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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Update...

OK....my first PT appointment was today. I figured it was easier to type it out here, instead of telling everyone about it, one at a time. So here goes.....

(For those of you with medical backgrounds, take this with a grain of salt. Allot of what I'm about to say is just the way I "understood" all the medical jargon they were using.)

(hehehehe)

Apparently my arches are higher than the average person. Actually, they are higher than those on the high side of the scale.

They're really high.

Apparently my ankles are more flexible than the average person. Again, well past the high side of the scale.

They're really flexible. Probably why I've never sprained or rolled my ankle...in thirty-some years.

Apparently the same muscle along the inside of my leg controls both.

Apparently I've done gone and ticked that muscle off somethin' fierce.

(it almost hurt my brain to type that last sentence)

:-)

So, they are giving me exercises to do to strengthen my hip flexors, to loosen my hamstrings, and to strengthen that pesky little muscle.

They also think I should be fitted for custom orthotics.

I'm a little nervous about that last one.

Not the fitting part...but the having to have them when I'm running part.

I know that if I need them, then I need them. Not much I can do about it.

Kinda like people who need glasses. If you need them, you need them.

But I'm still not happy about it.

One thing I AM happy about......finding out that the compression sleeves I thought I had to wear to keep this pain away really aren't needed. I've always been a little jealous of people who can run in capris running tights. I mean, picture in your head someone running in capris, with compression sleeves on.

It's a silly sight, let me tell ya!

I can also look forward to not having really tanned knees, with pale white calves and thighs. I'll have a normal shoe tan line like the rest of you!!!! :-)

Do any of you run with orthotics in your shoes?? If so, tell me how much good they did and how much you like them.

If you hate them, and would rather have your eyeballs scooped out with a spoon (because it hurts more) then wear them........well, you can tell me that too. I'm all about informed decision making! :-)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it's good that you atleast know what you are working with. I bet you will find the orothodics are great once you get used to them.

Justin said...

Yeah, it will probably end up being one of those, "How the heck did I ever run without these!?" kind of things once you get used to them.

Justin said...

Yeah, it will probably end up being one of those, "How the heck did I ever run without these!?" kind of things once you get used to them.

Kent said...

I have used custom orthotics in my cycling shoes. Wouldn't think of going without. Kent

Fran said...

It's like you said: if you need them,you need them.

I don't have orthodontics and I've never used compression socks. Been thinking about it but I find them very expensive for socks and as long as my calf soreness is gone by the next day I'm okay with that.

It's good to know what the issue is and what you can do about it.

C2Iowa said...

You can send some of that "high" arch stuff over here --- says the nearly flat foot.

Nej said...

@ Dest262 - I agree. I really wish I'd been told this a year ago, but oh well. :-) I think I'm pretty much going to have to run the half on May 1st the way I am now.....switching just before would probably be a bad idea.

@ Justin - Exactly! That's what I'm hoping for! :-)

@ Fran - after thinking about it more last night, I'm getting more and more excited about the idea of maybe running without pain. I won't know what to do! (giggle)

Nej said...

@ Kent - the more people I talk, the more people I find out have them. I've never thought about orthotics in cycling shoes before.

@ C2 - I have plenty. I could send you half of mine, then we'd both be normal. :-)