It is reading things like this that make me sad that physiologically I am just unable to run long distances anymore. After some period of time, maybe 20-30 minutes of running, my knees start to become unbearably sore and painful. I've tried everything that I know to. I've modified my stride, new shoes, barefoot running (actually running in vibrams led to one of the most productive fitness periods of my life, including running 6-7 miles a day), and strengthening accessory muscles/connective tissue through weight training. Even at my second-lowest lifetime weight (170ish lbs, second only to my weight right after USMC boot camp of 149lbs) the pain persisted.
Through it all unbearable leg pain caught up with me and stopped me short of truly being able to run as much as I want. The longest I've run was 13 miles and that was only by running until knee pain, then "walking it off" then resuming running, repeating until the end.
You say that you've "tried everything that [you] know" -- does that include seeing a doctor and/or physical therapist? If you haven't, please do: many (most) running injuries are curable with the right training and rehab. A good PT can probably set you on a path back to 6-7 miles per day (and beyond!)
Anecdote time: last winter I started having serious, eventually debilitating knee pain. I went from 30-40 mpw to a point where even a couple miles hurt like hell. I have shitty health insurance and resisted seeing a PT for months, worried about the cost, hoping I could just "tough it out." Yeah, not so much. I finally saw a PT in January, got diagnosed with classic ITBS, and started rehab. Within a month I was back to 3-5 mile runs, and by March I was ready to run a half marathon. I'm keeping up with the strengthening exercises my PT assigned, and the ITBS is just a painful memory.
And the costs I was worried about didn't turn out to be much of an issue: my PT was willing to work with me and my crummy insurance to figure out a way to make it affordable. I only ended up paying about $250 for a couple months of visits — a small price to pay to be able to run again!
This sounds a little obvious but since you omitted it, have you done a gait analysis or seen a physical therapist?
After my first marathon my knee was unbearable, it turns out I cave inwards frequently. The PT gave me daily exercises to correct this and I can now run again.
I have heard great things about the UCSF RunSafe clinic if you are anywhere near there.
Other Anecdote: I have a triggerpoint and I do not think its that great for my muscles and is certainly not going to help out with knee or other joint pain.
Comments
It is reading things like this that make me sad that physiologically I am just unable to run long distances anymore. After some period of time, maybe 20-30 minutes of running, my knees start to become unbearably sore and painful. I've tried everything that I know to. I've modified my stride, new shoes, barefoot running (actually running in vibrams led to one of the most productive fitness periods of my life, including running 6-7 miles a day), and strengthening accessory muscles/connective tissue through weight training. Even at my second-lowest lifetime weight (170ish lbs, second only to my weight right after USMC boot camp of 149lbs) the pain persisted.
Through it all unbearable leg pain caught up with me and stopped me short of truly being able to run as much as I want. The longest I've run was 13 miles and that was only by running until knee pain, then "walking it off" then resuming running, repeating until the end.
I miss running.
You say that you've "tried everything that [you] know" -- does that include seeing a doctor and/or physical therapist? If you haven't, please do: many (most) running injuries are curable with the right training and rehab. A good PT can probably set you on a path back to 6-7 miles per day (and beyond!)
Anecdote time: last winter I started having serious, eventually debilitating knee pain. I went from 30-40 mpw to a point where even a couple miles hurt like hell. I have shitty health insurance and resisted seeing a PT for months, worried about the cost, hoping I could just "tough it out." Yeah, not so much. I finally saw a PT in January, got diagnosed with classic ITBS, and started rehab. Within a month I was back to 3-5 mile runs, and by March I was ready to run a half marathon. I'm keeping up with the strengthening exercises my PT assigned, and the ITBS is just a painful memory.
And the costs I was worried about didn't turn out to be much of an issue: my PT was willing to work with me and my crummy insurance to figure out a way to make it affordable. I only ended up paying about $250 for a couple months of visits — a small price to pay to be able to run again!
See a physical therapist!
Yeah I actually did not do any physical therapy. You're exactly right (I self-diagnosed ITBS myself)..
This sounds a little obvious but since you omitted it, have you done a gait analysis or seen a physical therapist?
After my first marathon my knee was unbearable, it turns out I cave inwards frequently. The PT gave me daily exercises to correct this and I can now run again.
I have heard great things about the UCSF RunSafe clinic if you are anywhere near there.
One more thing you could try is getting a good foam roller (Trigger Point is the one I have) and rolling out your muscles before and after running.
I use to have problems whenever I upped my mileage but that sorted it out after a few weeks. YMMV but I know it's helped many others too.
Other Anecdote: I have a triggerpoint and I do not think its that great for my muscles and is certainly not going to help out with knee or other joint pain.