How do you know when pain deserves a trip to the doc?
Phrick
Posts: 2,765 Member
I ran barefoot on the beach for the first time on Sunday. It was GLORIOUS. But the pain in my left leg (only) is pretty bad now. I've been running inconsistently for about a year (much more consistently the last ~3 months though, several times a week but on a treadmill). I've never had pain like this, not even at the beginning.
My left calf and hamstring are quite sore in general, constantly, and both muscle groups keep randomly twitching (think charley horse pain but it releases on its own after a second or two). It feels "wrong," but then again I have nothing to compare it to so I'm not sure if this is to be expected and will pass, or if it warrants a trip to the doctor, or if I'm being a big baby, or what.
I took it easy yesterday (didn't run but did quite a bit of walking, and a lot of gentle stretching), but it is more painful to day than it was yesterday.
Advice?
My left calf and hamstring are quite sore in general, constantly, and both muscle groups keep randomly twitching (think charley horse pain but it releases on its own after a second or two). It feels "wrong," but then again I have nothing to compare it to so I'm not sure if this is to be expected and will pass, or if it warrants a trip to the doctor, or if I'm being a big baby, or what.
I took it easy yesterday (didn't run but did quite a bit of walking, and a lot of gentle stretching), but it is more painful to day than it was yesterday.
Advice?
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Replies
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I would say a trip to the doctor, sorry. It may get worse but then it maybe nothing. Peace of mind.0
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is it a muscle pain or something else?
my brother is a certified athletic trainer (and my go to for injuries like that), and his standard advice (glad i dont pay him LOL) is ice, rest, and motrin. HE does come in useful for more serious things though LOL
its only been a couple of days, if it feels muscle-y - i would see if it gets better (for ME, it takes about a week for most muscle issues to resolve on their own). If you think its something else, or severe, you should probably go see a doc to be safe.0 -
Well - running outside uses some different muscles than running on a treadmill, and running barefoot uses different muscles than running with shoes. Minimalist/barefoot running is much more calf and hamstring heavy. Also, running on sand is tough, you get a lot of extra lateral motion and instability. Could be DOMS from working some new muscles and maybe over stretching some tendons. If it were me, I'd go ice and aleve, but if it is not feeling any better in another day, a trip to the doctor might be in order to make sure you didn't strain anything.0
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For muscular pain like this, all we are gonna tell you is ice, rest and NSAIDs if you visit the Dr. If you are still having pain in a week or so after really taking care of it, then maybe more would be warranted.0
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I heard that if pain doesn't start going after 72 hours, it needs looking into, otherwise it is just where you have used new muscles etc as jchite84 said.
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Has your diet changed significantly in the last week?0
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MrCoolGrim wrote: »Has your diet changed significantly in the last week?
@MrCoolGrim
Significantly, hmm. I guess yes - on Tuesday of last week I started a new med and the following Friday increased the dose of another med, and the combination has had me craving (and caving) quite badly so I've had several days of rather excessive intake (3/13, 3/14 and 3/16 were all above net cals). Feel free to take a look at my diary if it would help, it is open.
Also, I had completely forgotten about it, but I have a f/u appointment for something completely unrelated on Thursday, and my doc is great about addressing multiple issues in one appointment so if it is still an issue then I'll bring it up.0 -
MrCoolGrim wrote: »Has your diet changed significantly in the last week?
@MrCoolGrim
Significantly, hmm. I guess yes - on Tuesday of last week I started a new med and the following Friday increased the dose of another med, and the combination has had me craving (and caving) quite badly so I've had several days of rather excessive intake (3/13, 3/14 and 3/16 were all above net cals). Feel free to take a look at my diary if it would help, it is open.
Also, I had completely forgotten about it, but I have a f/u appointment for something completely unrelated on Thursday, and my doc is great about addressing multiple issues in one appointment so if it is still an issue then I'll bring it up.
You diary looks fine! Perhaps its just your muscles adabting to the different terrain. Did you go pretty hard on the sand? If so thats IMHO what it mght be.0 -
If it's interfering with your day to day activities then go to the doctor. If it's not you can wait it off.0
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DOMS usually happens symmetrically - any sharp, asymmetrical pain is worth your attention. Even if it only happens during exercise (that is a kind of pain I ignored that led to chronic issues). Mention it and also take it well easy!0
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MrCoolGrim wrote: »MrCoolGrim wrote: »Has your diet changed significantly in the last week?
@MrCoolGrim
Significantly, hmm. I guess yes - on Tuesday of last week I started a new med and the following Friday increased the dose of another med, and the combination has had me craving (and caving) quite badly so I've had several days of rather excessive intake (3/13, 3/14 and 3/16 were all above net cals). Feel free to take a look at my diary if it would help, it is open.
Also, I had completely forgotten about it, but I have a f/u appointment for something completely unrelated on Thursday, and my doc is great about addressing multiple issues in one appointment so if it is still an issue then I'll bring it up.
