IT Band.
Someone. anyone, help me.
I’m still recovering from IT band syndrome. I just feel sad and angry that I can’t run.
I’ve been going to physical therapy, foam rolling, using a tiger tail and icing. i’m just so upset.
back story!—> i injured myself on a 4 mile run memorial day weekend (30th of May). I took 5 weeks off from running in the summer with no physical therapy. Then i started running again, by the end of august i realized i was still not back feeling good. so i went to my doctor again, and i’ve been going to physical therapy 1-3 times a week since september. i just got the ok to start running again and i’m still feeling little twinges of pain in my knees! is this normal? i just feel so sad that i can’t even run 2 miles when i used to be running 7, 8, or 9. :(
comforting words and wisdom would be appreciated.
xo Hannah 
Hi Hannah, I totally just stumbled across your blog and I can totally relate to your difficulty not running! Injuries stink! I’d say the knee thing is probably related to everything. I’ve danced for the majority of my life and started running in college. I have had patellofemoral pain (pardon my spelling) in both knees and tendinitis in my right hip. And – they are all connected. For me, I apparently have weak glutes, really tight calves, and tight something else. And since just about everything in our legs are connected all the injuries are connected. And when I’m slack about my PT things for my knees or hip I can feel it.
SOOO here’s my advice: (but honestly, you sound REALLY dedicated to doing PT so, sorry if I’m preaching to the choir…):
1) talk to your PT – chances are you’ll get some more stretches and strength things
2) keep up w/ doing your PT stuff
3) cool down!!!!!!!! warm up!! do yoga
4) run on softer stuff (trails)(but don’t switch too fast b/c a) it takes getting used to and b) switching fast can increase risk of shin splints)
5) find some fab cross training thing to do (I recently got hooked on climbing)
6) take rest days
7) listen to your body
8) make sure your shoes are not blown out
9) try insoles (superfeet are cool
10) don’t lose hope
I started running WAAAYYYY too much and just exercising too much a while back and as a result got shin splints really bad and just hurt all the time. I majorly cut back on my mileage and then started building up again. Mainly, I feel pretty good. My knees always seem to hurt. I guess I’ve gotten over it. And I know that for me it doesn’t last after I run. I’ve also slowed down a lot. I’m okay w/ 10 min miles if it means I can go for 8 mile runs and not hurt. For me running is about being outside, being in beautiful places, ideally with awesome people. I also like knowing I can pick somewhere to run to kind of far away and actually get there. For me, to sustain that requires being slow. Sometimes I miss feeling super speedy, but I am where I am.
. I hope by now the pain is gone and you are up and running somewhere warm! Happy New Year!
I hope if you read this you don’t find it presumptuous since I really did just stumble on your blog (winter break habit of googling things like “running blogs” and “vegan blogs”