MCL Pain- Can I still walk?

MJLavaty

So a few weeks ago I decided I wanted to run...I worked up to it and finally was running every few min for a min. I ended up with terrible knee pain on the inside of my leg but decided I was weak and ran again the next day. After that it hurt to bad but a wanted to continue my cardio since I just started to finally lose weight! Right now I am doing 20-45 min @ 2-2.5 mph without too much pain. If I hold onto the railing of the treadmill it helps with the pain a little. My question is- Am I screwing myself continuing to walk? The pain has definately lessened some. It was throbbing just laying on the couch with it propped up and it was VERY sore to the touch at first. Its been about a week since the "injury" but still doesn't feel 100%. Almost not sore to the touch at all though. Thanks for the input : )

sammys1girly

Ugh! I feel your pain...literally! I ran back in high school and college and started up again a couple of months ago. My left knee was hurting a bit on the inside and after I did some sprinting one day, it really hurt. I decided to go ahead and run my first 5K this past Saturday and finished it, totally gimping/walking. I can't even walk on it now, but have to use crutches. All that to say, don't run until it feels better! I have a nurse friend who used to work at an ortho office and she looked at it a few days before the race and said some walking, icing, ibuprofin for the swelling and elevating were ok. If you don't want a worse/long term injury, you might want to rest it for a week or so, although I know it's hard to do...I hate it.:grumble:

etjaneausten

I think you need to consult a doctor, and work out a recovery plan with her/him. You could injure your knee even more and multiply your recovery time, thus setting you back even more. In the meanwhile, maybe you can find a way to use an elliptical or swim for cardio?

Xaspar

Consider a different option for cardio until it has re-strengthened. I have found swimming very therapeutic for joint injuries. But if it is still painful after a week, you may want to consider seeing your doctor about it. If you feel like you must continue working it, I would continue walking at a slow pace, and follow every workout with a little RICE... Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation...

MJLavaty

I guess I will stop the cardio walking for a couple days to a week and then resume with a leg brace slowly and see the pain level from there. Unfortunately I do not have a gym membership or acess to a pool right now so other means of cardio aren't really an option : (

I think I got the injury twisting while running to tell my 14 mo old to not touch the treadmill LOL...I just got him in the habit of staying in the living room while I work out and now I am going to have to re-train him when I start back up...hopefully the same injury doesn't occur. Oh well. I have come to love and look forward to the treadmill even if it is light walking. At least I can do some toning exercises until then. Thanks for the advice guys : )