Sharp twinge
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DaveAkeman
Posts: 296 Member
Okay, this is strange; I've had it happen twice now . . . And I'm sorry for the length of the post, but I'm trying to get all the pertinant details in, and answer any questions up front.
I've been running for several months. I started C25K back in January, and finished it in March. Since then I've been doing 3-4 5ks a week. I've done a few longer runs, up to 60 minutes/5 miles. I also ALWAYS get 10,000 steps a day. On days that I don't run I usually walk a couple miles at lunch or after work to get up to that. My typical 5k time is about 36 minutes; my best is 33. I'm running mostly on blacktop and cement. I always warm up with a 5 minute walk.
Also, since starting, I've lost almost 70 pounds. (That's relevant because, between strengthening and weight loss, this should be getting EASIER on my joints)
The only 'joint' problem I've ever had is my right heel. I pulled my achilles several years ago, and it never really healed. When I run it's great, but when I skip a few days it starts aching and causing trouble walking. I guess the stretching helps it.
I've had a weird problem on both of my past two runs. A few days ago I was doing a fairly easy 5k. I was 2 miles in and had to stop for a light (the only light on this particular route). When the light turned green I took off across the highway; half-way across I got a sudden, sharp pain on the bottom of my LEFT heel (this is my good heel, NOT the achilles heel). It was so bad I almost went down right there in the middle of the road. I was able to limp off the road, then I started stretching and limp/walking as well as I could; finally, after a minute or so of this, I was able to run again. In a quarter mile or so, the pain was GONE.
On my very next run, it happened again. This time I was running with a friend, and the pace was pretty leisurely (we finished in 39 minutes). I was about a mile in, stopped for a light, and half-way across the road I got the same sharp pain on the same foot, but this time it wasn't on the bottom of my heel - it was on the top of the outside of my ankle. Again, I had trouble even walking, but in about 50 yards I was able to run, and after a few hundred yards it was gone.
I know you shouldn't run with an injury, but I really don't feel injured; I feel FINE! I don't know if these episodes are related, because they happened on different parts of my foot. I'm always reluctant to see a doctor after they symptoms have subsided; they don't typically have much to say unless you're still in pain when you see them!
Anyone have any experience with something like this? Am I nursing an injury?
I appreciate any advice . . . I just don't want this to happen again!!!
I've been running for several months. I started C25K back in January, and finished it in March. Since then I've been doing 3-4 5ks a week. I've done a few longer runs, up to 60 minutes/5 miles. I also ALWAYS get 10,000 steps a day. On days that I don't run I usually walk a couple miles at lunch or after work to get up to that. My typical 5k time is about 36 minutes; my best is 33. I'm running mostly on blacktop and cement. I always warm up with a 5 minute walk.
Also, since starting, I've lost almost 70 pounds. (That's relevant because, between strengthening and weight loss, this should be getting EASIER on my joints)
The only 'joint' problem I've ever had is my right heel. I pulled my achilles several years ago, and it never really healed. When I run it's great, but when I skip a few days it starts aching and causing trouble walking. I guess the stretching helps it.
I've had a weird problem on both of my past two runs. A few days ago I was doing a fairly easy 5k. I was 2 miles in and had to stop for a light (the only light on this particular route). When the light turned green I took off across the highway; half-way across I got a sudden, sharp pain on the bottom of my LEFT heel (this is my good heel, NOT the achilles heel). It was so bad I almost went down right there in the middle of the road. I was able to limp off the road, then I started stretching and limp/walking as well as I could; finally, after a minute or so of this, I was able to run again. In a quarter mile or so, the pain was GONE.
On my very next run, it happened again. This time I was running with a friend, and the pace was pretty leisurely (we finished in 39 minutes). I was about a mile in, stopped for a light, and half-way across the road I got the same sharp pain on the same foot, but this time it wasn't on the bottom of my heel - it was on the top of the outside of my ankle. Again, I had trouble even walking, but in about 50 yards I was able to run, and after a few hundred yards it was gone.
I know you shouldn't run with an injury, but I really don't feel injured; I feel FINE! I don't know if these episodes are related, because they happened on different parts of my foot. I'm always reluctant to see a doctor after they symptoms have subsided; they don't typically have much to say unless you're still in pain when you see them!
Anyone have any experience with something like this? Am I nursing an injury?
I appreciate any advice . . . I just don't want this to happen again!!!
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Replies
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Sports doctor is your best bet, not a GP. Or a podiatrist.
If it's almost dropping you to the ground, you should see someone about it.0 -
Sports doctor is your best bet, not a GP. Or a podiatrist.
If it's almost dropping you to the ground, you should see someone about it.
Just curious . . . why do you say not a podiatrist? Because that was the direction I was thinking. Are podiatrists not typically good with running injuries? (I would have thought they were the experts)
And yeah . . . when it first happens, it's just about dropping me to the ground. But only for a moment - then it goes away.0 -
DaveAkeman wrote: »Sports doctor is your best bet, not a GP. Or a podiatrist.
If it's almost dropping you to the ground, you should see someone about it.
Just curious . . . why do you say not a podiatrist? Because that was the direction I was thinking. Are podiatrists not typically good with running injuries? (I would have thought they were the experts)
And yeah . . . when it first happens, it's just about dropping me to the ground. But only for a moment - then it goes away.
I didn't mean for it to read that way. I knocked out the reply before I was caffeinated, as such my grammar failed.
Podiatrist would be a good one to see, especially if they have a sporting background. Any running related niggle/injury, if you can find a relevant doc that has that sports background it is always better.0 -
taeliesyn has given you some good advice to get to the root of the problem. For containment I would keep moving at the lights, running on the spot (in place), just to keep the joints, muscles and ligaments moving. Don't give the problem a chance to flare up. However something that causes that level of discomfort should not be left alone. Hope you find the underlying issue and get it resolved0
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Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the motivation toward the doctor. Tomorrow I'm going to do two things (not necessarily in this order):
1) I'm going to run. (Assuming I can find the time. Another busy, busy day lined up . . .) Maybe it'll come back again; maybe not. We'll see. And
2) I'm going to email my doctor. (Yes, my GP, but I'll ask about a podiatrist, and my GP never hesitates to send me to a specialist when it's warranted at all.) I'm pretty sure my GP is a runner himself, so he may have a nice well-grounded opinion, in addition to his medical opinion.
I just hate to have to go see doctors and get x-rays and MRIs and all that, just to find out that I'm simply not keeping it stretched out enough at the lights!!! (I do pace back and forth, but don't generally run in place)0 -
Well, I ran last night (very late at night). Felt fine. I did a pretty quick 5k. I decided to not email the doctor yet; I'm going to see if this comes back. Probably just a tight muscle or something. (I'm hoping)0
