So I am sitting on the IC again for the 2nd time this year with the same issue that put me here in June. This time instead of self diagnosis and not running for 3 months I decided that it was time to make a visit to a physio and see what they could offer in the way of guidance etc and so never having been to see a physio (other than NHS rehab type stuff) I thought I would share my experience.
Firstly the cost - I got my session for £70 for a 1 hour consultation, there are other follow up sessions for 30 minutes around £30 but the initial consultation of 1 hour was compulsory.
When I was trying to select a physio from those listed in the area cost was definitely a factor that I was mindful of but also location, in the end I feel I chose well with the cost seeming to be an average for those that I looked at.
When I arrived at the Physio I was greeted with a clipboard and 2 forms to complete, one was a standard GDPR form and the other basically stating that I recognise that following the session I may be a bit battered and bruised!!
The session started at a nice slow pace with being asked my history and details of my injury and how it was affecting me, this was followed by a quick mechanical assessment for which I was told there were no problems there - yippee!!
Then I was examined to see what my muscles were doing and told basically that everything was tight and knotted! When I replied no to the question of whether I had ever had a sports massage the physio was rather surprised and suggested that I ought to consider one on a regular basis (for me 4-6 weeks) once the knots were all out if I intended to keep running, these are generally less expensive than a standard physio appointment apparently.
I then proceeded to be pummelled, prodded, and hammered until I eventually left the physio after the hour was up.
Considering how badly I was limping on the way in I was pleased that I was just able to walk out!
Sure enough and true to what I was told I am now +24 hours and my legs are hurting not where they were previously but instead where I had been pummelled - no signs of bruising yet - but give it time. The issue that I went in with is still present but I did get some temporary relief from it which suggests that this is the right approach.
I was given some homework in the form of multiple exercises to do which I find really helpful as I never really know exactly what to do in order to correct a problem, bridges, clams, hamstring and IT band stretches. I have been told to do these 3 times a day which will amount to around 30 mins in the morning, lunchtime and evening and will be going back next week for another round.
Time will tell whether this battering will solve my issues and get me back on the running routes again quickly but my fingers are well and truly crossed. What I was told made a lot of sense so I am hopeful.
I was also told to get myself a shed load of vitamin supplements which I am a little more sceptical about so am doing some research before investing in those.
If I could wind the clock back to June I would have gone then but I guess ignorance and internet research can lead you to all sorts of different outcomes - some correct and some less so, in the end I guess that whilst the resting helped ease the problem it did not address the underlying cause and hence I am back to where I was again.
For now I am under strict orders not to run! So instead of 30 mins every other day I am doing 90 mins of stretching every day! Once I get through this I will 100% be sorting out a regular proper stretch program alongside my running schedule as prevention is always better than cure!
I'm back (again!) and being tortured by the physio :P
Update: Running, Injury, Physio, triggerpointing, PT, Shoes!
Just back from the physio, dodged the IC, sort of
Umming and erring about physio
