an appointment in days not weeks!

[Jundal in reply to UpTheStanley]

Yeah, when you appear when they open to get an appt they have to ignore the phone and see to you first!

[Deals1 Graduate10]

Cool shoes! Hope u r soon back ruining. Take it easy. Sounds like u have found a great new running shop