What is the longest an injury has ever kept you from running?

Dude, 5 weeks is NOTHING. You should be pool running and cycling.

I was out for more than 6 YEARS from 1991 to 1998.

MAYEROFF wrote:

Dude, 5 weeks is NOTHING. You should be pool running and cycling.

I was out for more than 6 YEARS from 1991 to 1998.

from what? a coma?

I've spent 90% of the last 14 months not running at all, and the other 10% "running" 10-30 mpw. Not due to a single severe problem, just a string of several injuries that have come one after the other (peroneal and achilles tendonitis, some compartment syndrome like symptoms that I never really figured out). While I'm not even very good at running, I really do love it more than most anything else and it has been quite frustrating. And it's not just the inability to run, but also not being able to go out and play a pick up game of football or whatever other physical activities that could aggravate the injury or hinder the recovery. I haven't gained much weight or anything, but my body certainly isn't what it was the summer before last.

I was out 18 years. Turns out I had extremely tight psoas muscles but back in the eighties the specialists I went to didn't know about this now fairly common overuse injury.

After being back running for a couple years, I had an accident at work and tore some back muscles and ligaments. I haven't run in 2 years.

please dear god, give me a reason to never write a thread like this.....please.....I'll do anything

"want some cheeseburgers...I'll sell you some cheeseburgers man"

Thirty-four years.

Career-ending foot injury (lateral arch at the insertion of the peroneus brevis, but not a Jones fracture). Walked with a limp for ~two years (and still limp occasionally, if I'm very tired).

Eventually recovered enough to be able to take part in walking races, but anything that has me leaving the ground (jumping, running) is out of the question. I can't run across the street without a flareup.

And yes, I miss running, terribly, almost every day. I was talentless but I loved it, and it was the best part of me. In a real sense "I" died 34 years ago.

For god's sake let your current injury/ies heal completely. (My foot problem was a compensation injury--my stride had altered because of achilles and shin problems.) Do other stuff--a lot of people benefit from serious weightlifting, or at least focus on abdominal exercise.

Good luck. Patience is a virtue. Being unable to run, ever, is a drag.

4 months I think - calf injury

Piriformis, 7 years.

its been 17 months since ive had any consistent training...broken ankle (2 surgeries 10 months apart) and various flair-ups otherwise...just from trying to get back into it...

I missed 3 days because of an itb problem

i've been very lucky... your people's injuries scare the hell out of me... so what do we learn from all your stories

how can these eternal injuries be avoided?

I don't believe there's any running injury that can keep you away for more than 6 weeks. I've been running for 20 years (50,000 miles) and have unfortunately been badly injured about 40 times, where I was hurt bad enough where I simply coudn't run, but things always heal in about 3 weeks avg, or if I'm lucky I can run through the pain if possible and let things heal "on the run." I've had several 6-week injuries, and they are the worst. I probably never let things heal completely because that would take way longer, but at least I get up to fast racing condition in between the injuries. The first couple weeks back from injury are the worst because of all the scar tissue I have to work through. It's amazing how I can be doing sub 5-min repeats one week, get injured then after 2 weeks off I have trouble even doing a 3-mile run in 22 min. It's so hard to come back, but I can't stand not to run. My injuries have been achilles tendonitis, plantar fascitis, strained psoas, patellar tendonitis, chronic muscle tears, anterior tibialis tendonitis, sesamoiditis, cuboid stress reaction syndrom, posterior tibial tendonitis, patellofemoral syndrome, strained spring ligament, groin strain, illiotibial band syndrome, calf tear, hamstring tear, sciatica, compartment syndrome, extensor tendonitis, etc. The list goes on and on. The only thing I've never had is a stress fracture. So, God granted me strong bones, but terrible connective tissue and muscles!

I'm amazed that I've been able to fight through the injuries so many dozens of times and am able to work my way back to fitness. I think if you love something you just endure. I'm amazed how fast people sometimes give up after 2 or 3 injuries. I only run in the 31's for 10k and I've been willing to go through the ordeal dozens of times. I often wonder what I could have accomplished if I wans't so terribly prone to injury.

There are plenty of running injuries that can keep you away for more than six weeks.

I'm currently five months into a groin injury. Suspect it may be a sports hernia.

One time when i was drunk off my ass, I rolled my MG over myself. That injury has kept me from running, competing, and even living for over 30 years now.

Sounds a lot like my story.

Good bone structure but the crappiest of biomechanics..

hrunner wrote:

I missed 3 days because of an itb problem

i've been very lucky... your people's injuries scare the hell out of me... so what do we learn from all your stories

how can these eternal injuries be avoided?

I don't know if they really can be avoided...other than training all the time a little faster than a walk pace?

Piriformis wrote:

Piriformis, 7 years.

Jees really?!

I have been running with one for over 1 1/2 years, actually since 1994 only nowadays it's liable to be pretty hindering if I were to go hard up hills etc.

Hamstring injury 1988. Out of commition for over 3 months.

Knee problem (same leg as piriformis problem) 1997 after stumbling during a 24 hr. relay, over 4 months, considerable kneecap pain almost 24/7

Yeah, really, unfortunately. Best thing that ever happened was developing it on the other side. I was thereafter "balanced" and couldn't re-strain it anymore. Now I'm sore all the time, but functional.

Does anyone know if Ron Hill has still never had a day off from running for about the last 40 years?

Hey Doctor, Why hasn't my back healed yet and I haven't run for almost two years? Will torn ligaments in my back heal without surgery? (which I didn't have)