I'll echo what Jay says above.  I too have struggled with back pain at times, due to an unfortunate lift I made 25 years ago.  For me anti-inflamatories and some rest let the condition subside.  Also irregular limb length is rather common.  Studies have shown nearly 32% of military recruits have a differnce of between 1/5 to 3/5 of an inch in leg length.  Be careful of what your Chiro says.

 

You often will counsel us in harse terms, time to get it back.  Get a 2nd opinion, 9mm is only 1/3 of an inch, another doctor could measure you with less of a difference.  Why is this now a problem after 5 years of running and over 10,000 miles.  I am suspicious of his leg length issue (problems = monies to him).

I'll be slightly harsh.

The average chiropractor is a quack, its a crying shame that insurance covers them as there is no scientific justification for most of what they do.

Go see a real orthopedic doctor and if necessary go see a PT or OT.

Oh and if my family doctor ever recommended going to see one, I'd be looking for a new doctor and telling them why.

The average chiropractor is a quack, its a crying shame that insurance covers them as there is no scientific justification for most of what they do.

A quack?  lmao!

Sorry to hear about this. That sucks.

I'll leave the advice to wiser, more experienced (or just more outspoken) forumites, and simply send my wishes for speedy healing.

Well that sucks.

 

I've never been to a chiropractor, but from my friends' experiences, according to chiropractors everybody has one leg shorter than the other and needs adjustments every week for the rest of their lives.  But if it works for your back, more power to you.

 

Ditto for PTs and massage therapists and anything else therapists.  I'm from the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" camp, have never been to any of those things, and go to a doctor about twice a decade.  But if it is broke, then fix it.

I agree with this. When I had my heel pain, due most probably to PF, my physical therapist was trying to get me to see him twice a week, until the pain disappeared. But at $70 a visit, just to have my foot stretched and iced, no thank you... After 4 visits with him, I knew exactly what to do: stretch at home, ice and learn to be patient. There is no magic to it and we can take care of ourselves better than anyone else...

So sorry to hear this, Brad.  I've seen that singular goal in your sig line every time you've posted for a long time.  How hard it is to work so hard towards one goal, giving up chances at other PRs and other goals, only to have it the achievement of it delayed.  Still, I (tentatively) agree with George and several of the other posters.  It's possible a 2:59 might be in the cards if you can get to the start line healthy and pain-free.  An extreme taper is not necessarily a goal-ender if it's at the end of an otherwise successful season of training like you've had.  Still, you know your body and your fitness better than anyone, and you are a smart runner and racer.  I have no doubt that you will make good decisions at the start line and during the race that will get you to the best possible result given the circumstances, and if you don't get there this fall, then Myrtle Beach seems like a very good plan B.

 Sorry. Thats rather harsh on quacks.

Incredibly, I have a chiro, a physical therapist, a massage therapist and a sports doc.  I probably would have never been able to say that had I not started running!  I do think they all have a place in a runners arsenal depending on what is going on with you.

Of the four, my chiro completely dropped the ball with my current issue, and was more interested in adjusting me than listening to me.  But that is not a knock on chiropractors, that is a knock on that one.

Hope you heal quickly and have a good microbrew or import to drown your sorrows