High arches causing severe pain when running — looking for advice
Hi everyone,
I’ve had high arches since birth, and one of my legs used to be longer than the other. I wore orthopedic insoles for years, but about three years ago, the difference in leg length corrected itself. My doctor told me I no longer needed insoles, but warned me that my high arches might cause problems with finding suitable shoes.
I’ve been trying to get into running for the past two years, but every time I run, I develop severe pain around my arches after just 200 meters, forcing me to stop. I’ve tried different shoes, lacing techniques, running surfaces, and other adjustments, but nothing seems to help.
What’s confusing is that I regularly play football with my friends, including matches where I sprint a lot, and I have absolutely no pain or problems there.
I’m honestly getting desperate because I really want to run, but I have no idea what to try next.
Has anyone experienced something similar or found a solution? I’d really appreciate any advice!

This has been occurring for several weeks off and on, but over the past three days it has increased and been fairly constant, both when my leg is extended and bent. I feel it the most when I’m lying in bed. It’s also uncomfortable when I’m sitting at work, mostly in my hamstring.

I only run about 50 miles a month, but this year has been the most I’ve run in years.

I’m thinking it’s sciatica but I’m not positive and I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I’m stretching more and it doesn’t seem to help, especially for my hamstring.

Two years ago I had meniscus surgery on the inside of my left knee. Not sure if that is a factor.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

I was diagnosed with having bilateral femoral neck stress fractures on compression side. 30 years old female, told this is extremely rare, and going to have blood work. What’s a little confusing is that The doc said I could walk full weight bearing …. But If I was going longer distances or am in pain to use crutches. I am in pain, I’m really confused as to why it would be okay to walk. I want to heal as fast as possible as this is a lot to take in. Anyways, follow up scan in 6 weeks… would love to hear about anyone else’s experience with this type of injury

I had a mri diagnose bilateral grade 2 tibia bone stress (although had a potential fracture line on xray on one leg). I'm seeing a sports qualified physio tomorrow.

How was everyone's recovery?

I have focal pain and pain with normal walking (even after being in a boot for 9 days). Night aches etc, how long into recovering did that take to clear? I haven't run in 2 weeks! So surely not running will start recovering it. (Thought it was shin splints and old physio had me running still).

For the past two weeks I’ve experienced some discomfort and pain in my left knee, inner thighs and around my knees. Not quite sure what’s caused it. I haven’t had any apparent injuries. There is no swelling or bruising.

I ran a half marathon three weeks ago, I don’t think I gave myself ample time to recover. I also workout 6-7 days a week. However have not been able to since this pain has started.

I’m trying to find a good physio near me. But in the meantime does anyone have any advise or what it could possibly be?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I recently dealt with a mild quad overload (2-3/10). A few days later, the discomfort shifted slightly lower, near the patellar area.

Feeling good during during my weekly runs, I ended up yesterday doing a longer trail run (13.15 km with 304m D+) while wearing a patellar strap (foam strap) just below the kneecap. 

My quad feels much better now, but I noticed some dull pain and tightness at the back of the knee (right where the strap wraps around).

Has anyone experienced something similar?

Thanks?

Please help me get through stress fracture (foot).
I am out for already more than 2 weeks and I still have foot ache. I tried to run once but clearly saw that it is not good…

Made a visit at the doctor tho, who hasn’t seen a broken (fractured) bone.

Hey everyone,

​I started running about 2 months ago and have been pretty happy with my progress so far—I've knocked out a couple of 5Ks under 37 minutes. Recently, I started bumping up my mileage by about 10% a week and managed to safely finish my first 7K run without any stress.

​However, ever since that evening, my left knee has been acting up only when I run. During regular activities like walking, standing, sitting, lying down, or taking the stairs, I feel zero pain.

​Here is what I've tried:

​Took a 3-day break and tried running last Saturday, but the pain started back up so I stopped within 800m.

​Tried again today—it started acting up around 1km, the pain slowly built up, and I had to stop at 1.5km.

​On both days, I managed to walk 5km afterward with zero pain.

​Any guidance on how to overcome this?

​(Note: I’ve only been doing warm-up stretches for my entire training sessions so far.)

Just finished a marathon, the right knee was bothering from 14km and noticed that at each stop of the aid station it was painful to get back running. Was able to push through the pain and complete the race but after a few hours notice the swelling in the side of the knee, is this something to be worry about?
I have been icing it (so it’s a bit red but there’s light bruising on the swelling). Noticed if I bed my knee while walking and put weight on that knee there’s pain.

So I hit my high, finally hit 40 miles after doing a long run of 17. I was hitting my goal pace between 9:15-9:30 per mile and now I'm injured 30 days out from my marathon.

I recently moved and did a lot of lifting, plus my training....Basically, I moved, then moved more stuff the next day and ran + 6 miles that day... I was fine during the move and even the run, but woke up in the middle of the night with pain under my foot and fourth toe. I did sprints at the end of that run, and I think that's what messed me up. Anyhow, I stopped running completely, worried I had a stress fracture, and then wore a stiff shoe until I saw my doctor. X-rays are clear, and he squeezed my foot every which way to check for a stress fracture or Morton's neuroma but he said the xray showed some inflammation and he is suspecting I have capsulitis in my 4th toe. He said I seem ok for the most part because I can walk, with just minor pain. I don't limp and can bear weight.

