Fellow Runners, I need advice!!

sjcply · December 2011

I have been running off and on for 3 years now. I took a while off during the summer and started back in August 2011, and have been steadily (but slowly) increasing my mileage training for a half marathon in March. I have had some pain in my Left hip off and on AFTER I run. I wait a few days and let my hip feel better before I run again. I am only running 10-15 miles a week usually 4 days a week. I am also doing some strength workouts (30 day shred, and killer buns and thighs) I have no pain anywhere else from running. My hip pain gets better during my non run times, and does not bother me during my run.....but as soon as I run my long runs (6 miles today) it is just unbearable! I wait a few days and the pain will be gone, but as soon as I start back on my long run it get flared up all over again! :sad:

My question is~ If I keep going and rest in between runs, and only run when It doesnt hurt.....eventually will I be able to run without the pain afterwards. (since I am farely new to running, I know my hip flexors are weak) OR should I take a few weeks off and see if that helps. I am afraid that if I take a few weeks off that it will set me back and I wont be ready for my half, but I dont want an injury either!

I have a half marathon in March and I need to be ready for it!

Also- I do have more pronation in my left foot than right, so I am wondering if that could be why I have problems with my Left hip. Maybe that is just throwing off my balance and causing my pain.
and before you say it, I have been professionally fitted for running shoes and they are only about a month old, so that is not my problem! and I do stretch thoroughly after I run each time!

Help me! Cause I love running and want to continue!!

almost50now · December 2011

I highly recommend going to a physical therapist to have them evaluate you. They can see if you are doing something while running that is causing pain and recommend specific exercises to remedy the problem. If you continue to run and injure yourself you will likely end up with a chronic pain issue that will take a long time to recover from. Taking an anti-inflammatory will help, but you don't want to have to use it all the time. I have been going to PT recently to deal with knee pain. Week abductor muscles have been a big part of my problem. Doing much better now. Best to you.

stayxtrue · December 2011

^^ agreed!

The other thing is, do you stretch your hips before running? Most people dont, it may be worth a shot trying to stretch them before running. Also you may need to to get orthotics?

Sarabeth5 · December 2011

I have the same problem. It started in my left him. I started stretching more and using my foam roller after every run. Now my left him is fine and my fight one is having the same pain. Interested to see what everyone else has to say...

mrsdamr · December 2011

You could have bursitis in the hip - or believe it not it could be your spine. I had what I thought was hip pain for a long time - including the bursitis (cortisone shot will help it), only to discover the pain was coming from my back (cortisone shot their as well). Go see a doctor - to see what it is, this way you can get it healed - or at least manageable.

clhiter · December 2011

Always agree with see a Doc/Physio if able. If not have someone watch you run, are you running awkward on that hip--look at leg motion and upper body positioning--not limping. Gotta find the true problem causing the pain and it may not be at the hip. Get a running shoe store to make sure you have the right shows-especially if you do know you pronate. If they can watch/vidoe you running that may help too.

Other than that, make sure you stretch and warm up thehips--think of ballet exercises on the bar or karate leg warm ups. Are you swimming? biking? This will help work the hip as well and you can continue to develop for the run while reducing your number of runs/vice distance of your runs.

Good luck and stay confident.

Pronoiac · December 2011

I had a similar issue a few years ago. It ws the result of some poor form that I developed while compensating for another injury. It was so minor that I did not even notice the bad stride until the pain increased after thousands of steps. I finally had to lay off running for several months and then go back and correct the form.

I also recommend a PT consult. It will make the process much more efficient for you.

kcgslp · December 2011

It' s ok this is a VERY Common injury for runners. I will search You tube to find you some of the stretches I do for this.

I also have been a on again off again runner and I never had this pain until after I turned 35. I take a glucosamine chodroitin capsule everyday (may work for you, it may not) but the most important thing I do is include stretching. I take a weekly yoga/pilates class and have learned how to acccess the IT band.

I'll see what videos I can find

kcgslp · December 2011

The stretch at 3:58 is the one that accesses my hip directly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgu6poYC-lk&feature=related

ATT949 · December 2011

I'd get in to see a doc.

Runner's World categorizes the most popular running injuries (hmm, let's call them the most common injuries instead of popular!) and what you've got isn't one of them.

Insofar as stretching is concerned - from what I've read, there's no value in stretching if you're doing long distance running. The thought behind it is that you're not doing anything that requires stretching because you're running distance. Sprinters stretch, LD runner use a roller. Check out the Runner's World forums about stretching. It was a bid change for me. I played sport through my senior year in college and we always stretched but research has shown the static stretching has no value for LD runners.

Good luck with this. I hate to see someone sidelined by injury — I just had to withdraw from a marathon, in fact. Very frustrating.

Ifly4free · December 2011

I started running about 4 months ago and my left hip hurt after I would run. I started icing afterwards and taking some naproxen sodium. I think they both helped alot. I also would stretch my hip before and after. I haven't had any pain in awhile, plus I only run every other day to give it a rest.

Hope it feels better soon, so you can get back to your normal routine.

Tracy

CoraGregoryCPA · December 2011

Of course, the first recommendation would be to consult with a doctor.

I don't have the hip pain you are referrign to, but I do have the left foot that pronates and a right foot that supinates. Weird, huh? But I've noticed this in a lot of people.

i went to a shoe store today to get fitted for a new pair of shoes. The sales lady was mentioning that I may want to get a shoe pad for one foot and not the other. I wonder if that would help you ?

If no doctor, then go to a shoe store that has a gait analysis and a treadmill in the store. You can try on their food pad thingy's and see if that helps your hip pain!

k4evans1 · December 2011

I don't know if you have the same thing I did, but I also had left hip pain from running. It turns out through PT that I favor the right side of my body and thus my form is a bit off when running. You wouldn't notice it unless you video tapped me from behind and played it back in slow mo. I did exercises to strength my hip flexors, etc. such as squats, side steps with a band, side planks, etc. I don't know if this is what you have but thought I'd share.

sjcply · December 2011

Thank you all for the advice......Although I have had a professional view my running and been fitted for shoes. I think I might check into the orthotic inserts for my left shoe, because they did tell me my left foot pronated but my right did not. and I am most definatly gonna recover and focus on stengthening my hip flexors.....and of course keep running! :happy:

Fellow Runners, I need advice!!

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