So I have a bit of a confession to make. I’ve been cheating…
On my physio.
I started seeing my physio (technically osteopath) in December when I decided to stop running and sort my knee out. She saw me every week and worked with me in helping me ‘re-align’ my knee and sorted my trainers to stop my feet from continuing to over pronate (causing my knees to sink inwards and lean to my right side).
She allowed me to run a few 1 milers and 2 miles. But after standing around watching Ben’s marathon just before Christmas my knee just felt terrible. It was like things were exactly as they were before December. I started to despair. There was a tightness in my whole right leg that was awful. All the way from my lower back to my knee. And my IT band was started to rear it’s ugly head again.
ARE YOU JOKING?
Don’t get me wrong. I think my osteopath is excellent. She offered me some quick 10 minute freebie ultra sounds a few times a week for two weeks. She’s just down the corridor at work so it’s been perfect. And my knee was feeling better. But the tightness was still there.
So I cheated. I went and saw Ben’s physio for a second opinion last week. A fresh set of eyes if you will. [And obviously I have a money tree in my back garden (ha!).]
I stressed the tightness in my right leg, specifically my IT band. He straight away looked at my back. Apparently the whole right side of my back, specifically lower back, is really tight in comparison to my left (interestingly, this is the exact same thing my PT said to me). The tightness in my back and tightness in my glute and hip pulls all the way down my IT band and tugs at my knee. 
Apologies for my amateur line drawing!
I then had the most painful back massage known to man. But the release in tension was unbelievable.
I’ve seen him twice and have another appointment tomorrow and next Tuesday. But I’ve also been continuing to see my osteopath for the ultra sound (which will be stopping tomorrow – to be honest my knee feels 98% good).
The problem is, this physio advised no running. My osteopath advised running 2 miles every couple of days. And I’ve been lying to her saying I have been running 🙁
Oh the web of lies that I’ve become entangled in!
I know, I know. Terrible. But I can’t throw back her treatment at her when she’s been so helpful to me and provided free treatment when she really didn’t have to. She’s definitely helped reduce the inflammation and the ‘bottom-up’ side of the problem from my feet. But the new physio seems to be working more on the cause of the tightness I’m feeling rather than just focusing on the knee.
End of the story is…my new physio has allowed me to START RUNNING SUNDAY! My knee discomfort is pretty much gone and the tightness has hugely improved.
Incidentally, I may be fixed physically but financially I’m now broke 😉
Fingers crossed that marathon training begins Monday.
Have you ever sort out a second opinion?
Do you get back pain or tightness? I wouldn’t say I had pain, but the tightness is very uncomfortable.
**Also, BIG thank you for bearing with me on this, I know my injury posts can’t be that exciting. I really appreciate all your good advice and well wishing**
Anna – this is AWESOME news… well not the broke part, but the running part for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I weren’t so sore from surgery I’d totally jump up & down for you. Since I am though.. let’s just pretend 🙂
Aww hope you’re OK after your surgery!
I’m pretty sure running is one of the most expensive sports out there! It never pays to lie! You need to get youself a little notebook to write down your story and ensure it stays straight! 😛
But, it’s great news that you will be running on Sunday! Woop woop!!! 🙂 Very glad to hear you’re coming towards the end of injury time now, nicely in time for marathon training time!
I know, I am so excited to get back into it. Fingers crossed it’s all fine going forward!
Hope your run goes well on the weekend. Hopefully you are getting to the bottom of this at last!
Me too 🙂
I think I figured this out. I’m sorry you are going through this. Have you checked to see if it is your SI joint that is coming out of place pulling at your butt and leg? That could be a possibility. Not being able to run does suck. I’ve been running for 12 years and I’m going in for my second back surgery tomorrow for a herniated lumbar disc. 🙁 I was registered to run Boston. 🙁 Luckily, I know what to expect and have faith that I will be able to do some type of running when able to. I picked up swimming last year as a back-up and to use for cross-training. I am also a grad student finishing up my last semester of Nurse Practitioner school. I guess my body had enough and this was a way to shut it down for awhile. It does suck, but optimism gets the strongest people through anything. Hang in there!!!
What a nightmare! I’ve replied to your email by the way 🙂
Glad you are finally getting it sorted! 🙂 And hooray for being allowed to start running again- I bet you can’t wait for Sunday!
I have awful tightness all down my left- I have some pains in my shoulder blade sometimes and then I can’t turn my head to look left as it hurts so much. The physio I saw told me it is my lower back that is so tight (which is why I can’t touch my toes as my lower back is too tight it stops the hips working properly) and my left was worse. Am having a sports massage on Saturday as she advised it, so hopefully that will help.
Yeah I definitely think sports massages help to release the tension. Painful and not necessarily comfortable but all for the great good of safe running!
Glad that you are getting somewhere with it! I don’t think theres anything wrong with getting a second opinion or working with two professionals to help sort out a problem. Hope the run on Sunday goes well!
Thank you. Exactly, two heads better than one!
Yay, I’m so glad you’re making good progress – and great news that you can start running again! Fingers crossed it goes well. And the cheating…? Pfft..if it gets you sorted then you’re forgiven 😉
Hehe thanks 😀
I had no idea where you were going to take this cheating thing when I first read the title, but this may be one of the only cases where I think it’s actually “smart” to cheat 🙂 Getting a second opinion is always a good thing. Sometimes when people (or even medical professionals) collaborate they get stuck in that concept of groupthink. And when it comes to health, knowing all sides is best!
2 professionals telling you it’s okay to run? Yes! Have fun.
I agree. Sometimes people stand by something they initially thought and can’t see the wood for the trees.
Good luck!! I think getting a second opinion is perfectly reasonable and in this case seems like a very good decision!! I hope your running goes well!! 🙂
Thanks, Chelsea!
I definitely think its good to get a second opinion, the same thing happened to me with my back and knee and I am so glad I went to another sports massager he has totally fixed me where the previous failed! If it makes you feel better I have cheated too…….I ate eggs! Explantation on the blog tomorrow!
Hehe we’re both cheaters! But it’s all fine.
Girl this is awesome!! I’m so glad you got a second opinion. That is always the way to go in my book. I got 3 opinions on my back before someone would even really look into it. I was only 16 so they assumed I was just not good with pain. HA! Then they found out I had a bulging disk. I went to 4 doctors before one finally decided to perform knee surgery, even though my MRI and xrays were inconclusive. Turns out I had torn my meniscus but had so much scar tissue that thjey couldn’t see the injury. I am ALL about second opinions!
Omg what a nightmare! Yep totally good example of a necessary second opinion! To me it was just no real progress was happening.
This is so difficult situation, but the second opinion is a really good opinion.