This is a long post but I appreciate you reading it. I have had two ultrasounds, an X-ray, multiple chiropractic/acupuncture appointments, a massage therapy appointment, and I have an MRI scheduled for February 14th. Everything is inconclusive so far (hopefully the MRI will shed some light though). If anyone has any idea what is wrong with me, please let me know. Thanks.
Timeline:
1) Dec 2022 - March 2023: Best training of my life. Consistent 85-95 mile weeks. PRs in the HM and the 8k. Painless loss of coordination in left upper leg is only an issue starting at around the 20 mile mark of long runs.
2) Mid - End March, 2023: Painless loss of coordination appears earlier in long runs and on tempo runs as well.
3) April 1, 2023: Hard & hilly 8k race. Goes really well; no issues.
4) April 2-16, 2023: Painless but debilitating loss of coordination in left upper leg on all runs from 800m repeats to 3 mile shakeout runs, and everything in between. I was even having trouble walking.
5) April 17th, 2023: Boston Marathon. Felt odd from the gun but overall ok for 5 miles, took a Krono gel at 5 miles, then experienced the worst loss of coordination of my life which did not go away for the ENTIRE RACE.
6) May + June, 2023: Most frustrating training of my life. Frequent loss of coordination that would end a lot of my workouts prematurely. Still running about 55-70MPW. Researching my symptoms and trying new things during my spare time. Figuring out some coping mechanisms that are improving but not solving the situation. Made dietary adjustments - quit diet soda and got rid of the high sugar gels. Saw a chiropractor a few times who did acupuncture, which helped a bit.
7) Early July 2023: Saw a massage therapist for severe QL pain. She told me afterwards that my hips were completely uneven, with my left one being pulled higher than the right. She said that she improved it significantly but that overtime it would return to its uneven state unless I continued treatment.
8) End of July to mid September, 2023: Loss of coordination in left leg almost entirely disappears. I am able to consistently run 90-100 MPW, with workouts, long runs, and doubles no problem. Huge leaps in fitness made as I prepare for an October half-marathon.
9) Mid September 2023: Huge 5k PR. No loss of coordination or pain issues.
10) September 17-25, 2023: Start to experience severe left groin pain, but continued to run. I took 1-2 days off here and there but would resume running after the short break even if the pain persisted.
11) September 25 - early November, 2023: Left groin is absolutely destroyed. I can't even run to catch a bus when I'm late for work, let alone run for workouts. It hurts to walk to the grocery store. It hurts when I move around in my bed. A massive soft lump forms in my left groin, which eventually turns to a hard almost bone-like callous. For some reason the elliptical doesn't hurt, so I cross-trained like crazy during this time. Started strength training.
12) November 6 - December 31, 2023: Groin pain has basically disappeared, and I work my way up from 12 miles Nov 6-12 up to 95 miles Dec 25-31. I'm doing regular workouts, long runs, and doubles without problems. Kept up strength training.
13) 2024: Groin pain has returned (not nearly as bad as the fall). The loss of coordination in the left leg has returned and it is really bad again. I have managed to do 1 workout, but otherwise haven't really been running this year. It feels like my hips/pelvis are (is) completely out of place, and it almost feel like my pelvis could snap in half at any moment?!
My ideas of what could be wrong with me: Adductor tendinopathy, stress fracture of the sacrum/pelvis/femoral neck, osteitis pubis, hip labral tear, uneven hips, or hips/pelvis out of alignment. If you think any of these could be the issue, or if you think something else is the issue, let me know.