Pain in leg when run - Advice?
jamsoison
Posts: 6 Member
Hi,
New poster here.
For the past 5 months I've been doing a fair amount of running and cycling to keep fit and for weight loss. Since a little after Christmas I've been experiencing a pain in my left leg when I run. What happens is I can run for 10ish minutes and feel great. Then I slowly get this discomfort/pain in the side of my upper left thigh, around the joint and sort of in the glute. It starts to get achy/tight the more I run once I start feeling it and then if I continue running I can't run without a limp.
When this first occurred after Christmas I took 2 weeks off running, and then tried a run.... no difference. I just took another 2 weeks off running and have been doing a lot of leg stretches as I read it could be the muscles on the side of my leg/hip. Again I went for a run this morning and the discomfort came back after 10ish minutes.
I can walk and cycle perfectly fine and don't feel this issue at all. It only seems to be when I run.
My running shoes are in good condition and have not had much use, although I am thinking I might have to buy more to see if this is the problem.
I just wanted to see if anyone had any advice and maybe experienced something similar themselves and had any recommendations for stretches or anything really.
Thanks.
New poster here.
For the past 5 months I've been doing a fair amount of running and cycling to keep fit and for weight loss. Since a little after Christmas I've been experiencing a pain in my left leg when I run. What happens is I can run for 10ish minutes and feel great. Then I slowly get this discomfort/pain in the side of my upper left thigh, around the joint and sort of in the glute. It starts to get achy/tight the more I run once I start feeling it and then if I continue running I can't run without a limp.
When this first occurred after Christmas I took 2 weeks off running, and then tried a run.... no difference. I just took another 2 weeks off running and have been doing a lot of leg stretches as I read it could be the muscles on the side of my leg/hip. Again I went for a run this morning and the discomfort came back after 10ish minutes.
I can walk and cycle perfectly fine and don't feel this issue at all. It only seems to be when I run.
My running shoes are in good condition and have not had much use, although I am thinking I might have to buy more to see if this is the problem.
I just wanted to see if anyone had any advice and maybe experienced something similar themselves and had any recommendations for stretches or anything really.
Thanks.
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Replies
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i would see a physio
its probably muscle imbalance somewhere2 -
TavistockToad wrote: »i would see a physio
its probably muscle imbalance somewhere
That's a route I may have to take, but also one I was hoping to avoid as physio's are expensive !
Was hoping there might be some stretches/exercises people with a similar issue have done in the past that might also help me before I look down the physio route.
Good news is I can cycle ! I do enjoy going for a run as well though.0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »i would see a physio
its probably muscle imbalance somewhere
That's a route I may have to take, but also one I was hoping to avoid as physio's are expensive !
Was hoping there might be some stretches/exercises people with a similar issue have done in the past that might also help me before I look down the physio route.
Good news is I can cycle ! I do enjoy going for a run as well though.
my physio is worth her weight in gold1 -
TavistockToad wrote: »my physio is worth her weight in gold
Unfortunately I don't have much gold to spare
I'll start saving the pennies for it, and in the mean time will see if anyone has any stretches or exercises that might help.
Thanks !
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TavistockToad wrote: »my physio is worth her weight in gold
Unfortunately I don't have much gold to spare
I'll start saving the pennies for it, and in the mean time will see if anyone has any stretches or exercises that might help.
Thanks !
depends what the cause is though, to what stretches or exercise are worth doing...
i have a very tight glute due to muscle imbalance caused by a weak core. adding strength training and a lot of stretching on that side have more or less fixed me.0 -
Stop running for more than 10 minutes.2
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Perhaps start with getting a gait scan, I was doing a lot of damage to my back/pelvis/knees just from walking because I was over-pronating, it was exacerbating a back problem and then putting added pressure on my muscles. The gait scan helped me determine that I needed some more support in my shoes, I now use off-the-shelf orthotic insoles and after some strength training and stretching to improve my back strength/flexibility I was good to go.
My chiropractor did a gait scan and adjustments in the one session and it was around 45 euros but like @TavistockToad and her physio, it was money well spent (and partially re-claimed through my medical insurance).0 -
Unfortunately, even if someone here had similar pain, it could have been caused by something different than what is causing yours.
Check your ankle mobility. Check your hip mobility and strength. Try warming up differently and with some single leg exercises. There are a lot of things to try, but all are shots in the dark without a proper diagnosis.2 -
I would definitely see a Physio. I had pain in my hip which I thought was muscular or it band, and I put off going for ages thinking that I could resolve it with the right stretching etc. Turns out I have a congenital deformity to my femur and acetabulum which required surgical intervention. If I had carried on as I was I would have completely destroyed the cartilage in the joint.0
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Hard to tell from your description. If it's on the side of your thigh I'd say its your IT Band, but if its in the hip joint and glute it may be a sciatic nerve issue? There could be any number of causes and you'll probably need a pro to help sort it out (could be bad shoes, running style/posture, muscle imbalance, lack of stretching/warming up...).
Good luck!0 -
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.0 -
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice1 -
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.1 -
What I did to avoid shin splints was to go to my local running store. The sales person watched me jog up and down the sidewalk outside the store in five different pairs of shoes. He was able to see that two of the pairs improved my gait. I bought a pair. No shin or knee pain. Old poor fitting shoes don't do you any favors. I was 57 years old when I started jogging this past summer, so I can attest that this approach even helps geezers.
My experience is that pain that radiates into my buttocks is a lower back injury. I can't speak to thigh pain, but a friend of mine said his issue was his IT band.0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.
But they have already been running for 5 months, and once the problem started it wasn't cured with a lot of rest. A too much too soon issue likely wouldn't have presented this way.0 -
DebLaBounty wrote: »My experience is that pain that radiates into my buttocks is a lower back injury. I can't speak to thigh pain, but a friend of mine said his issue was his IT band.
