What people are saying about Peroneal Tendinitis

Ran across an interesting thread on Runner's World:

http://forums.runnersworld.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/678106477/m/291108977

I know in my heart that running the marathon will put me at extreme risk of tearing my Peroneal tendon. While I know the "right" thing to do is to postpone the marathon, I just can't let go of something I've worked so hard for, obsessed over, thought about, talked about, dreamt about, for months. But I know no matter what, nothing is worth putting my health at risk. I'm reading too many horror stories of runners needing surgery or taking months or years to recover from this injury. It's just not worth it.

More physical therapy in the morning....

It's down to the wire, folks

Today I paid an expensive visit to my friend Jeff, the physical therapist. I told him I was planning to run a marathon on Sunday and he laughed. This is what my ankle looks like wrapped up in an agonizingly cold compression ice pack. What you can't see from the picture is me screaming in pain.

So here's the deal - I don't think it's gonna happen. I'm on day two of the Methylprednlsolone and we'll see how that affects the swelling. You can't heal tendinitis in 5 days. Sure, I'm fine milling around the office and running an errand at Costco and whatnot, but this is 26.2 miles, people! I am so conflicted! If I do start to see improvement by Friday, do I chance it and just run the damn thing? What happens if I can't finish? Not only do I not get the medal (I'm picking up the t-shirt at the Expo, but I wouldn't feel right wearing it), but I get a big fat DNF next to my name on the race results. Not to mention the extended damage I'll be doing to my tendon. This is the worst feeling in the world, coming so close, the goal just within reach - and then failing to reach it.

Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!! I don't know what to do!!!!!

"Dude, where's my ankle?!"

I was on the phone at 7:30 am trying to book a same-day appointment with a podiatrist this morning. Luckily, Virginia Mason Sports Medicine clinic was able to fit me in. The wrong address was listed on the Aetna insurance website, so I spent about 10 minutes running around First Hill trying to find Lindeman Pavilion. By the time I arrived for my appointment, my ankle was on fire.

So, good news first. I don't have a stress fracture and I don't have Cuboid Syndrome. I have Peroneal Tendinitis which subsequently caused IT Band Syndrome (I had no idea I had this in my right leg). The Peroneal tendon starts in the foot and wraps behind the ankle and up through the calf, meeting up with more tendons in the knee which extend upward through the thigh. So an inflamed tendon in the foot can also affect the calf and the thigh.

The doctor believes running on a canted, or slightly angled, surface caused the problem. I tend to stay to the right of the trails I run on, mainly to accommodate bicyclists. He said next time run in the middle of the lane and let the cyclists go around me. It's not worth it.

He's not sure if I'll be able to run the marathon. He prescribed me a six-day superdose cycle of steroids to knock out the swelling, along with 2-3 sessions of deep muscle tissue PT and ultrasound therapy, and NO RUNNING. He's not sure if this mix will do the trick, but said it's my only shot. I've already made an appointment at Real Rehab just around the corner from my place, and unfortunately my shitty insurance makes me satisfy my deductible before coverage kicks in for PT, so I am looking at $125/session :( I guess it's a small price to pay for a slim shot at completing something I've worked so hard for these past months. One thing's for sure, no more running after the marathon!

(Famous last words.)