#Runner Problems: Who Can Help?

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? Was it relaxing? Busy?  I've found that some of the best weekends are a combination of both.

I've had a list of Running Related issues that have been on my mind lately and I was hoping that you guys could offer me some advice.



1. Ok, Summer is the WORST time to for a runner to lose a toe nail. Remember in our post about blister prevention, 6 WAY TO PREVENT BLISTERS, I mentioned that my nail was loose after PHM and I thought it was going to fall off but it ended up being loose only because I had a blister underneath it? Well, it must have hung on for 3 months after that and then just one day randomly fell off. I was sitting on the back deck when it happened and I actually thought it was a piece of my dog's nail. Nope, it was mine! So now I had to go buy myself a pair of closed toed Summer shoes. Do you know how hard it is to find closed toe summer shoes?



I ended up finding a pair of these at Target. I actually really like them and have scoured my closet for all the blue tops and accessories I could find so they would match the shoes. 

Also, I've taken my nail polish off my toes so they could finally "breathe". I wear polish all year long and it is unusual for me to go more than 2 days with out any polish on my toes.  I've gone almost 2 weeks now with out any polish. I feel weird putting color on my toes when one of my nails is barely there.  Do you think it is safe for me to polish my toes and put polish on the little bit of nail I have growing back? Or do you think keeping the polish off will allow the nail bed to "breath" and grow back faster?  okay, sorry about all the gross toe talk. Aren't you glad I'm not showing pictures?

2. After seeing 3 different doctors I am still having the leg/hip/lower back pain. I did get a cortisone shot in my left hip which seemed to help, but the other pain is persisting.

After also visiting Dr.  Google I thought maybe I had a problem with Sciatica, but when I mentioned this to my chiropractor during my visit last week, he didn't think that was the case.  Back in May, I made an Ortho appointment (4th doctor), but they couldn't get me in until July 2. I didn't know what I was going to do until then, but now it seems as if July will be here before we know it. I had been thinking about going back to Dr #3 and getting another Cortisone shot in the other side of my hip. Do you think I should wait till I see the Ortho before I do that? I'm thinking the cortisone will just end up masking the pain. If I do really have something wrong, I want to be able to show the Ortho were all my pain is.

3. I got a gift certificate for my birthday to get a massage. After much research and a recommendation by a friend, I think I found the perfect Massage Therapist.
  There are 10 different massages she offers, including Neuromuscular Therapy (trigger point), Deep Connective Tissue, Myofascial Release, Sports Massage, Shiatsu (acupuncture) ( and a few others which I know I would have no need for so I didn't list them).  
Do you think it is okay for me to go ahead and get a massage this week or should I wait till after my Ortho appointment?

 My next question is for those of you who have been following along with my injury over the past several months. Should I be getting the Myofascial Release Massage, the Sports Massage, or maybe the Neuromuscular Therapy? 
Also, for those of you who have got Myofascial Release Massage before, did it give you lasting relief or was is just temporary for the time being?
And One more thing, should I be concerned that this particular massage therapist is blind?


I had a few other concerns but I think I'll stop here. Can you offer any advice on any of these? Please!         ~M

*And in totally random non running related news: I was excited to see that Katie Couric was getting her own show. Once it came on the air I watched a few episodes. I really like Katie so I had high hopes. It turns out that she was just really boring. Nice gal, but boring. I thought, "This show isn't going to last long". Low and behold I found out today that her show is getting cancelled.

38 comments:

  1. As for the toenail I think the polish is ok, I don't think it would inhibit the nail from growing back....I'm the same way, I ALWAYS have polish on my nails and feel naked without it!!

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    1. You got that right. This is the longest I've ever gone without polish. I actually think my one toe is kind of stained!

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  2. Wow so many questions where to start?? Okay forget answering questions. I will just tell you that I visit my Internal doctor for routine check ups and ask her for referral for any specialty issues. I see a chiropractor regularly, mostly quarterly. I make every effort to get a massage monthly, and during race season every two to three weeks. I stretch daily, yoga three times a week, strength train three times a week, and run three times a week. If I feel like I need to take a day off I do, and if I have any pain or issues I see the doctor, prevention is the best medicine. I would talk to the massage therapist at length, tell her your concerns and have her recommend the best massage option given your issues. Good Luck!!

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience Gloria! I hoping this massage lady is much better than the guy I had in Atlantic City...haha!

