Rhett

Rhett --

Please seriously consider giving your body a break for a few days. Whether it is a stress fracture or inflammation ... something is not right. I know that my record is not the greatest, but it is easier to see things from the outside. Even if it is just inflammation -- it still means that your body is trying to repair something (be it muscle pulling away, or a tear, or whatever).

Seriously ... you will run so much faster at UVM if you are healthy and pain free.

Please just consider it.

I agree - don't push through the pain and wind up being out for an extended time.

Much like downhill running, speed work is very hard on your tibias. You have plenty of speed for UVM. I think it is more important to get to the starting line healthy and not worry about the fine tuning you would normally do over the next couple of weeks.

The true test is whether or not you will actually follow any of this advice. I hope you will give your leg a little rest and then go kick some UVM butt!

Doone - All we can do is offer the advice. You are the only one that can make him follow it.

Like all runners, I am stubborn when it comes to training, especially with a race so close and me feeling like I'm in the best shape ever, minus the injury. I had to give it one more go this morning. I thank you all for your advice, and after the discomfort I am in today, I will be good. Keep reminding me. It is so sad to let this incredible fitness go.

Teena, tell me more about your injury. Mine is one pin poing spot on the posterior side of my tibia. It feels like a painful shock with each foot step making me wonder if it is some sort of nerve entrapment.

Rhett, you mean anterior tibia, right? I have anterior compartment syndrome. My pain is on the anterior portion of my lower leg lateral tibia towards the fibula. I don't have enough room for my muscles to expand between the two bones and fascia and interosseus membrane. So when there is any type of inflammation there all heck breaks loose. Usually I can control things pretty well by having a proper warmup and proper cooldown, but sometimes I overdue it and it can take a long time for things to settle down. When I am in a flare-up it feels like I can pinpoint the pain, yet, the next day it might be in a slightly different area. Often times my superficial femoral/peroneal nerve gets trapped sending zings throughout my leg and a burning sensation that does not go away for quite some time. Initially the doctors thought I had shinsplints or a stress fracture but when that doesn't pan out and they check the pressure they say it is ACS. I have not had the official pressure checked because it is an invasive procedure and it really wouldn't tell me anything that I don't know except for the exact reading. Right now I just try and keep it in check so that I don't have to have the manmade split in my fascia made. As silly as it sounds, sometimes I hope that my fascia will just tear a tiny bit more (it has already torn in two places causing two small muscle herniations), I think that would solve all the pressure problems. But anyway. Does that answer your question?

Btw, Rhett. If the nerve is entrapped you don't want to do a lot of rolling, etc. It will only aggravate it.

This might sound silly, but if I were you I would sleep with my feet elevated and eat lots of anti-inflammatory foods: salmon, extra-virgin olive oil, almonds, avocados, etc. (It couldn't hurt.)

My pain sounds similar,but mine is the posterior tibia, medially about 3 inches above my ankle bone. I do eat all those foods regularly and am now popping advil as well.

Wow. Hmmm ... there is such thing as posterior compartment syndrome. Seriously, whatever it is, give it a couple of days. And, there is also that posterior tibial nerve that can get entrapped in much the same way as the median nerve gets entrapped in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Man ... isn't the greatest battle just figuring out what is wrong so that you know what exactly to do and what to expect? That's the part that always kills me.

I know you hate prednisone ... but if a nerve is entrapped there can be some serious damage done. You might want to give a doc a call if you don't start seeing improvement fairly soon. When I got foot drop that is when they put me on the blasted stuff. You don't have foot drop do you?

Be careful. Seriously, give your body a break for a bit and see if it will take care of itself. Our bodies are amazing like that most of the time, we just need to give them the opportunity.

Thanks Teena. No, no dropping of the foot. It's still right where it belongs. :) I just can't walk without wincing.

You worry me.

Seriously ... you say that you are going to give it a couple of days, PLEASE stay true to that.

Does ibuprofen help at all?

Maybe you should go see a sports doc just to see what she/he has to say.

Sports doc will just tell me to RICE. I'll do that for a couple days. I promise I won't run until Saturday at the earliest and then that will be with Doone at her pace, but only if the pain has greatly diminished. I really want to run UVM and do it fast, so I'm going to be good.

That sounds like a smart plan. Just fyi, sometimes heat works better for pain relief when dealing with a nerve impingement. You might want to alternate between the two. Just a thought.

Right now I am enjoying my new membership on the running blog because I am finding things out about my husband's injury that he would never actually own up to out loud. I will do my best to keep him in check. Thanks for the advice for him Teena. You know a lot. I can't even pronounce most of these body parts.

Doone --

I just like to try and act like I know a lot! ;)

It has been great working for a Physical Therapist and taking all the pre-reqs so I can apply for PT school ... but sadly, some of this stuff I only know because I have been injured too many times. :(

Yes, please keep your hubby in check. It is so hard not to run when you feel like you were on top of the world in your training. But you know, as well as I do, and the rest of us, that a few days off will not hurt his fitness. It's just hard to see that when you are the one injured. It's crazy.

When are you moving here???? You know we are suppose to be neighbors!!! :)

I totally understand the stubbornness. Rhett, you're smart! Listen to Doone and Teena. You're doing so well. I'm certain that you won't loose any fitness with your awesome xtraining. Sending healing vibes your way.