What's the worst running injury you've had - and how long did it keep you out?

As a relative new comer to running I've had no really bad injuries. However, I have had the usual beginner problems of shin splints and tendonitis (both forced me to stop training for about 2 months until the pain went).

I've also recently had a problem with a tight illio psoas. Which is causing my style to alter, twisting at the hip on my right forward stride, which in turn is causing pain on my left side as I try to rectify the problem. I was out for about a month with this at the end of Feb beginning of March. Which has annoyingly messed up my marathon training after doing quite well early on.

Worst injury I've had was from football though. I got fouled, fell over and landed on my arm, I snapped my humerus in half. Had to wear a brace on my arm and have it strapped to my body for 5 months. My arm is still bent and will never straighten, it looked horrible at first as the muscle wasted away. But now the muscle has developed you can't tell, I have no on going problems with it either (touch wood!)

knees, 15 months, mainly waitiing for a cat scan.
achilles 4 months twice.

not my favourite subject as all were self inflicted through over training and chasing a marathon time. got the times though

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it's not how fast, it's how often

Thats a long time out chrisity, what did you do?

My worst injury is the one i've got.

It seemed quite simple to begin with but hasn't responded to physio treatment and so he's finding more 'layers' to the problem.

I feel like I'm never going to be able to get back out there

Injuries are rubbish! Really find it frustrating when I can't run.

What have you done Trinity?

'Something' to my right leg

It buckled at about 14 miles in to a 20 mile race on April 2nd...my last long run before FLM. But there was no pain so I kept running and even went on to get a PB.

However when I stopped running I could hardly put any weight on it.

I went to see my sports masseur, he couldn't find a problem so I rested for over two weeks hoping it would heal in time for FLM.... it didn't, and I ended up deferring.

I've also had to withdraw from two half marathons since and the Copenhagen marathon, which is this weekend. On top of that I won't be able to run Dartmoor Discovery either, which is one of the highlights of my racing year

I've been seeing a physio as I said, who has ironed out a few problems but hasn't been able to get to the core problem. Spoke to him today and he has just referred me on to someone else.... who is also rather more expensive!

I'm going to see this guy on Wednesday... so I'll let you know if they decide amputation is the answer

Sorry Trinity!

Good luck for Wednesday - make sure you keep talking and get your money's worth out the specialist!

Sooner you're back in action, the better!

Well, I saw him on Wednesday and he gave me a short list of about 5 conditions. I'm going to have an MRI scan next friday to get a conclusive diagnosis.

The bad news is that there is no treatment for the possible conditions... I can only work on strengthening my quads while keeping my fitness up in the gym with non impact work and weights.

I'm not allowed to run at all for 6 weeks, then if there is still a problem I'll have to rest from running for another 6 weeks and so on.

There are no guarantees that it will recover enough for me to run the distances and amount that I have been...it's just a wait and see situation, the rest is up to my body's healing processes

I've now pulled out of 9 races, which takes me up to the end of July.

I have a marathon booked for September but even if I can run by then I'll have a lot of training to do in a reletively short time, which probably isn't the best idea.

I guess I'll just have to take it one step at a time

Sorry to hear this Trinity. I sincerely hope the first 6 weeks do trhe trick, though even that must seem like an eternity.

Thanks Greg... it is an eternity, I've already been off for 6 weeks since the injury happened... 12 weeks is almost a whole marathon schedule!!

I know how you feel Trinity, its incredibly frustrating been injured. What exactly have you done?

ajtuna... still don't know exactly but hope to find out next week when I have the MRI

I posted what happened to my leg earlier in this thread...I only wished I'd have backed off or even stopped when my leg buckled in the race in April

Sounds a bummer Trinity, hope the MRI scan is conclusive.

Hi... I haven't been in the forum for a while coz I've been suffering from 'Injured Runners Depression'

So, the latest is.... I had the MRI, which clearly showed the problem and I got the results a week ago along with all the films of the inside of my knee

Official diagnosis is Hyaline cartilage irregularity and ulceration over the lateral facet of the patella.

That fits perfectly with the symptoms and area of pain too.

I am now on day 8 of a six week course of strengthening and muscle lengthening exercises with ankle weights.

After the 6 weeks are up then I can try a short gentle run...by which time I will have had 4 months off....so a short gentle run will probably be all I'll be able to manage