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  3. Definitely wait until after your doc appointments until you get the cortisone. I have had persistent tennis elbow for the past year (on doctor number 5, sigh), and I learned from experience that you want to be able to tell the doctor exactly where it hurts and what range of movement, etc.
    Also, be careful with those shots. I had one and although it was temporary pain relief, it actually set back my treatment of what was wrong underneath. I would say get them only if you are in so much pain you really can't stand it. Otherwise, you need the pain to tell you if your treatments are making progress. Just my two cents.

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    1. I was thinking the same thing about the shots but I wasn't sure. Thanks Brooke!

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  4. I'd say go for the massage but hold off on another cortisone shot until your appointment. While I do think my coritsone shot is helping, I'm going to the PT the ortho prescribed to get all the help I can get.

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    1. Thanks Lesley. I hope you are getting the help you need too!

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  5. I am either always missing a nail or one or two are just kind of half there. I paint on fake toenails all the time. I can't tell you if it is safe or not but I have been doing it for like 8 years and nothing crazy has happened to me! I empathize with your problem- I want to wear open toe shoes in the summer but I refuse to do it unless my nails are painted because my feet are ugly but the polish sort of masks this a little.

    Oh, as for Katie, never fear, she is going to get something for next year. I have heard rumors of being a co host on The View.

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    1. I know, between going to the pool, the beach, wearing sandals, flip flops, etc, etc, my feet are always exposed in the summer and its driving me nuts that they don't look nice...lol

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    2. Oh, and I think the View would be a good gig for Katie. I think she needs those other woman because she was just boring on her own.

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    3. Yeah! I like Katie but I agree she's a little blah sometimes.

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  6. When I lost one of my big toenails a couple of summers ago, my podiatrist instructed me to keep it wrapped in gauze in order to prevent infection. I lost the ENTIRE nail, down to the nail bed, but since I also lost it on an airplane due to somebody stepping on my foot the podiatrist was very concerned. With that said, I continued to paint my other 9 nails while sporting the gauze until about a quarter of the nail grew back, and then the podiatrist said that it was safe to start painting it again.

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    1. Ouch, that sounded painful! I should have thought about putting a band aid on my toe. That would be a simple solution...haha!

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  7. I agree with you - I think you should hold off on the cortisone so you can show the doctor exactly where the pain is. As for the massage, go for it. I like Sports Massage because I find they tend to go deeper and you can tell them exactly where you want them to massage. Once they find a knot, they can concentrate on that area. I think I have had similar pains. Have they ruled out piriformis syndrome? Basically it's like having a giant knot in the middle of your glute, which affects everything.

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    1. Yea, I can't decided which would be better, the Sports Massage or the Myofascial release massage?

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  8. Regarding the nail polish, I think it's ok as long as you don't have any sensitive tissue exposed like an open wound. I lost a toe nail last month and I'm going to paint what little is growing back. Until then I've just been walking around with an ugly toe and hoping people don't notice. Haha :)

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    1. Yea, that's what I have been doing when I am in a hurry and have to slip on my flip flops real quick, Hoping people don't notice! haha

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  9. I have yet to lose a toenail, but I know it will probably happen someday. I think nail polish would be fine, I know a lot of people who paint on fake toenails which is probably what I will do if I ever lose a nail. So sorry you are dealing with all of these injuries and I can't give much advice. I hope the Ortho can figure something out for you!

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    1. Now you will have lots of advice on what to do if you ever do lose one!

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  10. I had the same thing happen with my toenail. It was loose after Boston and just finally fell off last week. I actually painted the skin and newish toenail. This was my first lost toenail after a few years of running so I am counting myself lucky! Personally though, I'd wait until after you see your Dr, but that is just me. Good luck!

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    1. Losing one toe nail was a small price to pay for completing Boston healthy! You rocked that race Sara!

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  11. These are great questions, and most of which I really don't have experience on, so cannot offer the best advice. I will say, regarding the cortisone shot, that I would wait until you see your doctor in July before getting another shot! It seems to be the safer route and I usually play it safe with injuries. I hope you feel better soon!

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    1. Yes, I think I will wait seeing as July is just around the corner. Can you believe that already?

