Anyone had a lateral release of ITB? How did it go? How long were you of training for? Are you good now? Anything of relevance you can think off?
haven’t had one, are you talking about surgical release? The only guy I know was Brent M. from the Canadian National Team and of Xterra fame and it worked out great for him.
Before you go that route, have you looked into using a foam roller or a Trigger Point Therapy (www.tptherapy.com) quadballer roller? The foam roller is only about $20-30 and is a godsend for ITB tightness. The Quadballer is a big pricier, $80 I think but works even better and doesn’t flatten out over time like the foam roller. I just picked up the whole tptherapy setup (footballer, quadballer, and ball) and it’s definitely some of the best money I’ve ever spent. Have depended on the foam roller for the past few years to keep me clear of chronic IT tightness.
anyways, good luck, hope you heal up fast.
dude search the forums on this, there’s a shitload of info, as it’s one of the most common injuries on ST.
I myself have suffered and continue to suffer from ITB. I use that quadballer thingie, which works well. Also moving to a LESS supportive shoe helped immensely, as did getting several sets of OTC orthotics. I also take Lodine (prescription) for when the ITB and TFL get too inflamed (typically after runs in excess of 12 miles).
Stretch the piss out of it
Do you have flat feet? If so, get some OTC orthotics and wear them in every pair of shoes you own
Take every step you can find BEFORE getting cut on. Both of the orthopedists I’ve seen have said that lengthening procedure is stupid and doesn’t work.
Don’t even think of it. Search this forum. Search Yahoo forum for the ITBS group. Do the stuff recommended on these forums. The IT band tightness/pain in the hip/knee is only the symptom of an issue. Fix the issue, not the symptom.
obviously it’s a pretty serious problem if you are even considering going under the knife, but my only question is, do you remember to stretch your glutes?
I had ITB problems for 3 years. What I learned is that all the stretching and rolling in the world is not going to make the problem go away for some people. I stretched, rolled, got orthotics, went to less supportive shoes, more supportive shoes…basically searched high and low for something that would work. Finally I went and got a motion and gait analysis done. The conclusion was I had some muscle imbalances which were creating some big problems. Did some serious PT work to retrain and strengthen my glutes along with my core. It was a lot of functional work rather than ‘weightlifting’. I learned from the Dr’s that most people (95%+) with chronic ITB problems have weak gluteal muscles that do not fire correctly (or at all) during the running stride. If you haven’t looked into it already I would go and get that checked out. I worked with the people at the National Training Center in Clermont, FL but there are other options around the country. Best of luck.
Mark
I totally agree. I have had problems for 4 years. I am finally seeing a dr who specialized in biomechanics and hopefully he will be able to help me get over ITB issues once and for all.
The inflamation of the bursa isn’t the injury itself. It gets inflamed in your knee with the ITB is too tight and rubs too closely over it. The issue is that your ITB is tight. But another problem is that it is facia, not a “strechable” body part. Sure you can stretch all the things around it, but the ITB itself does not stretch. To ever get over it for good, you have to figure out why your ITB is tightening in the first place. This, as Mark said, is most often a muscle imbalance of some sort or something else along those lines.
In my case, it is most likely not a muscle imbalance. The dr. was able to feel that there is something funky in my right hip and I got both x-rayed to compare and see if there is anything obvious there. If not, he’s doing a gait analysis this afternoon and hopefully that will provide some answers. Another thing is that I have extremely hyperextended legs. He said that could have something to do with it as well.
But back to the original question - I’m interested as well to hear about the procedure. I have heard very little about it, but what I have heard wasn’t necessarily great.
ha… I’m trying to imagine how this works… so they have you running, and they are watching your butt muscles fire? Was it a girl who made you do this ‘test?’ If so, I think you got duped! 
LOL. Actually, come to think of it, it was all women doing the testing and physical therapy.
And… you paid for it!
I like to feel like we all got something out of it. I got healed…they got to stare at my butt for money.
well…I have a history of knee issue…5 surgeries on right knee (or 4 I really forget) and one on the left.
When I had the left scoped about 7 years ago, I was also having ITB issues with that leg – doc scoped, cleaned knee (debrisment, cartiledge remocal, etc…)…did partial lateral release…and “pie crusted” the ITB (lots of little cuts…in essence it lengthens the ITB…in theory)…
I had tried the roller, pt, etc…and nothing semed to work…so…since he was in there already…he “tried” the pie crusting…
…a bit slow in recovering…cant remember all of the timing…but actually did what doc and pt instructed for a change…and have had little or no issues with that knee (at least the itb side of it) since…
So…IF you have tried the other options…foam roll…stregthening…stretching…etc…then as a sample size of 1…I say go for it…
Just my $.02…
-Ron
Gimili,
Yes, I had a lateral release on my left knee August 2006 (10 months ago). I was unable to run at all prior to the surgery. I could ride my bike though. Incidentally, my doc is a triathlete (kona qualifier to boot). After a bunch of soft tissue therapy (rollers, massage, etc, etc), lateral release was my final option. I did a ton of research before-hand and went in with realistic expectations.
The verdict so far has been good. I started running again 5 weeks post-op and was able to start training for real around Thanksgiving.
Since then, I’ve done 2 HIM’s, a half marathon, a 5k and have averaged 25 miles per week since the beginning of the year. I have also worked to become more of a mid-foot striker…which seems to help. I’m running as strongly as I have in years…and there is no more pain. I still use the roller every day (I also use the TriggerPoint stuff mentioned by others, the Quadballer, etc) and stretch a lot.
So, for me, it saved my triathlon/running career. Feel free to PM for more info.
Hi,
I had a lateral release in December 1998 after not running all season (injured at/after Wildflower). I was able to start a walk-run program after 4 weeks and hasn’t bothered me since.
Best of luck.
gm
“The inflamation of the bursa isn’t the injury itself. It gets inflamed in your knee with the ITB is too tight and rubs too closely over it. The issue is that your ITB is tight. But another problem is that it is facia, not a “strechable” body part. Sure you can stretch all the things around it, but the ITB itself does not stretch. To ever get over it for good, you have to figure out why your ITB is tightening in the first place”
Finally, I think you’re one of the first people to post realizing the ITB is facia and can’t stretch. I hear people talking about stretching it constantly.
But, I think that also makes the term “tight” a bad fit…
Replace “tight” with “improperly functioning?” Does that work better?
Just got my gait analysis and nothing super obvious, just a little odd movements in my right hip and not using my core enough. Have PT for the next 4 weeks. Hopefully this will fix things.
Wow - this is good to hear. Although none of the doctors I have been to have ever offered surgery as an option.
Is the surgery a one time deal that is “permament?” i.e. would you ever have to do it again, or is it such that it should stay that way forever?
I do know that surgery would still be the absolute last option in any case.
I’ve been forced to quit running completely after 7 years of ineffectual treatments. I remember after taking a full year off running, going for 1k jog, and limping home with the familiar spike of pain beside the knee. Tried everything: ice/anti inflammatories, stretch after stretch, cortisone injections, orthotics, etc etc etc. No dice.
If anyone knows of a surgeon in the Toronto area who has experience in the ITB release, please, shoot me a message. It kills me not to be able to run.
Thanks guys, some great stuff in here.