My running career is over

Some doctors aren’t great

I remember the first time I was told that by a doctor. It must be about 11 years ago now. Then I think the second major time I was told it by another consultant, that was only about 4 years ago. Both times very dramatic, I was told off by them for even contemplating running due to the osteoarthritis I had. Ignored that, had a few weeks off and ran nearly non stop weeks every since. I did start running only every second day a few years ago, and I'm a middle distance - 5k type runner, not a long distance freak. Had a good run this morning and this year I've tried to address age related decline by ... running faster ie moving my legs faster.

Its amazing how orthopeadic injuries settle down with a little bit of rest - but not too much, as your supporting muscles get too weak.

I also got two contrary opinions from consultants at the time of the above, both basically told me I should run as much as I was able, and that race fields will be full of runners with osteoarthritis to some degree or other that would be found if they were all scanned.

What it does do is make you slower. Each wear and tear related injury tends to do that. You can things like get ostenil injections, steroid injections, PRP, etc, many of them do help.

when my legs started to go on me i pivoted to sitting and upperbody type sports. watersports, small boat sailing, kayaking, surf/windsurf. upper body accuracy sports. ping pong.

i do some running but not long distance. i do some walking regularly. i cycle in and out. i think it's important to stay fit and mobile. don't give up on your legs. just don't race. cycling might work but depends what exactly hurts.

i also shifted to art and gardening and some other things. something hands-on. to me athletes want hands-on and have a hands-on hole if they can't do their sport. so use your hands and make things.

or maybe get into coaching. i can be a spectator some but most athletes it starts to make you angry to watch too much.

doing nothing or fighting an injury is miserable. i also personally made a deal with myself not to turn myself into rubble, to stop before it got too ugly. you will live to be old. treat your body like it.

personally it was a joy to do a new sport, not the quitter feeling the fanatics on here are pushing. i got involved with a serious team with good coaching. i got up to top 5 in my state at the new sport, won some local events and series, won a regional once, got to represent the US a couple times at self-funded events abroad, had a world ranking for a bit.

i had a teammate in the club who like me had been a d3 athlete in another sport and she made it up to the residency and national team. she was younger -- age will eventually catch up to your new sport as well -- but to me it was a fresh beginning and renewed fun and competitiveness. much more fun than diminishing returns because i want to force through an injury and maintain my same self-definition.

i looked at it this way. what sports did i always want to try? what did i enjoy doing in PE or intramurals but never really give a shot?

view it as an opportunity.

I’m glad to hear that you’re running again. The only sad part of the story is you gave up trolling. Don’t give up. See another doctor, see three doctors, do some rehab, go to counseling. But don’t give up trolling I believe in you.

Trolling is the best part of this site. I am being very serious here. If not for the trolls I’d have to read about the high school XX championships for the 47th time. Doesn’t appeal.

I totally 💯 understand this. I have had surgeries to correct tears to both posterior tibialis tendons. I can no longer run and, like you, have had pain issues when trying to use an elliptical and other equipment. And using Hokas doesn’t help either. I wish people understood that all of the support (orthotics) and cushioning of a pair of shoes won’t overcome certain structural foot/knee/leg issues.

You should grieve. People that don’t understand something that has been a huge part of your life have no right to judge.

Your running friends shouldn’t be discounted as people that you can’t be around or hang out with. At the very least some of these people may very well be a support system you need while you rebalance your life with other activities and interests. It will take time but you can make this transition to a non running lifestyle.

As much as I hate it, swimming and aqua jogging has helped.

You people do realize that you're replying to a 10 year old thread, don't you? The OP has probably forgotten that letsrun even exists by this point.

Hey, come on. His post might help someone else.

“running career” …

… so you were a world ranked / top professional..?!

You were a hobbyist who had a period of time where you were active in the sport.

However reluctantly, try kayaking or canoeing. It might grow on ya. Did me.

yes. one bad step and you think you just pulled a tendon. 3 months later it still hurts so you get imaged and bam, you are told you have no cartilage in part of your knee.

Can an X Ray show osteoarthritis?

It was the MRI that showed the lack of cartilage but the xray shows the space or lacktherof between the bones.

Sorry to read of your medical difficulties. Unless you are a pro athlete, running should have been considered a hobby. Take up strength training, perhaps?

As a former sprinter who will turn 61 this year, I hobby jog a few days per week. It used to annoy me and make me regret that I was no longer in my 20s as people pushing babies in prams run pass me. I however don't let it bother me any more. I jog my 4.5 or 5 miles, listen to music and find contentment doing so.

I hope it works out for you. Be well.

Harden up.

Its just a hobby.

If you want to really perform in that body of yours take up cycling.

Its great exercise, you'll find your average running bod will be above average. The groups are great, and if you want to race indoors you can.

Good luck with your next obsession

what surgery did you have? got OA diagnosis in January. Never had any knee pain in my life then one day on an easy run i felt a click. mri said bone on bone OA. orthopedic surgeon was really negative when he gave results of MRI telling me i probably had this for 10 year, to be careful biking which i’ve been doing for 20+ hrs, and told me all of the surgeries that could be in my future.

but it has gotten a lot better with PT and a ton of cycling. this makes me think that since i just didn’t get this overnight i might be able to get back to where i was since i must have been compensating for the past several years. been running 3x week but after every run it’s sore which makes me regret it. i i’m going to stop running for the summer since i have a bunch of biking goals.

just wonder if anyone has been through this and can tell me that if i give it enough time this eventually get better? i really want to be able to tell the orthopedic doc he was wrong!

bump