Foot tendonitis and over-pronation

[OrmIrian]

I have just been to see my GP about foot pain. He tells me it's tendonitis and I have some ibuprofen gel and been told not to run for a while . I know that I overpronate and I also know that it has caused me various niggles over the years I've been running. So I need some help I think. Has anyone ever used insoles to combat over-pronation? What make/type have you used?

Thanks

Hi Orm - sorry to hear about the foot still being a problem. It's hard, i know.

First, let me reiterate my suggestion to visit your chiropractor. Really. They can be surprisingly dazzling. And help with the pain but also how your foot will move in future.

I used to have a serious pronate as a teenager and wore inner soles. But I have to say that I didn't like wearing them and found them quite uncomfortable. I understand that the way they make them is probably a lot better than 15 years ago though so perhaps that's less of a problem (I used to get blisters and all kinds of things that were unrelated to what they were trying to fix).

Luckily for me as I grew up, my pronate fixed itself - I used to have that hilarious flat foot thing when you stood on a towel with wet feet and you could see the whole foot and now I have that "footprints in the sand" thing.

OK OK bling I was hoping for a quick (cheap) fix. I will try and make an appointment with my chiro.

Do you know how expensive insoles can be? they have to make them to fit your fit. It's a palaver. Chiro will be cheaper!

I come from a family of runners and DH is dead keen so I am well used to these conversations and tend to take the "FIX IT NOW" approach. [clearly I'm not a runner myself!]

Hi OrmIrian,
I'm very interested in your post because I suspect I have a similar problem. Overdid the running a few weeks ago and I now have pain in the arch of my foot, along the large muscly thing at the bottom (I'm guessing that's the tendon). I tried to ignore it and run on it and that led to knee problems (prob because I was favouring the bad foot). How long did your doc tell you to rest for? I am due to run a race at the end of Sept and it's driving me mad not being able to train....

On the insole question, I do have some for overpronation. You don't have to get bespoke ones made- I;m sure they would be fantastic, but I bought mine from the podiatry part of Boots- the brand name is Vasily. There are several types (for sports shoes, work shoes etc) and you just cut them to size. My physio (who I see about knee probs caused by my pronation) recommended them and they really did work well until the foot thing entered the equation. They are about £20 a pair and last indefinitely so may be worth a try? (One word of caution though- they do feel hard and odd to begin with, you have to wear them for a while to get used to them.)

Pendulum - the achilles tendon goes along the arch of the foot, over the heel and up the leg. So pain in you rknee could actually be the same tendon that is not just hurting all the way up...

Rest. Ice. Ibuprofen.

Possibly Chiro...!

Or a physio.

oh dear. Am entirely unable to communicate.

The pain in your knee could be the same tendon that is NOW just hurting all the way up.

GP is only going to help to get referral. You must see some kind of specialist whether it's the chiro that I recommend always or just an old fashioned physiotherapist.

hi ohbling

the physio thought my knee problem was iliotibial band syndrome rather than an achilles problem.

will def think about yr suggestion of chiro though- because all my problems are with the same leg I suspect some kind of biomechanical weakness.

I suspect that I am just an old gimmer who needs to settle down with a comfy armchair and some knitting But I'm not going to. So there!

My dad is in his mid 70s and runs 3 times a week without fail, including a number of half marathons every year. He's done it regularly for the last 30 years. He has had numerous injuries, including in the groin (man was my mum pissed about that ) and he continues to run and love it. He is super healthy, fit and alert. Just because the body has some problems, doesn't mean you should stop!

Sorry to hear your foot is still giving you problems .

I over pronate and got insoles from a podiatrist. Trouble is I ended up with tendonitis.....you can't win! It's kind of why I'm experimenting with running barefoot - cheaper than going to a different podiatrist for more orthotics. DH has been gently suggesting that perhaps I'm not designed to run and should stick to hill-walking!

Is the pain on the top of your foot & is it definitley not a stress fracture?

Hi liath,

Yes the pain is on top. It feels uncomfortable underneath when I walk, but not painful.

Interesting about barefoot running. I have been considering it. I know it sounds counterintuitive but I think it might work. How have you got on?

Fell walking is lovely if you have the fells . I have also wondered about getting some of those walking stick jobbies - the ones that are supposed to increase the aerobic intensity of your walk.

Am taking it very very slowly and have had some discomfort over the top of my foot too which I think isn't uncommon when starting out. Am mostly doing short runs in socks on the treadmill as feel a bit self conscious about going out running barefoot (and nervous about dogpoo etc). Although I did drive past a guy running barefoot today so at least I know I'm not the only lunatic in town !

Nordic walking is fab, I feel quite lost if I'm without my poles in the hills. I wonder if barefoot nordic wlaking could be the sport for me....

I wonder how long it would take for you to get over the sensitivity on the soles of your feet. I totally get the idea of running naturally without extra support and unnatural repositioning of the foot, but it's the idea of running 10 miles on tarmac that freaks me out a bit. I walked into town and back a few weeks ago in bare feet - I ahve tough old soles - but I was stinging quite a bit after that.

Hmm, not sure - 2 or 3 months at leats I'd guess.

Just ordered "Born to Run" off Amazon which I'm looking forward to reading .