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Advised to give up jogging
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Have life time of flat feet and now PF. Physio has suggested giving up jogging and accepting that my body mechanics and feet simply cannot manage it. Sadly I suspected this some time ago and maybe this all explains why I have never managed to get beyond 3 miles and find it a real struggle. But I feel quite bereft and depressed...as though I am now grieving for something. Despite the fact that it was never easy, I used to enjoy the challenge and feeling of achievement afterwards. Looks like I'll have to stick to the bike and cross trainer in the gym from now on. Just carry on without me........
*waves sadly at all the other runners bounding into the sunset with easy gait and a gentle stride, then turns and walks away...*
*waves sadly at all the other runners bounding into the sunset with easy gait and a gentle stride, then turns and walks away...* 
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Comments
At least you can slap all those bounding runners round the back of the head when you speed past them on you bike!
If you really want to do it you can.
Maybe a 2 hour marathon is out of your reach but to give up completely...
If you enjoy it then do it.
OK...sounds like I should turn round and walk back to the start line then! Am seeing podiatrist again on Tuesday....and yes, she has mentioned custom orthotics. She herself damaged her ankle after (not as a result of) doing the London Marathon a while back and is just begiining to get back to running. It's not that I give up easily....believe me I have already had a few set-backs that I've overcome - but I guess the worry is "will I cripple myself if I keep on doing this"? My father has very flat feet (as do I) and can hardly get round town for pain in them. OK so he NEVER goes to a doctor....but I don't want to be hobbled by the time I'm 60.
Will spend time talking this through with podiatrist on Tuesday.
Thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement.
Goldfinch, my feet are so flat that I ruptured the tib post tendon, simply by having such flat feet. Over the years, I had stretched the tendon to such an extent that filaments of the tendon started fraying and pulling away, effectively thinning it until it was connected by one filament. I woke up one morning, stretched in bed and felt it snap, although I had no idea what had happened. My foot was sore and a bit deformed, but I carried on walking on it, putting it down to old age. When I eventually got to a GP, it was misdiagnosed with the result that by the time I got the diagnosis, nearly 4 months had passed.
I had surgery to repair the tendon and then after quite a long time in plaster and on crutches, returned to being mobile. I wear custom-made orthotics in all of my shoes and started running about 4 years ago. I did too much too soon and was benched for 2 years with PF.
In 2008, I started again, doing no more than 10 min walking 1 x per week. I did my first HM last autumn and hope to be able to do a marathon this year.
Back in April, I stubbed a toe (on the bad foot) and broke it, I've now got knee problems, all, I'm sure linked to foot strike etc, but I'm not giving up.
I see a pod who advised that with my feet (the other one is just as bad
) I'd never make it past 10k. I've proved her wrong - but I'd rather stick to a lower distance and keep doing it than give up totally.
Doesn't really appeal to me, but you could consider "The Dark Side"
, or, find a distance that you can do and maybe make speed at that distance your goal.
From my perspective, I'd have far more faith in a pod than a physio, I'm lucky that I have a physio who is a marathon des sables runner, so really, really knows her stuff. I've had others who've just said "Give up" like yours.
Talk at length to your pod, see what the verdict is. I see that you've posted re PF, I never found that cold helped, it was always warmth with me - rather than clog this forum up, pm me if you'd like to know what I did and how it worked for me.
Finally, I was 45 when I ruptured my tendon, 51 now. If I can do it at my age, I'm sure that you could.
(( ))
It's an old chestnut they trot out occasionally. For some the standard answer to long term problems is to tell you you can't run.
I'm not saying they're wrong, but don't take it as read. There's plenty of stories of people that were told they couldn't run and have since gone on to amazing things. There was a section in RW recently who had all battled various different ailments and beaten them.
Then there was also Chris mcdougall (born to run) who was told by supposedly the top sports physio in america that he wasn't designed for running as he kept aggravating his cuboid bone in his foot. He has since completed ultra races successfully.
See the pod and take it from there. If you've truly exhausted every avenue and you feel as though you can't/won't/don't want to run, then (and only then) should you hang up your trainers. Good luck getting sorted
A somewhat off the wall suggestion is to look at changing your running gait so your biomechanical issues don't cause a problem. This isn't something to be done lightly as it will require researching the subject and going back to basics with your running. You'd need to look at barefoot running, pose, chi-running and similar areas to see what might work for you. Ideally you'd also have a sympathetic physio who can help with stretches and advice, although that might be a bit harder to find.
I hope you do find a solution that allows you to keep running for a long time.
Thanks for the informaton and suggestions here. I am interested to see what the podiatrist says on Tuesday and also the phsio later in July. Am suppsed to be doing Race for Life next Sunday but doubt I will be able to unless the podiatrist comes up wtih some good orthotics fairly quickly. I have some already, but they probably need customising.
Will pesevere..onward and upward. Ahd Jeepers...I am just about to hit 50...old but gold!
If it means a lot to you then you have nothing to lose by getting a second & third opinion.
I broke my ankle four months ago and really missed running. However, I started swimming as soon as I was able and now have become an avid swimmer (even though I'm rubbish!). Of course I've been swimming before, but it was only when I made swimming part of my daily routine that I began to love it. I like it because, like running, there are days where I can focus on my technique, others where I can push myself hard and others where I can just relax and enjoy it.