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  12. I lost a toenail once, and at least a week after the old has fallen off the skin toughens and the new nail is already starting to move on up. By then it is okay to paint your toenails or the skin on the toe LOL, I did it and had no problems and it grew back fine.
    I have only been through massage therapy types years ago when I was in a bad car accident and lost all my neck muscles, and it's been too long for me to offer any advice on which are best. But I wouldn't be bothered at all that your therapist is blind. In fact that might even be better. Your therapist has to really focus on the muscles and is likely far more intune with touch and we all know visual can sometimes impair how we do things when it comes to feeling actions. I'd say your in good hands, but that is my opinion:)
    I've had a couple of cortizone shots in my day, and one in my hip for some bursitis about 2 years ago. One of the questions I have is, what kind did you get? Did you just get a straight cortizone? Whenever I get mine, I prefer a 3 drug cocktail, the cortizone, the pain reliever (that lasts 3 days) and a long term anti-inflammatory that doesn't start doing it's job for about 5 days. I've had good success with them, however each time I have gotten one, they have told me it is just a mask to let the injury relax and heal. You can only get so many cortizone shots in one area in your lifetime, so I'd go to the Ortho before getting another.
    I'm really sorry to hear you are still having so many struggles and runner complications, I do hope you find good help and relieve soon!!!

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    1. So sorry about the car accident.
      Yea, I was really against the cortisone shot in the beginning but my doctor said it would help start the healing process which I believe it did on the one side, but not on the other ( where I didn't get the shot).

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  13. I'd wait for the massage AFTER the ortho appointment.
    Oh man, I have such pains with low back pain & sciatica. Miserable :( I just keep stretching & stretching. A chiro friend told me one time to just keep moving. Everything is worse when you stop.
    Missing toenails in summer? I've painted my skin before :) haha True!

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    1. Yea, my pain is definitely worse when I am sitting down.

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  14. I am wearing open toed shoes even though I lost two toe nails after PHM! They are almost all the way grown back, thankfully. I didn't paint them while they were growing back, but I've heard of others who do.... not sure which is the right way!

    I didn't realize you were having back pain - sounds similar to maybe what I'm experiencing??? I am going to my ortho on Wed to see what they think. I had an initial consult with a chiropractor who said something about my L5... but since I don't visit a chiropractor normally, I'm hesitant to go that route first. Has it affected your running?

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  15. I have never lost a toenail. Been lucky I guess but about everything else I vote for waiting for the doctor visit. Why? You are yet to identify the problem which is the equivalent of flying blind. Getting more information can't hurt and he is in a much beget position to tell if you should do all those things under the circumstances.

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  16. I cannot imagine losing a toenail! but if I did I would sure try and paint one back on :) I hope you let us know what the ortho says- much better than the chiro- just saying

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  17. I would be sure that they order an MRI, as x-rays won't show anything except a broken bone, and POSSIBLY a healing stress fracture's calcium formation, but that's usually only the case if you've laid off activity so it can start healing. An MRI will show tendonitis, stress fractures, strew reactions (bone edema), bursitis, etc.
    I would wait until your appointment personally. I was getting Active Release Therapy on what I thought was ITBS in 2012, turns out it was a distal femoral stress fracture, so I was wasting $30/session.

    Regarding the toenail, paint away! I pretty much live with only 8 toenails, but I continue to paint to the hard stuff that's under the actual toenail on my two nails that elude me.

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    1. FYI, that was supposed to say stress reactions, not strew.

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  18. Okay, totally random, but I've had myofascial release work done on my horse. Now, I know that sounds crazy BUT show horses are athletes and they work really hard. I especially noticed a difference in my retired horse. Every 6 months or so he would go a little bit lame in one of his hind legs. I had his joints injected and it didn't work. Finally, I had this guy come out and do myofascial work and he would go sound afterward. I spend way more money on my horse than myself, but I became a total believer after that.

    Also, one if the best stretches I've found for tight hips is to cross one leg over the other whole sitting and then lean forward. I try to do this multiple times a day at my desk at work. It really helps loosen up my whole leg.

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  19. Oh man I hate losing toenails! I do have a bunch of cute-ish closed toed summer shoes though. I have an earlier version of these: http://www.zappos.com/clarks-poem-chalet-pewter and they are super comfortable. Toms are a good casual option too. These are cute: http://www.toms.com/women/toms-blue-tie-dyed-womens-classics.

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  20. I say go for the massage, but wait for your ortho appt prior to having any injections. I hope you find a solution soon!!

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  21. I think it's OK to put polish on the remaining toenail. Gotta keep the toes looking pretty during the summer time :)

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  22. Have you tried strengthening and stretching the hip area? My husband swears by the Myrtl routine, so he posted this page: https://www.digitalrunning.com/1035/myrtl-routine/
    Since then, he has received numerous emails from people who have tried it and felt a huge difference! One being a 55 year old anesthesiologist who has to stand on her feet at the hospital all day for years and now doesn't have back pain!

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