Posterior tibial tendon is a little-known, but hugely important anatomical structure along the inside of an ankle. When that guy gets inflamed, you just know. Flat footers, ladies over 40, guys like me who run lots, can all fall victims. Overuse can be something that can trigger it. It's a stubborn healer. It can take 6-8 weeks of non running to put it right even if it doesn't hurt. If you push it, it will retaliate. My physio will assess me over the phone tomorrow and see me if necessary. I haven't made a break from running for over 4 years, it will feel unusual. At the same time, I will not risk something worse (surgery).
How did I sense the problem? Old shoes sent me the first signal so I backed down until the new shoes got delivered. New shoes were great and during my regular weekly HM I felt a cramp like sensation in the foot just after the 21km mark. Foot was very sore in the evening and there is a spot in the middle, on the inside, that is very painful to touch. I knew it then. The day after it was 'almost normal' and that's where runners fall into the trap and run again. Then you pay it back with high interest rates.
Nevermind. Michelle will ring me at 11.30. We'll fix that thing. In the meantime I will carry on with my writing and some sensationally exciting news that I will share soon.
Written by
mrrun
Ultramarathon
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Is that definitive diagnosis, or your worst case scenario?
Hopefully it’s a round of physio exercises at home, healing food, rest and recuperation. Anti-inflammatory smoothie* making is therapeutic too, as are all the other positive things you can do to make yourself well while you can’t run 🙂
From what I know about it, it's a beginning of what could potentially develop into it. I now know enough to know when to stop rather than push it. Those things develop easily but I'd rather wait and prevent it than regret it later. I'll fix it, my diet and discipline have always been good. I'll also have my gait and insoles checked out to make sure all is well on that front. Funny thing about that type of injury is that it can easily get confused with something trivial. And feet are more complex than many can imagine. 'Listen to your body', as always! 😉
Ok, the doc reckons that some tiny part between the two 'Talus' bones in the foot may have suffered a knock and got a wee bit inflamed (in English that means it hurts). I'm getting in touch with a colleague of hers tomorrow who specialises in that kinda thing. One of life's simple things that needs a loving tender care or else it hits back at you. I'll be fine.
The irony is, I actually do watch Netflix in the evenings but for the past year I've not been sitting on the sofa - instead I'm down on the floor stretching for up to a couple of hours, literary every evening. I can imagine the physio will come up with a few more extra tricks. 😉
I had this last August, it was my new trainers that had a seam in the side of the heal that over distance put pressure on the tendon. I got to the point where wearing healed shoes at a funeral post 4 mile run was the last straw. The next day I could barely walk and was in minor injuries for stronger anti inflammaries and crutches! I was out of running for a few weeks with physio exercises before building up running again in my old trainers! I could never wear the offending trainers after that and sold them on. I did finally get to run my marathon 6 weeks later than planned.I hope you get some help from the physio. It was a frustrating injury but the recovery was quite quick 🙃
That's great to know, thank you. I think my old trainers started it because I overran them by lots and coz of the lockdown I couldn't get the new ones. In the end I did but the issue was already brewing.
Good luck with your recovery mrrun. I have been suffering too with what I think is the same thing. I would be very interested in what your physio says so please report back. Thank you
Basically, the first report means they'll get another doc for the second opinion tomorrow. It's all 'viral' which is a thing now but if they need to handle it, they'll see me in flash. What I thought the problem was is not what she thinks it may be. She asked if I ever had a similar issue (I did, 4 years ago), and whether that foot ever got badly twisted or broken (it did, in 1973 and again in 1987). Apparently, that all counts. Interesting. I'll keep you posted.
Thank you. Me too. Second hearing resulted in a decision that they want to see me and fiddle with the foot. Those things could go either way. They can send you home with some exercises, or book you in for a scan. I just want them to fix it, whichever avenue they choose.
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