Doc On The Run Podcast

#198 Healing a running injury is an active process

Training for a marathon is an active process. You have to think about what you're going to do, you have to come up with a plan. 

You have to design a training program that will get you stronger, get you faster, get you more fit and better prepared for your event, if you're going to finish your race on time. 

When you get injured, healing itself from that injury is an active process, but unfortunately by default, people revert into a passive process. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about how healing a running injury is an active process.

#197 The only 2 times a metatarsal stress fracture needs surgery

There are only two cases in which a metatarsal stress fracture needs surgery.

Before we get into that, I want to stress one point. 

If someone tells you you need surgery, you need a second opinion. Never, ever, ever have surgery when only one person tells a runner should have metatarsal surgery!

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about the only 2 times a metatarsal stress fracture needs surgery.

#196 Lack of Discipline causes running injury

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about how lack of discipline causes running injury.

This episode is probably going to rub a lot of runners the wrong way. No runner wants to think they lack discipline. Running is all about discipline. Running is about getting up early in the morning, about going for long runs in the dark, running when it's raining, running when it's hot, running when you just don't feel like running. For most people who are runners, we feel like and we believe that we have lots of discipline. We do what most people will not do, and that's why we can run and we can do events and finish them successfully.

#195 What runners should do before getting custom orthotics

Lots of runners who are in the midst of training, for some reason, they want to get custom orthotics.

I know that we, as runners, we're always looking for the tools, the latest training techniques, the newest, coolest shoes, the best kind of socks, the newest heart rate monitors, whatever...to help us train better and be faster.

There are a lot of misconceptions about custom orthotics and there are a lot of things that you should understand before you get custom orthotics.

Today on the Doc on the Run Podcast, we're talking about what runners should do before getting custom orthotics. 

#194 Does a Jones fracture need surgery?

A few days ago, I got an email from a runner who wanted to know whether or not he should have surgery to fix his Jones fracture. 

Well, the first thing you have to know about this is that you should only have surgery if you believe that is the only way you're going to heal appropriately. 

When you're a runner, you really have to think about surgery very carefully. Because when you have surgery, your healing actually doesn't begin until after you're done with surgery. The healing process is always taking place, and you don't get any credit for anything that happens before the time you have surgery.

Today on the Doc On The Run podcast, we're talking about whether or not a Jones fracture needs surgery when you're a runner.

#193 Arch supports make my arch hurt worse

A couple of days ago I saw a runner who started having some arch pain in his left foot after he was did a run. 

After he noticed this arch pain, he got some arch supports, and they actually made his arch hurt a lot worse.

Arch supports are supposed to take pressure off of the arch. 

They are supposed to support the arch. They are supposed to make you feel better. But sometimes, arch supports can actually complicate another problem and make you feel a whole lot worse.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about why arch supports might actually make your arch hurt worse.

#192 Top 3 weapons against poison oak for trail runners

It's that time of year, and here in California there is tons of poison oak out on the trails! 

I recently ran the American River 50 mile Endurance Run, and I got poison oak on that run. 

Now, I've had many episodes with poison oak. I also see lots of runners who get it on these long events, I see lots of runners that get it on their normal trail runs on Saturday or Sunday. 

In the first place, you don't have to get poison oak. But you can also do something about it if you do get poison oak.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we're talking about the top 3 weapons against poison oak for trail runners.

#191 Top 3 reasons doctors hate treating runners

For about 15 years now, I've been teaching other doctors about running injuries. Every time I speak in a medical conference now, I ask doctors why they don't like treating runners. 

I know some runners are actually surprised to hear this, but if you are a runner, yourself, and you've been to the doctor and you've had some doctor look at your intake form or some nurse look at your intake form, and said something like, 

“Do you really run that much?”

“Why do you exercise so much?” 

“Are you obsessed?” 

“Are you some kind of exercise addict?””

Well if you've heard any of these things, you probably understand not all doctors like to see runners. 

But when I am at medical conferences, I always ask doctors, “Why is it that you guys don't want to treat runners? What's your problem with them? Why is it that you think it's difficult to treat them? Do you think they're unreasonable? What is it?”

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we're talking about the top 3 reasons doctors hate treating runners. 

#190 Why fracture boots fail to heal plantar plate sprains in runners

A plantar plate sprain is actually one of the worst possible injuries for an injured runner. They can be notoriously difficult to heal quickly if you don't do everything right.

Plantar plate sprains also have a tendency to evolve into a chronic nagging pain that just keeps you off of running and training for months. Even worse, if you don't treat it correctly, the plantar plate ligament can get so weak and degenerated from all of that chronic inflammation that you even get a hammer toe. 

Unfortunately, one commonly recommended treatment for plantar plate sprains is a fracture walking boot.

Even though fracture walking boots are a mainstay of treatment, many runners will be horribly disappointed to find out how long it really takes to heal a plantar plate sprain if relying solely on the boot for the healing process.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we're talking about why fracture walking boots fail to heal plantar plate sprains in runners.

#189 The only 2 reasons to get an X-Ray for a metatarsal stress fracture

If you are runner and you started having pain in your foot and you concerned you have a metatarsal stress fracture, you may think you need to get an x-ray of your foot. 

But why?

You probably want to know how bad it is!  

You probably also want to know whether or not you can run, right now.

But you may be surprised to hear that x-rays of your foot will not really help answer either of those two questions if you are a runner and suspect you have a metatarsal stress fracture.

Today on the Doc On the Run Podcast, we're talking about the only 2 reasons you should get an x-ray for a metatarsal stress fracture.