Julie-
I downloaded the PFR ebook and find it very helpful, but my problem seems to keep changing. It started with pain on the upper part of the outside of my lower right leg, then, after stretches from the book which eliminated the original problem, I have been cursed with pain that keeps moving around in the leg. I think the original problem was the tibialis anterior, but now the outside of my ankle and sometimes the inside of my ankle on the right leg are both giving me problem. I continue to stretch the tibialis anterior, but have added the stretches for the gluteus minimus, piriformis, and now the psoas. I am not trying to go crazy stretching everything, but when I tried pushing a tennis ball or elbow into these different areas, they all made me jump, so I have continued. Finally, I have been stretching and massaging the gastroc and the soleus, but that hasn't helped either. I am trying to get ready for the Chicago Marathon in October and am a long time runner. I have never had any real long term problems such as this in the past ten years or so. I want to be running about 35-50 miles per week, but have had to limit my running due to pain for the last two months. Today, however, I found it less painful to run than to walk. Do you have any suggestions? I am getting to my wits end. I cannot get to a doctor at the moment because I am in Spain for the summer, but I want to keep running. Help.

Thanks a lot for any ideas you can give me. The book is great, but I really wish it were in a paperback form. Any possibility of that?

Sean Maher


Julie Donnelly
(7/14/03 8:09 pm)

Hi Sean,

First, the good news. The PF Runner is currently at the printers and I'm told it should be finished and ready to sell within two weeks. They actually say less than that, but I've come to understand that something always seems to put a crimp in their action, but they are still doing the very best they can do. I'll be announcing when the printed book is ready.

Now, about your zig-zagging pains. What is happening is really quite common. Your brain only pays attention to the greatest pain, so when you release it, your brain can now focus on an area that was there before, but that it was ignoring. I've seen it thousands of times with the clients who come into the clinic.

For the pain on the outside of your ankle, try doing the tennis ball treatment on the tensor fascia lata, followed up by the dowel treatment on the lateral quadriceps.

For the inside of the ankle, there are muscles that are under your Achilles tendon, called flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus. They both will cause pain in the inner ankle, the arch/ball of the foot and the big toe. Do the same treatment as shown for the gastroc/soleus, only do it at the Achilles tendon area.

Keep up your detective work, you should be fine for the Chicago marathon in October. Have a great time in Spain!

Wishing you well,
Julie



maher101
(7/14/03 10:13 pm)
thanks for getting back Julie-
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly. I will try what you suggest and we will see what happens. Good luck with the book.
Sean