I'm still hanging around on the sidelines waiting to join in with the big girls and boys!
For those that missed my tale of woe that was Hastings Half back in March, I was knocked back by a big pain in the butt, aka piriformis syndrome. Six months on and many therapies (and much £££!) later, the PS has subsided in the left side but has been replaced by a sore hip on the right side and a tender right heel.
I had been gradually building my running back up since May and had reached a point where I could run 5k without too much piriformis irritation but the hip and heel pain was getting worse. Also, for months I have been unable to sit down for longer than an hour without getting severe discomfort in both buttocks.
So in a fit of feeling sorry for myself last week I posted on my running club's Facebook page asking for recommendations for a physio that specialises in runners. I had lost faith in the physio I saw and had gone for countless sports massages that only provide temporary relief. Lots of people recommended a local osteopath so I went to see him today, and after a lengthy assessment he pronounced that all my problems can be traced back to a stiff ankle (old injury)! He has done some manipulations on my ankle, knee and hip and now we have to wait and see...
I have another appointment booked for next week but he seemed confident that he can fix me!
Starting to feel a bit more positive again. This whole thing has kept me back for months. I haven't booked any races since March (other than a couple of club 5ks) and I have missed a whole season of off-road runs which I had really been looking forward to. So it's been hard to keep chipper. But I'm hoping I might finally be on the right track now. If anyone has any stories (good or bad!) about their experience of osteopathy I would love to hear them, as it's all new to me.
Apologies for the long post and thank you for wading through to the end!!
Written by
MutleyShuffle
Half Marathon
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Ahh, lots of sympathy from me! Virtual hugs aplenty. I've never seen an osteopath but have been recommended one by my pilates teacher. As soon as I'm walking properly I plan to make an appt with him before starting to run again. I do hope he's found your underlying issue and you get to see positive results fast - you've been suffering for such a long time now (not that I would've noticed from your last speedy strava post!). Good luck!
Aw thanks Linda. Yes I have .managed some speedy (for me) 5ks but osteo reckons I need to slow down! Getting too impatient. Hope you get to the osteo appointment stage soon!
Hi! So sorry to see you still struggling, I really hope the new guy can help!!!! I admit to feeling sceptical about osteopaths, although actually I did see one many years ago and they just had a quick feel and sent me away with some exercises, which was pretty sensible I thought 😊
I went to an osteopath after my daughter was born. I had one leg that wasn't working properly a month after the birth - some sort of pinched nerve - pain killers took away the pain but didn't fix the problem - my doctor told me it would go away of it's own accord eventually.
I also couldn't button my trousers even though I'd lost most of the weight (my fat trousers, not my "normal" trousers lol.
I limped in and I could have danced coming out, trousers buttoned. I am a convert, it really was day and night for me
I also called a dog osteopath for my dog that had a stroke and without me giving her all the information (she didn't even know who my vet was) she basically told me everything my dog had trouble doing - she felt it all. I truly believe that chiropractors and osteopaths have their place in modern medicine.
Thank you for sharing that backintime, I do love to hear a success story! Other runners have told me that they have seen this osteopath and have been fixed after one session - unfortunately that hasn't been the case with me. But I haven't given up hope yet, have a follow-up appointment booked for this Friday so will wait and see how that goes. He did say my ankle has been set in that position a long time (I broke it 10 years ago) so it may take more than one session to put it right 🤞
Not sure about stories per se, however I used to see an osteopath regularly and he gave me back an inch in height.
I moved jobs and started seeing another regularly and she kept me straight. Unfortunately she stopped doing the clinic near me but I still do a lot of the exercises and now have regular sports massages.
We don't invest enough in our bodies' maintenance; we have our cars serviced, yet we expect our bodies to just keep going (don't get me started on teeth!)
I've also tried acupuncture in the past, that's amazing!