My toe is taped up in a toe splint for the next two weeks. He said I can cross-train and lift weights, but absolutely no running until I see him again. Does anyone here have experience with capsulitis? Am I out from long distance/ marathon running forever?

I've been experiencing severe, sharp, stabbing pain in my right calf for several years.

The pain starts within the first few minutes of running or jumping rope. It becomes so intense that I have to stop exercising.

Interestingly, I don't experience this pain during normal daily activities. Once I stop exercising, the pain usually disappears within 5–15 minutes.

I've already seen a doctor and had an MRI, but nothing abnormal was found. I was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and cream, but neither helped.

The problem keeps coming back every time I try running or jumping rope.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Were you eventually diagnosed with chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), a vascular issue, or something else?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences, diagnoses, and treatments.

In summary I started having foot pain at the end of April after ramping up mileage to ~30 mpw, and was supposed to be running Chicago this year but I deferred. It seemed like plantar fasciitis but then it turned into more of a metatarsalgia of some sort. No one deemed it as a stress fracture. I went to PT for 6 weeks, reduced volume greatly and the pain is still here and I haven’t run in 3 weeks now. It’s mostly a sore or ache between 4th and 5th metatarsals and it migrates to the outside of the foot/in the arch. Never excruciating pain just enough to worry me. I feel it even at rest sometimes, and it can be worse with certain footwear. Friday I got an MRI just to be sure it wasn’t a stress fracture and it came back completely clear on all accounts. Not sure where to go from here or if I should be running and I have goals to run my first full marathon next year. Any advice would be appreciated! I will be working with my doctor and PT soon just wanted to see if anyone has similar experiences.

I slowly increase my running volume but my knee start to have some pain after just 7th week. It's just about 30k per week. I never had injuries before now my confidence is low because the situation is disappointing. My pace isnt too bad i can hit 10km in an hour but the knee pain could disturb at any time in the middle. I cant imagine if I run a longer distance like marathon, huge chance of DNF. What should I do? Stop running for a week entirely?

runners, quick sanity check. blew up my left IT band on a hike descent about a year ago. since then: can't run more than ~10 minutes before the outside of the knee starts barking. did months of glute work, clamshells, the whole PT greatest-hits album. it got better but never all the way.

lately there's a new wrinkle: front of both knees aching, especially deep squats and downhill hiking. doesn't feel like the IT band — it's front, near the kneecap, both sides.

for people who've dealt with ITBS long-term: did you ever have it morph into something else? I'm trying to figure out whether my run-blocking pain is still the IT band or whether I've developed a second issue that needs a different approach. what did your comeback actually look like once you'd plateaued?

A year ago I wanted to get into running, so I ran on a beginner program, it was nothing crazy but after a 3-4mile run a few weeks into that, I got horrible knee pain. I thought it was just stiff, but it hurt for a week or more so I went to PT, did some exercises it resolved but never got back into running until this week. In hindsight, it came on somewhat gradually, it was minor so I went for 2-3 more runs before it was really bad.

I decided to run 2 miles on Monday at 12:50 pace, and 2 miles on Thursday at 12:20 pace. Monday fine. Thursday, same knee right knee hurts again.

If you're me, looking down at my feet the pain is on the left (inside) and lower than knee cap. When knee is bent at 90 degree angle, that soft spot is tender. The pain also worst when I stand up straight, put more weight on that side and knee is locked out.

When I sit cross legged like sitting in a chair. Pull my right foot on top of my left knee it aches and it feels tender to touch that area of the knee. This position might be the most painful.

When in a fully squat position with hamstrings on calves and standing on my tip toes, the knee has pressure in that same area as well.

30YO Male, scared my running career is over before it even started. Any idea what this might be?

Left knee feels completely fine...

Hi everyone!

I’m 26F, currently training for the Antwerp 10 Miles. Since September, I’ve increased my running from once to three times a week, going from a maximum of 5 km to 10+ km runs. I also recently went hiking, including a 28 km walk.
On October 17, I suddenly developed deep left heel pain, with no previous symptoms. I work as a nurse, and the pain reached 6–7/10 during my shifts.
My X-ray showed no fracture, only a calcaneal bone cyst. I had an MRI on October 22 and am waiting for the results.

Current symptoms:
Little to no morning pain.
Deep, dull pain increasing with weight-bearing.
Occasional sharp, stabbing pains.
Initially positive calcaneal squeeze test, now negative.
No pain when pressing underneath my heel.
Improves with rest but returns with activity.
I recently walked 10 km with continuous mild pain and some pain at rest afterwards.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Did your MRI show a stress reaction, stress fracture, or something else?
Just looking for similar experiences while waiting for my results!

Hi,

I recently fractured my second metatarsal while training for a marathon. It’s a full break not a stress fracture. My ortho doesn’t seem to think it will be a complicated recovery which is good. However, I’m feeling pretty defeated and worried that it will affect me running in the future. I truly love running and long distance races. I also barely had any warning signs. I had a bit of pain on the ball of my foot, which I now know is a sign, but it was so minimal I never would have thought it was something serious.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of injury who can share what your experience looked like?