So.. perhaps try getting into another sport - you may find something which hits the mark. Give it a good go and allocate appropriate time to it and it may grow into a great alternative to running.
Goldfinch, you have my sympathy!
After 2 years of foot problems I was told on Monday to give up weight-bearing exercise. I've had about 6 pairs of orthotics and 2 lots of steroid injections in this time (and my physio has nothing to suggest).
In the past 2 years I have learnt to ride a bike (at the grand age of 50!) so am able to get out in the fresh air still. I've accepted that I probably won't ever get back to running but have not given up hope of doing more orienteering or rambling at some stage.
I agree with the advice to seek as many opinions as you want - and also to keep fitness ticking over with what ever exercise you can manage.
If anybody is still interested in my foot woes (!), an update.
The podiatrist is fascinated by my extremely bizarre feet and has strongly advised I am seen by an orthopedic consultant asap. She has written a referral letter for my GP which states that "all the digits are retracted when not weight-bearing and the hallux retracted and cocked up even she is standing". She told me...and says in the letter...that she has only ever seen this in patients with advanced diabetes or certain neurological conditions. She says "I have not previously seen feet in which the extensor muscles to the digits seem so out of balance with the flexors in a healthy patient". We also discussed the possible amputation of the the right 5th toe (little toe) which has been a pain in the proverbial ever since I was small. It is "rigidly retracted and flexed" and makes buying shoes an absolute pain. The letter says that "the joints would still allow them to be straightened if the tendons were not so tight". She performed a number of tests...a vascular assessment using a Doppler probe to check arterial supply to the feet and found a triphasic waveform in both the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries of the left foot, but less well defined in the more problematic right foot.
Despite all this weirdness, my GP remains adamant that physiotherapy is the first port of call so this Thursday I am seeing the hospital physio. No doubt they will take one look at my feet and suggest I see an orthopedic consultant in another 8 weeks or so.
Meanwhile, I continue to have aching feet regularly esp. in the arches and heels. I wear shoes all the time now....Birkenstocks are the only comfortable foot wear and even they are not ideal as my toes simply rise up from the base. Crocs are OK, but my arches do not feel fully supported. Fashion shoes are a complete no no.
I wore my running shoes out for a walk yesterday and they felt OK...but my feet still ached in them and the arches still felt unsupported despite them being Brookes for over-pronators and with orthotics (courtesy of podiatrist).
Oh and I did do the Race for Life....37 minutes with only a less-than-1 minute walk to break the jog in 30degree heat. My feet felt no worse than normal afterwards, although they ached and I did walk 2 miles afterwards to the Park and Ride!!
Onward and upward.
GF - it looks like you're in good hands. However, I will offer a tiny piece of advice, for what it's worth: if you can afford it, because this is such a serious situation, I'd try and see one of the absolute top pod's - one that olympians go to. They can charge anywhere up to £600 for an assessment (ouch!). I only suggest this because these guys are statistically proven with the Paula Radcliffes of this world, so when it comes to really serious stuff, I'd have to wonder if they're the people to go to.
This may be a daft idea...but I am nervous about pod's that don't have serious track records. Best of luck to you.
If you're going to be smart, at least learn to spell. Bye.
I saw a bio-mechanist a few months ago as I was having hip pain when running, he spent 5 mins looking at me 'standing straight', reeled off a huge list of things wrong with my posture, but said he could fix them all easily.
Custom orthotics, and regular visits with him to work on my core and for him to teach me to first stand straight, then walk properly and next month run properly - my hip pain has gone and I'm enjoying running again.
I'd never have got to this guy through the NHS, I came across him as my local running shop has him in every few weeks to offer free advice sessions.
Keep perservering, your Pod sounds like she knows her stuff, shame about your GP
(everytime I visit mine his main concern is if I've had a cold recenly 
)
Wow! Cutting off toes sounds a tad drastic!?
You really need to read "Born to Run" urgently. Kick off your shoes & try barefooting...it's gotta be better than amputation hasn't it???
I think GF's feet have serious issues so going barefoot may not be a great idea. Maybe try walking around barefoot and see if this feels ok and progress from there.
I wouldn't recommend barefoot to anyone with serious issues unless it feels right. (by serious issues I don't mean overpronating, but structural problems or major muscle/tendon imbalances)
She's got flat feet & scrunched up toes! (probably from a lifetime of wearing ill-fitting shoes). She's considering never running again and/or amputating toes....
Once the PF has cleared up try barefoot walking & then running. Having your feet & lower limbs move the way nature intended has got to be a good thing for 99.9% of the population.
It costs nothing & could change your life.
You misunderstand me dodgyfr1. I'm a barefoot runner myself and I do think it's the way forward, but GF has said before that her feet have serious issues and is visiting an orthopaedic surgeon to get them checked/sorted out. I would personally wait to see if there's any structural problems before going barefoot and potentially making things worse. That is why I haven't yet suggested it.
If there's no serious structural defects and the only problem is muscle/tendon imbalances then yes I agree, wait for things to calm down and then try barefoot very very slowly to see if it helps.
Without wanting to be pedantic, nature didn't "intend" anything. The human body has evolved by necessity rather then design.