A Cautionary Tale

Dave K

I partially tore a tendon in my foot from running.  But this isn't a sob story about my getting injured.  And I'm not writing to talk about my various coping and fitness strategies during my weeks of no running.  I considered writing about our family cats, which I really will do if another would-be blogger gets abducted as I assume must have happened this week, but no cats this time (and no posting of the link to the funny "Jog Strap" video that Shira Z sent me -- well, okay, fine, here's the link  -- viewer beware!).

Instead, I share the story of my recent injury as a cautionary tale (as opposed to the cautionary tail for when I write about the cats?). It's intended for those like me (i.e., most of us?) who run through pain because we think it'll go away on its own, or think that we know how to fix it ourselves without it turning into an injury that shuts us down.  Or because we're too addicted to our running, too neurotic to stop, too macho, too masochistic, or etc., etc.

I first experienced plantar fasciitis (PF) symptoms in my left foot back in February.  I'd had it before in the other foot (also known as the right foot) a couple of years ago, and even after it got bad I was able to get rid of it on my own in about five weeks while taking only a short break from running during those weeks.  So, I continued to run, including an April marathon, while it continued to act up.  

After the marathon, it got a little worse as I continued to run and race on it.  So, I aggressively did all the things one can do to self-treat PF, cut back my mileage a bit, and readied myself for the the Brooklyn Half in May.  

Although racing the Brooklyn Half left me limping for a couple of days, I still just continued to self-treat, plus went to a trusted sports chiropractor for some weeks of treatment.  I cut back my mileage more than before, stopped running for periods as long as 5 to 7 days, but continued to run on it, including a few short races.

Finally, I accepted that it wasn't getting better and  seemed to be getting worse, and became concerned that it might jeopardize fall marathon training.  So I went for a diagnostic ultrasound test.  The radiologist reported back that  there was a deep tear of more than 50% of the fascia.  I figure the tearing probably happened way back at the Bklyn Half in May.

I had to entirely shut down my running, which is now going on 5 weeks of zero running.  I went for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy injections (my own blood put in a centrifuge to concentrate proteins and other stuff and then injected into me with a hopefully sterile needle) in an effort to facilitate and speed healing.  About 20 injections into my heel!  Plus a protective boot for two weeks.  

Not My Foot or My Boot
But You Get the Idea

It seems that maybe there is a lesson in this.  Namely, that it is important to make the distinction between the soreness and discomfort that comes with running, and the warning signs of an actual injury.  An article in the August 2012 issue of Running Times speaks to this (see Decoding the Signals).  For example, in the article it's suggested that soreness in both hamstrings may be not be cause for alarm, but soreness in just one hamstring (i.e., asymmetrical pain) suggests that something more serious is going on that requires rest.

When I've complained (and whined, and whined some more) about something hurting, other runners have told me to take a rest or go see a doctor and get diagnostic tests.  And I've never listened.  And I figure other runners aren't going to listen to me, either.  Nevertheless, here in this blog I share my cautionary tale in the hopes that perhaps one or two of you may become just a little bit more inclined to listen to and heed your own body's signals.  And, maybe I'll do likewise next time, too.  Or not.

-Dave K, Flyers Blogmaster