Pressure, pain, numbness, and tightening in calf and foot when running

RCM_1971
RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I wanted to ask for other possible suggestions before completely giving up on my running until I can get insurance and see a doc for all my issues.

I had to start over with C25k, I was running full 5k's plus last Summer. Now I get to almost half way through the first day. (Run 1 min, then walk 1.5 repeat) My Achilles tightens up, I begin to feel pressure, burning and pain, eventually my fascia or whatever it is that runs through the arch is tight, everything swells up and my shoe gets tighter around my foot, then numbing sets in. If I ran for just 10 mins straight, it would eventually stop me instantly with great pain and I couldn't go farther.

I stretch, yoga, foam roll, use a ball, ice and heat, rested for long periods of time. I've tried different and new shoes, and have focused on my posture while running as I have hip pain too, and have done all the above for it. Is there anything else I could do that might help or heal this so I can run? I feel like I'm needing to accept that running isn't for me, as it's been one thing after another which has been difficult, as it's a HUGE dream of mine. I hadn't ran, not even with my kids when they were little, in 20 years until 2 years ago.

Thanks!

Replies

  • RCM_1971
    RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
    Let me add, if you look at my diary, I had the flu this past week, so been working on getting my calories back up. I don't mind comments, about my diary, I do welcome them, never know what will help, but keep in mind that I have A LOT of food intolerance's. :)
  • alltacht
    alltacht Posts: 139 Member
    Hi there, just pitching in as a physical therapist.
    That's quite a serious response you're having! Considering there is also hip pain, I'm willing to guess muscular postural alignments are a contributing factor. No matter how much we focus on our posture, it's a learned structure that our body has cleverly designed for us to move with as much ease as possible given its limits (even if that causes us other types of pain!)
    Do you get sciatic pain in general?
    I know it may not be what you want to hear, but I would take a break from the running. Perhaps instead of the doctors visit, find a top notch physical therapist, perhaps who specialises in sports injuries or gait asessments. It's a long shot but if there are any 'Anatomy in Motion' graduate physical therapists near your area, I would hugely recommend their protocol. Gotta learn to walk before we can run. If pain is present generally, pounding your weight down on top of a faulty musculoskeletal alignment is generally going to cause you more pain! In the meantime, is swimming an option?
    Best of luck!
  • RCM_1971
    RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
    Thank you for your reply!
    I do have sciatic pain, I have for many years before all my more recent issues have come up. Three years ago, my doc had thought I had MS, (Brain MRI was clear) because of different issues I have, including my gait being off. My whole right side has less feeling then my left. So if my Gait is off, is it possible that my posture and all has continued to get worse, cause like I said, I was running fine last Summer, my pain was all manageable, if I needed a few days off I would take it and be able to jump back in.

    I walk, as long as I don't walk too fast I have been able to walk for two hours before feeling any pressure. And I have been doing more Yoga... Looking at my issues and family history and such, I'm sorta preparing myself for the possibility of having to stick full time with less impact activity :( I LOVE running and Weights, and they just aren't working these days for me.
    alltacht wrote: »
    Hi there, just pitching in as a physical therapist.
    That's quite a serious response you're having! Considering there is also hip pain, I'm willing to guess muscular postural alignments are a contributing factor. No matter how much we focus on our posture, it's a learned structure that our body has cleverly designed for us to move with as much ease as possible given its limits (even if that causes us other types of pain!)
    Do you get sciatic pain in general?
    I know it may not be what you want to hear, but I would take a break from the running. Perhaps instead of the doctors visit, find a top notch physical therapist, perhaps who specialises in sports injuries or gait asessments. It's a long shot but if there are any 'Anatomy in Motion' graduate physical therapists near your area, I would hugely recommend their protocol. Gotta learn to walk before we can run. If pain is present generally, pounding your weight down on top of a faulty musculoskeletal alignment is generally going to cause you more pain! In the meantime, is swimming an option?
    Best of luck!
  • charmcity10
    charmcity10 Posts: 9 Member
    Based on your description (pain, numbness, tightening and pressure) it sounds like you have chronic compartment syndrome. Basically you have four compartments in your lower leg that surround the muscles. When you exercise, the compartment does not expand enough with the muscle causing the pressure and tightness and eventually pressing on the nerves which causes the numbness. The pain and numbness usually go away within ten minutes of stopping exercise. I used to be a competitive runner until I started having similar symptoms. Eventually I was diagnosed and had a fasciotomy (release part of the fascia to make more room) on each leg. The surgery allowed me to exercise again although I still have some pain with running.

    I recommend trying to see an orthopedic surgeon. Based on your description there is a pressure test they can do to see if you have compartment syndrome.

    Good luck!
  • restoreleanne
    restoreleanne Posts: 217 Member
    I had the same issue, but mine was do to having high arch and the way I was turning my foot when I ran. The doctor gave me insoles and I never had that issue again.
  • RCM_1971
    RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
    Glad you were able to get it figured out! :)

    I have near flat feet, adding a shoe with a bit of arch helped me get running going. But since I have tried different arches/insoles and things are just worse in other areas.
    restoreleanne wrote: »
    I had the same issue, but mine was do to having high arch and the way I was turning my foot when I ran. The doctor gave me insoles and I never had that issue again.

  • RCM_1971
    RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
    Ohh dang, sorry you have had to deal with that. Glad you are able to run still though! :)

    I had never heard of it till two weeks ago I just thought I'd put my symptoms into the Web, and that's what came up, she described everything I feel and experience. Course I know better than to take that as a diagnosis, obviously but is certainly a red flag for possible risk and I haven't ran since. :(
    charmcity10 wrote: »
    Based on your description (pain, numbness, tightening and pressure) it sounds like you have chronic compartment syndrome. Basically you have four compartments in your lower leg that surround the muscles. When you exercise, the compartment does not expand enough with the muscle causing the pressure and tightness and eventually pressing on the nerves which causes the numbness. The pain and numbness usually go away within ten minutes of stopping exercise. I used to be a competitive runner until I started having similar symptoms. Eventually I was diagnosed and had a fasciotomy (release part of the fascia to make more room) on each leg. The surgery allowed me to exercise again although I still have some pain with running.

    I recommend trying to see an orthopedic surgeon. Based on your description there is a pressure test they can do to see if you have compartment syndrome.

    Good luck!

  • aaliceinw
    aaliceinw Posts: 747 Member
    Visit a physiotherapist who will find the root cause of the original injury, for which you may have been physically compensating and readjusting body posture for years. They will then redirect to any additional specialists to support their rehabilitation program and correct posture and the way you move.

    Because of compensating for pain related to my sciatica, I had a two inch height difference between my left and right shoulders, numerous neck and back problems and would often get torticolis. The physiotherapy helped me get back on track.
  • RCM_1971
    RCM_1971 Posts: 9 Member
    Wow! That's crazy! Our bodies are so fascinating! Glad you are doing better! :) Thanks for your reply, definitely good information!
    aaliceinw wrote: »
    Visit a physiotherapist who will find the root cause of the original injury, for which you may have been physically compensating and readjusting body posture for years. They will then redirect to any additional specialists to support their rehabilitation program and correct posture and the way you move.

    Because of compensating for pain related to my sciatica, I had a two inch height difference between my left and right shoulders, numerous neck and back problems and would often get torticolis. The physiotherapy helped me get back on track.

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