Well, here I was motoring up the freeway to get a bone scan for an ankle that’s been troubling me for a few months. The sports doc said don’t run until after the scan, but I figured it was just a little tendonitis, so I ran anyway and even procrastinated a little on the scan. I’m such a pain wimp anyway, so I assumed it couldn’t possibly be a stress fracture or anything serious. Well today was the day. Great day here in Michigan - 60 degrees, sunny. I left work early to get the scan, then planned to do an easy run through a scenic state park near my house. Bad news. After the scan, I told the tech I was headed out for a run and she said I shouldn’t go. She then showed me the scan and lo and behold there’s a few black spots in the ankle area that shouldn’t be there. I have no idea what that means, but she said it’s going to be at least 5 biz days before the pictures will get back to my doc.
I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been and this was the year I was actually going to try and race for time (pathetic as it may be). Hopefully, this is something that can be treated quickly. I know I’ll be able to bike and swim in the meantime, but I have this silly fear of being hit by a car while on my bike (recent posts indicate this fear may actually be well-grounded) and there’s only so much lap swimming one person can take.
I started having pain in my left ankle last November and figured that my shoes were worn out. So I bought a new pair. Still ankle pain. Took a week off, felt much better but the pain returned a month later. Changed shoes again and my running form but the problem stayed the same for a while. Well, I didn’t want to run hurt anymore so I made an appointment with a sports medicine doctor. I thought I had stress fractures because my ankle bone is what was hurting.
The good news. The doctor I picked was a runner. I made sure of that before I saw him. X-rays were taken and he said that I had the bone density of a 20-year-old. (I’m 36) No possible way I could have the stress fractures.
The culprit. I have flat feet and the shoes I was running in were made for flat feet. The sole was very flat. What was happening was the tendons around my ankle were stretching trying to support my arch and finally started to get inflamed. He called it inflamation of the Tarsal tunel ligament.
The cure. Insoles for my shoes that support my arches. $15.00 When those shoes wear out I will get a shoe that has the arch supports in them for someone that has medium to high arches.
The good news. 6 weeks later I’m just about pain free. Back up to 25-30 miles a week.
I know that you’re local. I can give you the name of the doctor if you want. He is out of St Mary’s Hospital.
jaretj
I’m desperately tring to be the man my dog thinks I am.
Thanks. I’m actually hooked up with the physician group that sees the Hanson boys, so I feel pretty confident they’ll have me back out as soon as humanly possible. In the meantime, I rode my bike last night and was at the gym spinning then swimming at 5:30am this morning. After yesterday’s initial disappointment, I started to think about it as an opportunity to force me out on my bike with the same frequency as I’ve been running.
Amy,
sorry about the ankle - have you thought about water running for a while while you’re resting up? I have had good success with it for some field hockey kids I coach and I know a few people who swear by it.