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Seeing a Physio
Very recently (as in the past week), I have suffered a nigging pain in my left lower calf. Strangely, it is only when I have warmed up, after a mile or so, and only when I run up hill, on runing downhill or on the flat, it generally settles down. It happened again this evening even though I was running on grass and the 'uphills' were little more than a mini slope. I have had a return of 'shin splints' on my right leg, which I thought may be a combination of needing new shoes an maybe extra strain because I had injured my left heel jumping down off a wall (don't ask) about six weeks ago. Do you think this will settle on its own or should I seek help? I am praying that it is just a minor glitch, I have the Reindeer Run coming up, and I have to get my act together for the FLM.
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Don't forget that your lower calf is connected to the foot via the achilles. Achilles injuries can be notoriously slow to mend. I'd make the effort to see a physio. It's probably nothing but it could save you a lot of frustration later.
You didn't mention your weekly mileage or if you have increased your mileage recently, is this the case?
No I've not increased my weekly mileage, in fact, I have cut it right down, I am trying to do a minimum of 20 miles, but last week, I had to stop short. I did try it out on the dreadmill on Tuesday, even went on a quite steep incline for a while, with not a problem, but Thursday on grass, it started again. Anyway, I've got an appointment to see the physio on Monday, talking to her on the phone,she did not seem to think that it was too serious, here's hoping. thanks for the responses.
Sounds like you have a mild calf strain. I bet when you go to the physio, they will do and show you how to do some stretches. I have mentioned this on many other threads before, ALWAYS stretch regularly. And I mean good stretches. Ice the area as well often and regularly, say five or six times a day for upto 10mins. Ice packs are a great wonder for curing and relieving pain and stretching is a very good prevention from injury. I have wasted countless money on physios, when all I had to do was stretch properly and regularly and ice when needed. I would only go to a physio if the pain seriously impedes your running, and this doesn't. Obviously, if you think it is more serious and you have the money to burn, then seek a specialist, but I think we runners are quite a clued up bunch of people, it's just that because we love to run, we would do anything to carry on running even though we are carrying an injury. I know when i had achillis problem, I was devastated when iwas told to stop running for a month. i thought if i paid top money for spcialist they could cure it. Basically i was looking for someone to tell me it was ok to run with an injury. Now I take precaution by strectching all the time, and that has also had an extra benefit to my running by being more supple and flexible.
Other than the recent achillis injury, I have pretty much run trouble free for the past 12 months and in that time I have run 2 marathons, and 53 other races this year, doing 50+ miles a week, but I know when to take it easy and when to rest. I hope your injury is not too serious. It is better to stop running and cure the injury, rather than carry it around and prolong the recovery, no matter how unhappy non running makes us. Prolonging your running career is more important than a few weeks of non activity.
To answer the question, yes, I'd recommend going to a physio (a qualified sports one), because I'm incompetent, don't know all the facts and you can't trust my advice! As a rule, running is way too important to jeapordise by saving a few quid on physio bills. And for now, please don't run through pain, cos my gut feeling is that it's not just going to go away.
Best of luck with it.
I had some news this morning...........I'M IN!!!!!
I have a place in the FLM, got in on the second ballot, so yes, going to a physio is now a must, I have an appointment for Monday, I'll probably just do some stuff on the Dreadmill this weekend, (especially as it is p****ng down outside at the moment)
Thanks for all the advice, talking to her on the phone, she does not seem to think that it is too serious, here's hoping!
Hope it all goes well.
p.s. no, I'm not jealous! ;-)
So no Reindeer Run for me next week, she said that was a definite no no.
Guess what, when I arrived at the club, they had a free draw, I won a free fitness session in the gym can you beleive it? (It's worth something like £25!), I will have to wait until my legs are pain free.
Thanks for all your advice, I am relieved that it is not achilles.
Glad it's not the achilles too, but calves can be a right menace if you're unlucky, so be good with your rehab. Did she explain the cause (or probable cause) to you? Like the asthmatic gorilla says (did I really just type that?), often we get injured cos we run funny - the orthotics suggestion indicates that the physio spotted something, but it's very handy to know for yourself. Knowledge is power!
Congrats on the win, by the way. Every cloud, and all that!