My physio spent a lot of time checking my back when I saw her for my glute.
1 -
Could be sciatica, could be piriformis, or could be something completely different. It would be worth getting it checked out before you cause yourself further damage.0
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stanmann571 wrote: »
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.
But they have already been running for 5 months, and once the problem started it wasn't cured with a lot of rest. A too much too soon issue likely wouldn't have presented this way.
Except every time he comes back from rest he jumps right back into running 10 minutes. Instead of easing into the running 30 or 45 or 60 seconds at a stretch.
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Thanks guys for the advice.
I'm going to suck it up and go see a physio. It's money I wish I didn't have to spend...but at the end of the day health comes first, and running is something I enjoy, so I need to see a pro like you all suggest and start enjoying it again =]
I just hope when I go to see the physio they don't tell me to stop cycling.
I will continue doing my leg stretches for now as I can't see them doing any harm, and will stay off running until a physio is seen and advised me.
Anything to look out for when picking a physio? I've had a quick look and they all seem to be roughly £40-50£ per session. How often do people usually go to see a physio ?0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.
But they have already been running for 5 months, and once the problem started it wasn't cured with a lot of rest. A too much too soon issue likely wouldn't have presented this way.
Except every time he comes back from rest he jumps right back into running 10 minutes. Instead of easing into the running 30 or 45 or 60 seconds at a stretch.
If you have to incrementally increase your running by seconds at a time, something is wrong and it's not going to fix itself. That's completely absurd.0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.
But they have already been running for 5 months, and once the problem started it wasn't cured with a lot of rest. A too much too soon issue likely wouldn't have presented this way.
Except every time he comes back from rest he jumps right back into running 10 minutes. Instead of easing into the running 30 or 45 or 60 seconds at a stretch.
If you have to incrementally increase your running by seconds at a time, something is wrong and it's not going to fix itself. That's completely absurd.
IF every time you start up running, you run till it hurts, It can't fix itself.
That's why running programs are graduated.0 -
If it's on the front-ish side of your hip, it sounds like hip flexor strain, or possibly IT band. Can you get a referral to a physio to be covered by your insurance?
As for what to look out for--someone accredited is paramount... You might also want to pay attention to whether the majority of the patients are geriatric, post-accident, or sports-medicine-related--obviously the sports-medicine practice would probably have the most to offer for your particular ailment. Beyond that it's finding a physio that you actually like/like his/her style and who'll be willing to work with you. And you being willing to work hard for them (or not so hard if you're told to rest) is probably the most important aspect.0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »
You said you can run and feel great for 10 minutes but after 10 minutes it starts to hurt.
So don't run for more than 10 minutes or even stop after 8 minutes before you have pain.
Perhaps you can VERY gradually increase your running time. Like increase your time 30 seconds each week or every other week.
This does nothing to fix the underlying cause of his pain. Horrible advice
It might, if it's just maladaptation to running.
But they have already been running for 5 months, and once the problem started it wasn't cured with a lot of rest. A too much too soon issue likely wouldn't have presented this way.
Except every time he comes back from rest he jumps right back into running 10 minutes. Instead of easing into the running 30 or 45 or 60 seconds at a stretch.
If you have to incrementally increase your running by seconds at a time, something is wrong and it's not going to fix itself. That's completely absurd.
IF every time you start up running, you run till it hurts, It can't fix itself.
That's why running programs are graduated.
Yeh maybe I should have only ran for a couple of minutes and slowly increased. I was really hoping the two weeks rest from running and stretches was going to heal it up though. Maybe I should have known better.
I'm fairly fit and before this was doing weekly 8 mile runs at 7:30 min/mile pace, where's this first run back I was only running at 10 min/mile pace as I wanted to go super steady to see how it was feeling.
All my running is done on roads/paths (except this first run back where I went to the park and ran on grass) so I wonder if the hard surface impact has caused some harm.0 -
I had a similar issue last summer, turns out it was my running shoes. Replaced them and haven't had any issues since!1
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Thanks guys for the advice.
I'm going to suck it up and go see a physio. It's money I wish I didn't have to spend...but at the end of the day health comes first, and running is something I enjoy, so I need to see a pro like you all suggest and start enjoying it again =]
I just hope when I go to see the physio they don't tell me to stop cycling.
I will continue doing my leg stretches for now as I can't see them doing any harm, and will stay off running until a physio is seen and advised me.
Anything to look out for when picking a physio? I've had a quick look and they all seem to be roughly £40-50£ per session. How often do people usually go to see a physio ?
Mine was £40 first time then £35 for follow ups. Depends what's up to how often you go... 1 session might do it.
Also, if you're near a city with a university they might do cheap sessions with trainee physiotherapists?0 -
How did you get your shoes? Shoe condition isn't the only issue. Unless you were professionally fitted for running shoes, your shoes may be incorrect for your body's needs. That can cause or exacerbate all sorts of pains.0
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If any voluntary action is causing you physical pain, don't do it. Pain is the body's way of telling you that something isn't right.
Seriously, get checked out by a doctor. Don't run until you get it figured out since you risk doing permanent damage to yourself. We internet doctors won't be able to tell you anything of substance.0 -
Anything to look out for when picking a physio? I've had a quick look and they all seem to be roughly £40-50£ per session. How often do people usually go to see a physio ?
Mine is £40 for a first consultation, then £35 thereafter. I've only seen her a couple of times for specific issues, but she's also able to do sports massage, which I'd probably benefit from if I could get my proverbial in gear.
Better to pay for one or two sessions now, than 5 or 6 further down the line when you've properly injured yourself.
As far as picking one is concerned, look for recommendations.
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