[Roadie Gal]

I got PF suddenly about 2 weeks ago after running on shoes that I knew were dead, and without my usual insoles. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Sad"> Stupid me...<br><br>
Anyway, I've been stretching, and massaging, and not running. But I've been reading about how this can last for well over a year.<br><br>
What's the SHORTEST amount of time I can hope for until I can run again?

 

[sierra]

Hi Roadie Gal, For me, mine lasted almost exactly a year to the day. Sorry I cant be more encouraging..... I hope it goes well for you and it goes away more quickly then mine did.<br><br>
BUT..... there is a guy in your town who does ART. He has worked on me for over a year now for AT, but I know that he also works on PF. You might give that a try.<br><br>
Dr Barry Triestman.

 

[Hippo]

From my experience, deal with the non-running stressors as much as you can. Try to stay off your feet, and wear the right shoes all the time. Never ever walk in bare feet, especially the first 20 steps after getting out of bed.<br><br>
Running may be the worst thing you can do for a short time, but all the stuff you do in the other 23 hours of the day adds up. Ruthlessly getting rid of all that stuff can let you return to running much earlier.

 

[toe jam on crusty feet]

There is a ton of PF info in the other PF threads..... Try reading those and there are links to info, stretches etc. It seems to be the most common problem around these parts lately!! Good Luck!

 

[SLOjim]

Here's a link for a bunch of PF info <a href="http://coolrunningboomers.pbwiki.com/PF" target="_blank">http://coolrunningboomers.pbwiki.com/PF</a><br><br>
Everyone is different when it comes to PF.... you've just got to figure out the best way to deal with it in your case. I got PF for the first time in my mid 40s when I was in the best running shape I had ever been. I had no idea how to deal with it.... like a fool I tried to run through it only to make it worse......I just would not back off on my training..... and it ended up getting so bad I quit running altogether for 4 to 5 years. When I returned to running the PF had gone away and it took several years for it to resurface again (about 3 years ago). Since then I have found ways to train with the PF. If it isn't too bad you can train with it while it heals. Speed work is probably one of the worst things you can do if you have PF......but you can do easy runs and I've even found I can do some long runs without ill effects as long as I do enough stretching before my runs. I do very easy calf stretches a few hours before my training runs. If you feel pain or a burning sensation during your run, you're probably doing damage and should not be running.

 

[Brandy]

I have been running with diagnosed PF and heel spurs for over a year. I take advil during flare ups, use the golf ball stretching thing and wear supportive non running shoes. I won't stop running, so there you go. Speed work does worsen it and I love speed work <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Sad">

 

[Hippo]

One other caution I'll add, because it's not typically obvious in all the good info on the web about PF.<br><br>
PF typically flies in formation with about 3 other injuries: Achilles Tendonitis, Medial Tibialis inflammation (the less common type of shin splints) and calf strains/tears. If you have PF, the chances are very good that you are at very high risk for these other injuries. Fortunately, many of the things you do for PF will also help heal or prevent the other injuries too.<br><br>
My advice is that after you learn all you need to about PF, to start educating yourself about the other ones too. You may even want to add a few rehab exercises specific to them as well. It's a reasonable guess that you are more than 50% of the way to all of those injuries but haven't (quite) noticed the symptoms yet.<br><br>
This sounds really negative, but in some ways it helps to think of PF as a life sentence. You <b>can</b> get it healed up enough that it doesn't hurt or limit you, but if you ever really forget to treat it like an injury that may come back, the odds are it <b>will</b> come back.

 

[SLOjim]

Hippo..... very good advice and caution...... I have had a few calf strains. The calf strain/tears have a much longer recovery than a mild case of PF ...... the stretches I do for PF also help my tight calves, but once I've strained the calf then the stretches are just going to aggravate it.

 

[Roadie Gal]

Thanks everyone. I'm just really PO'd/bummed. Last summer I had a soleus strain on the other leg that sidelined me for 6 months. I had finally worked up to running 12 miles in hopes of a HM. Grrrrrrrrr<br><br>
At least it's started snowing and I can cross country ski instead. *fingers crossed*

 

[fox-runr]

great advice from Hippo. I too, have never taken a day off for PF, I just gritted it out on bad days, cried some mornings, but refused to back off, even when my MT said "you're calves are getting so tight". A torn calf is my longest injury. I had the entire summer off and even now, I running 50-60% of my previous mileage. I'm hoping to get to 75% someday.

 

[jrjo]

here's my tried and true Pf cure...<br><br>
wear these all day <a href="http://www.archaid.net" target="_blank">www.archaid.net</a><br>
and this all night <a href="http://www.thesock.com" target="_blank">www.thesock.com</a><br><br>
it's cured my bouts everytime<br><br><br>
/i've no connection to either of those products.. I just know they work