Knee ache

Actually I just double checked and it's actually a BF friendly chiropractor not a physio :( . I'll contact them and see if they either do treat knees or if he knows of a BF friendly physio.
 
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In the US chiropractors fix knees too, so hopefully... Let us know how it turns out.
 
I would have thought a doctor would have only suggested surgery if you could hardly walk, seems to me to be a bit gung ho. I used to get knee pain due to my running style but I've not had it since I got my running form right. Maybe you are trying to transition too fast, it's a common problem we all suffer from. We can see where we want to go but don't want the long journey to get us there. Muscle imbalances and tightness as Zap has mentioned are the areas you should be concentrating on, surgery should be a last option on the list.

Neil
 
Yeah surgery was last on his list and basically said it wasn't worth it given the long term problems it would cause. It wasn't so much transitioning too fast that caused it as the initial injury occurred before I started BF running. I stupidly did a 10k race when I should've known better. That was actually the reason why I started BF running but I think the damage was already done.
 
If you have thrift stores there, check them out for bikes. I know people here that have found decent bikes for $40 at thrift stores. Also, I was told I would never do "X, Y & Z" again, years ago, and I am now doing "X, Y & Z" and so MUCH MORE! I was told I might have to have surgery too, and I didn't. I have known a couple people who were told they would never walk again, and they proved the doctors wrong. That being said, if you have to take months to recover, do what you need to do to get back on track. Patience...grasshopper. Lol.
 
Ok so I had my first physio appointment. It went well I think. He gave me several stretches and strengthening exercises to do to basically give my knees the best conditions to heal. My muscles are pulling my knees out of alignment. I asked him whether the ache in my knees would go away and he said it should and that I should get back to running but maybe not back to 10kms. I'm not bio-mechanically set up for long distance running he said.

I haven't broached the subject of barefoot running with him yet. I wasn't BF running when I got injured and I barely got my toe in the water before I stopped running. But I will at my next appointment as he wants to see my running shoes.
 
I asked him whether the ache in my knees would go away and he said it should and that I should get back to running but maybe not back to 10kms.

If the problem is muscle imbalance, then there is no reason to think you'd have a 10km limitation. Dr's say silly things sometimes....especially ones that aren't fans of running.....which is a lot of them. Once your knees are feeling better, just go slow, and keep up with the exercises.
 
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If the problem is muscle imbalance, then there is no reason to think you'd have a 10km limitation. Dr's say silly things sometimes....especially ones that aren't fans of running.....which is a lot of them. Once your knees are feeling better, just go slow, and keep up with the exercises.

I agree. I am a WHY person, whenever my doctors tell me anything. I would want to know precisely why he said that you are "not bio-mechanically set up for long distance running"??? I prefer diagrams or explanations using the resident antomical model (skeleton) that is usually in the room. If there is no "real" reason given, or the reason given is something that actually can be corrected (which takes research on my part), or if the reason does not make logical sense to me, then I say, F*** that S***. :D
 
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Hehe. When he said that to me, I was already saying in my head "yeah we'll see mate". I ended up making an appointment with the barefoot-friendly chiropractor tomorrow so I'll get a 2nd opinion from him as well.
 
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Ok so I saw the BF-friendly guy today. I gotta say I was quite impressed. He was really nice and friendly (unlike the other guy I saw the other day who seemed to be friendly, frustrated, a little grumpy and a touch condescending all in the space of 10 seconds) and he took a much more holistic approach to my problem. Instead of concentrating on my knees he looked further afield for causes of the problem, namely my pelvis and spine (which are both out of whack a bit). He didn't say anything about me being "not bio-mechanically set up for long distance running", more that there are things that need to be corrected so that my body is working more smoothly when I run.
 
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Ok wow. The chiro got xrays taken of my spine. And lets just say my spine has more curves than Kate Winslet. And that is putting pressure on my lower spine which is pulling my hips out of alighnment which, in turn, is affecting my knees. The good news is that its fairly early stages of spinal degeneration and can be rectified. If it was left for another 10 years or so, I could have had some serious problems. A silver lining from my knee injuries I suppose :)
 
The first thing he's doing is relieving the pressure on my lower vertabrae by realigning my hips using nothing more than foam wedges shoved under my hips while I'm lying on my stomach. He's also using directed pressure on my neck and tibia to help get them in line.
 
Hi Tim,
Good to hear you have found a doc that is more sympathetic to sporting people. I remember seeing the Podiatrist on Jetty Rd, Glenelg, can't remember his name now. He told me running was baaaad and I shouldn't do it how I'd be a wreak if I didn't stop or at least wear his orthotics. I felt worse with the orthotics than without, it felt like my hips were being disjointed. I persevered for 7 years with them. Then, thankfully "Born to Run" opened my eyes.
When you are ready for a few light runs I'm going to orgainise some short 4km outings around Adelaide on the first sunday of each month. If you want to nominate your favourite course, let me know and we'll come along.

Neil
 
The first thing he's doing is relieving the pressure on my lower vertabrae by realigning my hips using nothing more than foam wedges shoved under my hips while I'm lying on my stomach. He's also using directed pressure on my neck and tibia to help get them in line.

Just like I said...not that I'm a gloater! :) Seriously though, that technique will make a HUGE difference! I do pelvic blocking to myself EVERY day for about 10-15 minutes -it has changed my alignment significantly and allowed me to exercise like a normal human being. Whatever they are. Lol.
 
Hi Tim,
Good to hear you have found a doc that is more sympathetic to sporting people.

What really sums up the difference between these two guys: the physio said that it was at my age that he found out running was bad for him. The chiro is my age and he ran the Yurabilla Ultra-marathon last year :)

When you are ready for a few light runs I'm going to orgainise some short 4km outings around Adelaide on the first sunday of each month. If you want to nominate your favourite course, let me know and we'll come along.

Definitely. Sounds like a great idea :)

Just like I said...not that I'm a gloater! :) Seriously though, that technique will make a HUGE difference! I do pelvic blocking to myself EVERY day for about 10-15 minutes -it has changed my alignment significantly and allowed me to exercise like a normal human being. Whatever they are. Lol.

"Normal" is subjective :p Always good to hear that the treatment I'm getting is on the right track :)