Sorry to hear about your woes. I don't see an osteo, but I do see a chiropractor regularly because she makes such a difference. I started many years ago because my GP recommended I see one. He said that he could prescribe painkillers and rest for my back (I'd fallen off too many horses) but they wouldn't cure the problem. He said it didn't matter whether I went to a chiropractor or an osteopath, either would be able to help. I have been in a few times over the years and told her that my neck hurts, only to be told after some poking and prodding that my hip is what's causing the problem, so I understand about the stiff ankle causing your issues! I go every 6 months now unless a problem develops meanwhile and consider it money well spent. She is quite fierce though! Oh, and she is a runner, which makes a big difference. You might want to check your osteo's attitude to running
Good luck - hope to see you all mended and racking up the distances again soon
Thank you Anniemurph, good to hear your chiropractor has made such a difference to you. My osteo isn't a runner himself but he treats a lot of the runners at my club and said where possible he will always try to keep runners running! So I think he has the right attitude.
Hi MS, good to see you back on here, even though it’s not necessarily under the best circumstances. 👋
I have no experience of osteos, but I’m hoping yours can help fix you, at least enough to allow you to get back running gently to start with. 🤞 You’re a toughie though, and I’m sure once you’re fit and able you’ll be up and at ‘em in true MS fashion! 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you Cheeky 😊 Hope I can post a nice positive post soon! When I feel confident enough to enter a race that will be cause for celebration! Hope that day isn't too far away...
Oh, my, you've really been in the wars! I used to see an osteopath. Really helpful, though my problems creep back because my left leg is shorter and weaker than the right because of injury, and my spine has bent to accommodate it. Can't afford it now, but it used to give me relief from pain for weeks after. I hope they sort this out for good for you xx
Thanks Flick 😊 Sounds like you have a lot more to contend with than me! He did say if one session doesn't fix me, I may have to go for a few weekly sessions then maybe go back every six months for an MOT/service! I'm happy with that if I can keep running. Yes it is expensive, I'm lucky I can afford it at the moment. Just hope it works!
Hi MutleyShuffle sorry to hear about the hip and heel hopefully the new person will have you back to your old self soon. I was so pleased when you started doing parkrun again hope this doesn’t stop you. See you at parkrun soon 👍😊
That's lovely to hear Runsome! I am still doing Parkrun but I really pay for it afterwards - today I could hardly walk for pain in heel and hip, I was really hobbling when I was pushing my trolley around Tescos! Osteo said to carry on running but not go too fast - trouble with Parkrun I get carried away by the crowd! Think I may need to avoid it for a while and just do some slow solo runs. But I will be back! Hopefully see you there in the not too distant future 😊
Glad you are making progress, it's a bit of a twisty path sometimes isn't it—but all these experiences will make for a greater awareness of your own movement. You'll come back double strong!
Thanks Squeak, I do hope so! I keep getting moments when I doubt if I will ever be able to run pain-free again, but I am going to give it my best shot before I give up!
Hi. For some reason I was thinking u hadn't posted for a while. (we started around the same time... Altho I took loads longer to graduate) ... So thought I'd check if u still ere. Arrr nooo I must have missed Yr last few posts. How are u doing now??? 🤔
Hello Deals! That's sweet of you to think of me! I haven't posted for ages as still struggling my way to recovery! I have seen more different practitioners than I've had hot dinners!! Latest is a podiatrist who has given me orthotics and lots of gruelling glutes exercises to do. The swollen heel has started to get better but the piriformis niggle has swapped to the other side now and the sore hip has morphed into a sore back of pelvis (just to right of spine).
The podiatrist said I should see a difference in 4 to 6 weeks. Nearly 4 weeks up and I think I can feel a very slight improvement, so fingers crossed. I have decided not to try running again until I see definite signs of improvement as I don't want to be set back again. I haven't given up though, I am determined to get out there again one day!
Hope all is good with you and you are still enjoying your running 🏃♀️💪❤
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