You diary looks fine! Perhaps its just your muscles adabting to the different terrain. Did you go pretty hard on the sand? If so thats IMHO what it mght be.
I ran on the packed sand nearer to the water, not in the loose stuff, for whatever that's worth. I don't feel like I went at it particularly hard, but I do understand that barefoot vs shod and sand vs sidewalk (vs treadmill) are huge variations to account for. I didn't keep track on the "to" portion of the run, but when I ran back to our spot on the beach I did turn on MapMyRun to get an estimate of the distance... I ran quite a bit slower on the way back and it reported that I was averaging 12:28 per mile on the return, and my total would have been about 2.8 miles. So if I had to guess I'd say I ran faster than my usual treadmill speed in the first leg, which could really explain a lot.
I guess in the end it can't hurt anything to call the doc and ask for an opinion. I have a kind of unique setup with him where I pay a flat fee for unlimited appointments, so I have less to worry about in regard to the doc being motivated by the prospect of more money LOL0 -
MrCoolGrim wrote: »MrCoolGrim wrote: »Has your diet changed significantly in the last week?
@MrCoolGrim
Significantly, hmm. I guess yes - on Tuesday of last week I started a new med and the following Friday increased the dose of another med, and the combination has had me craving (and caving) quite badly so I've had several days of rather excessive intake (3/13, 3/14 and 3/16 were all above net cals). Feel free to take a look at my diary if it would help, it is open.
Also, I had completely forgotten about it, but I have a f/u appointment for something completely unrelated on Thursday, and my doc is great about addressing multiple issues in one appointment so if it is still an issue then I'll bring it up.
You diary looks fine! Perhaps its just your muscles adabting to the different terrain. Did you go pretty hard on the sand? If so thats IMHO what it mght be.
I ran on the packed sand nearer to the water, not in the loose stuff, for whatever that's worth. I don't feel like I went at it particularly hard, but I do understand that barefoot vs shod and sand vs sidewalk (vs treadmill) are huge variations to account for. I didn't keep track on the "to" portion of the run, but when I ran back to our spot on the beach I did turn on MapMyRun to get an estimate of the distance... I ran quite a bit slower on the way back and it reported that I was averaging 12:28 per mile on the return, and my total would have been about 2.8 miles. So if I had to guess I'd say I ran faster than my usual treadmill speed in the first leg, which could really explain a lot.
I guess in the end it can't hurt anything to call the doc and ask for an opinion. I have a kind of unique setup with him where I pay a flat fee for unlimited appointments, so I have less to worry about in regard to the doc being motivated by the prospect of more money LOL
Have you considered an ice bath? Good luck witht he Doc. I am sure your fine.0 -
I'm a huge fan of epsom salt baths for injuries. I think it's worth having a doctor look at, but try to soak it in a bath with a lot of salt while you're waiting to get in. It sounds, to me, like the strain I got when I first started barefoot running ("I'm a runner! I don't wear shoes most of the time anyway! I can totally bust out 5k without easing in to it!" Ugh). It took a few weeks to fully heal with lots of walking (not running), massage and soaking in the tub.0
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For me, it would have to be crippling, debilitating pain for about a decade before I would consider it.
For most normal people, if it's not starting to get better after a week I'd think about it.
As for you, a day or two is well within the range of normal DOMS or a very light injury.0 -
For me, it would have to be crippling, debilitating pain for about a decade before I would consider it.
For most normal people, if it's not starting to get better after a week I'd think about it.
As for you, a day or two is well within the range of normal DOMS or a very light injury.
Ditto
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For me, it would have to be crippling, debilitating pain for about a decade before I would consider it.
For most normal people, if it's not starting to get better after a week I'd think about it.
As for you, a day or two is well within the range of normal DOMS or a very light injury.
Ditto
It's just on one side, though...0 -
I'd go to the doctor ASAP. You mentioned you just changed meds. Many medications have blood clots as a possible side effect, or it could be the combination of the two. Better safe than sorry.0
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@VeryKatie - given that the med I just started is oral birth control (and that clots are a well-documented, although somewhat rare, potential risk), I'm definitely calling. Didn't even occur to me that it could be connected.0
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a friend of mine did get a blood clot from BCP
terrifying. really hope it's not that! but best to check, for sure, esp if you're over 35 or in another risk group.
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@tomatoey - I just turned 37 actually. So I'm in the higher risk group.
Was already seen, too, wonder of wonders. Suspicion of clot is low, he said, but significant enough that I'm scheduled for ultrasound in a couple of hours, to completely rule it out (or in, I guess).0 -
Oh boy Well, I'm glad you went, and were able to be seen; also glad the Doc is cautious. Nerve-wracking, I'm sure Sit tight and try not to think about it too much. Hope it's nothing! 0
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Yes, it very well could just be the run (maybe one sided because of the slope in the ground) but it's great your doctor is checking just to be sure 0
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