Then I started feeling a twinge in my left heel. Mostly in the middle of the night when I got up to go pee or first thing in the morning. I'd hobble around for a little while and then be ok. Then it got worse and my heel felt like I had bruised the inside of it -like I stepped on a rock with my heel, and it hurt if I was sitting for a bit and then got up to walk.
Since it was getting worse, I did what most anyone in my situation would do, I Googled it and diagnosed myself with Plantar Faciaiitis. I also looked up how to tape it and what stretches I should do. Blessedly I found relief with taping and continued on my merry way.
Fast forward to this past Thursday which was Week 1 of my training for the Lewis Memorial 10 miler (hilly, very hilly) in mid/late January. I ran 3 race pace miles with my friend and felt good when we finished. That night however, my right hip hurt so bad I could hardly sleep. Every time I moved, rolled over, or stretched my legs I had what felt like a muscle spasm in one of my hip flexors. I'm not sure which one because it seems to be at the confluence of the 3.
I also feel pain INSIDE the hip joint at the ball and socket. This pain comes and goes so my fingers are crossed that it's a result of strained hip flexors.
Hank wanted to go for a run with me Saturday morning so we headed out for a slow, painful 2 mile run. Yes, it's ok to say, "that was really dumb," because it was.
I spent the rest of Saturday limping and popping Motrin. Currently it hurts to walk, to rise from sitting to standing, to lift my leg while sitting including moving my foot from the gas to the brake, to lie on my right side and to roll over - this causes a muscle spasm in my hip. Fortunately (?) these pains lessen once my leg is 'warmed up.'
So I'm benching myself for a few days, icing the front of my hip several times a day and taking Motrin regularly. This has caused me to hold my early 2011 running plans very loosely. As a newer runner I just don't have the fitness base to take a couple of weeks off and expect to be able to crank out a 5 - 10 mile run soon after.
I hope to be able to do some strength training and biking by the end of the week though my husband wants to me to take a complete break until after the New Year. I'll have to play it by ear and see how I'm feeling.
As to the cause, I'm not sure what to think. I haven't had any big increases in mileage. I have been working on core and leg strength. I haven't recently changed shoes. I'm not a big stretcher, but that's not new. I did find a couple of stretches to do after the pain subsides so I'll do those. My husband thinks it's from overuse. I dunno?
I'd love to hear any words of wisdom you may have!
4 comments:
Oh, that sucks! My words of wisdom: Go see a doctor. It's interesting you included your self-diagnosis of your heel pain. Don't self-diagnose this. Good luck!!! :)
It might be from overuse, like your hubby says. If you can afford it, rest for about a week. It will really help. At least that's what happened to my knee. Rested for about a week, went back to training and felt little pain. Started to taper before the marathon and during the marathon, I didn't feel any pain at all. It also helps to stretch and do some strengthening exercises when you're not running.
Christina, I added that because I wonder if it messed up my gait which resulted in my hip problem.
We have crappy insurance right now so I can't afford to see a dr until after January 1 when we have a lower co-pay and deductible.
I'm really hoping that rest will do trick. :D
I was totally going to say overuse too, and that rest would help. Hope it's better soon!!
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