Oh, no! What did I do?!
caswilso
Posts: 18
Okay, so last Tuesday, I started Week 5 and I was SOOO excited for the 20 minute run coming up. Not kidding here, people. I think I'm becoming addicted. Anyway, after my run I sat down on the swing in my yard to take my sneakers off. No longer had I sat down, my Pops yells at me to help him move something and when I got up, I almost fell over. It was like I couldn't feel my right ankle at all. But, being a trooper, I kept my mouth shut. The next day, my ankle was swollen almost twice it's size, was red, and really hot to the touch and I could barely walk. I just chalked it up as a sprain and went on with my day. It's been a week and it is STILL in the same shape and I haven't done squat. No running, no walking (other than the longgg walk to the printer at work), nothing. I went to urgent care yesterday and nothing is broken. But the doctor had no idea what it could be and said it was most likely overuse. And that I could ease back into running in a day or two. He did tell me to take 3 anti-inflammatories 3 times a day, but due to other issues, I can't take it.
So, my ankle is still swollen, still red, and still hot. And I still haven't completed the 20 minute run and it's killing me.
Do any of you fellow runners have any idea what to do about this? Doc said if it's not better in a week to come back for blood work and that is freaking me out.. And no, I didn't twist anything when running and if I did, I don't remember doing it.
So, my ankle is still swollen, still red, and still hot. And I still haven't completed the 20 minute run and it's killing me.
Do any of you fellow runners have any idea what to do about this? Doc said if it's not better in a week to come back for blood work and that is freaking me out.. And no, I didn't twist anything when running and if I did, I don't remember doing it.
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I'm not a medical professional, but I did dress up as a nurse last year for Halloween.
It sounds like a sprain. Edema/Swelling.. the heat is just blood flow to an injured area. Classic sprain symptoms.
Totally normal to not feel pain while your endorphins are going. You ran, sat down and then it hit you. Nothing surprising.
Do you do your brisk walk prior and a cool down after the intervals?0 -
Yep, nothing was out of the ordinary...0
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Well, I am sure I am not saying anything you don't know...
But the better you treat it, the faster it will heal... so stay off of it and treat the edema with cold compresses. Elevate in the evening and stay off of it as much as possible.
I think sprains happen to the best of us, regardless. It could have been a wayward rock or an extra hop to make a smooth transition on a curb. Something that didn't bother you until your runner-high receded.
You'll get your 20 minutes soon enough, I am sure
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Haha, yeah, that's nothing new. I'll go home when I get off work and actually have an excuse to nap while I ice it
Thanks for answering! I tell ya, though, when a doctor says you'll need blood work and then you look up the test he was talking about on WebMd.... That's enough to give anyone heart palpitations!0 -
It's more likely to be a sprian that overuse. The C25K plan should help avoid overuse, unless you've been accelerating the schedule at all.
As above, give it time, when youre able to start running again step back a week to avoid overstressing yourself.0 -
Is it hot, red, swollen, sensitive to touch? Classic inflammation signs unfortunately. RICE, rest - ice - compression - elevation, should work just fine if it's merely a ligament or such that has been torn through overuse, but I second the encouragement to check back in if it isn't improving shortly.
ETA
Sorry about dorky question (have a migraine right now), I did read your OP but had a brain fart when replying. Hope you'll feel better soon.0 -
Thanks for your responses, guys! I stilllll haven't been able to run yet
Still swelling and still sore. I'm been keeping a brace on it and elevating it when possible.
Any idea how long this usually takes to go away?
It. Is. Slowly. Killing. Me. Pretty sure, haha.0 -
Joints can be a nuisance when something happens to them or rather the ligaments that keep the bones in place. If there's just a distorsion like happened to my ankle last autumn there's tearing of the ligaments and inflammation as a result. It can take weeks and months to heal...
If however you have a situation where the ankle is still red etc., I'd definitely go see the doctor again, because then it may not be something simple like the distorsion I mentioned. After a week or so the swelling should have gone down considerably and there might be discolouration of the skin if blood vessels broke, but it shouldn't feel very inflamed anymore. There may be pain for a long time still, but the rest shouldn't.0 -
I sprained my ankle a few years ago (falling down stairs, not on a run), and it took about two weeks to heal up with consistent icing, compression, and elevation.0
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Again, thanks for answering everyone!! The swelling has FINALLY gone down! (Cue the happy dance!). And I was finally able to get back to running this past Saturday.
Thanks for all the advice!0 -
Take it easy in the future 0
