I'm chronically injured, and need help

Strengthen everything. EVERYTHING. I was in a similar position and I neglected my PT exercises, but once I got a good program things started to get better. Maybe try to get another MRI? That's all the advice I can give without knowing more.

I don't have specific advice, but your best bet is finding a good doctor who actually deals with runners regularly, which it doesn't seem like you've been able to do yet. You're right, it is hard, most doctors don't really know or care about competitive running.

I would recommend posting the city/region where you live, and then hopefully somebody on here familiar with that region can post some recommendations. Try this on other running sites/forums too. Other options are to contact local university track/cross teams/coaches/whoever you can get ahold of, and see which doctors they work with. Ideally a university with a high level team and not just some random DIII college, although take what you can get. Even with this route you may need to try a couple docs before you find a great one, but you just have to keep looking.

And you may already have this outlook, but you definitely have to focus on taking whatever time is necessary to heal the right way, and not try to rush the process. An extra few months of build up or rehab may seem like an eternity now, but it would be well worth it if it makes the difference between breaking the cycle of injury or repeating it. You're only 22, you have quite a few years of good running still in you. All that said, that doesn't necessarily mean that pure time off is the best way. This is what the good doctor (and possibly physical therapist) you'll eventually find will have to work with you on, but the best approach may very likely involve some active therapy and rehab exercises.

And maybe you're already doing this too, but also try to keep a positive attitude that you will figure this out sooner or later. Not saying positive thinking will solve your problems, but it can't hurt.

Good luck man, keep trying and you'll beat it.

also messed up wrote:

Strengthen everything. EVERYTHING. I was in a similar position and I neglected my PT exercises, but once I got a good program things started to get better. Maybe try to get another MRI? That's all the advice I can give without knowing more.

Sorry you're also messed up.

I've done a LOT of strengthening. Foot, shin, calves, glutes, abductors, adductors, quads, hamstrings, upper body, etc.

You are probably right about another MRI.

Thanks for your positive encouragement. I have learned to be patient (the hard way) with the situation. I've taken 6 months off before and in other instances 3-4. My last comeback attempt I would add 4 miles a week, drop back 2, add 4. That is incredibly careful, but it didn't work even though 95% of my mileage was grass.

I recently moved to Parkersburg, WV...not a ton of doctor options here. Cleveland (3 hours away) has a running clinic, not sure how good it is. Probably worth a try though. I've been hesitant to try it, since the doctors I have seen so far have been terrible and I don't want to spend a 6 hour trip on a worthless appointment. I guess I need to call and see what they think before I make the trek.

Best of luck to you, Broken Guy. I wish I knew what to tell you. I hope it all works out for you. I am over twice your age and also chronically injured. I've learned how to manage it (sort of) with lots of cross training and backing off at the slightest sign of injury (OK, not backing off entirely, and not at the slightest sign either, which is probably why I'm chronically injured). I hope you decide to try the running clinic and that it helps you. Good luck!

Thank you for your support. I decided I am going to call the clinic and try to talk to one of their specialists to see what they think above an appointment. They might just refer me to orthopedics.

Cut out animal products to reduce inflammation. It's worked for thousands of athletes before you, and it will work for you too.

Take a year of swimming, and biking. and find a physio to prescribe special exercises for your weak areas that lead to injury.

feel for ya man, that's rough at any age, super rough at 22.

Good Luck, little bro.

Sorry about your injury. I understand how frustrating it must be. Unfortunately it happens a lot to people who run in Vibrams over time.

Have you tried a chiropractor? I swear by them!

Also, check out Jay Dicharry's book Anatomy of a Runner?

http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Runners-Unlocking-Potential-Prevention/dp/1620871599

. I think it has some good exercises in it. (He used to work at the University of Virginia Endurance Lab....much like the one, I suspect, in Cleveland that you're talking about going to.)

Jay Johnson writes a whole lot about overall body strengthening & has some programs spelled-out (8 weeks) to get you stronger.

Lastly, you keep talking about minimalist shoes. Could a possible swing to more cushioned shoes help?