After accepting the challenge to do the Great North Run for charity, sometime in the spring, I have spent the last seven months in training.
I've gone from the "I know I should run today, but (insert excuse)" stage to the "I'm really looking forward to todays run" stage, putting in about 20 - 25 miles per week.
I am enjoying it immensely and really seeing the benefits, but now I have the occupational hazard of us all..... An injury.
Following a five mile race, with an energetic circuit training session two days later I woke up with knee pain which has since been diagnosed as (minor) knee ligament damage.
Two weeks rest and a course of tablets and I thought I'd venture a quick treadmill and bike session. Problem is,it's not much better and the frustration is....... well I guess most of you know what the frustration's like.
The point of this rambling is that I'm worried, a. that i'm going to be struggling in the GNR and; b. all the hard work so far will have been for nothing.
Help!
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Comments
Sorry to hear about this.
Knee trouble is pretty common, and in my view is the most commonly mis-diagnosed of all injuries. I have seen fellow runners ripped off for £100's and treated for things that cannot possibly have caused their problem.
I know it's massively frustrating when your knee starts hurting, and wish I could diagnose the problem over the internet. However, it's impossible.
I recommend that you bite the bullet and invest about £30 in a consultation with a Chartered Physiotherapist with specialist interest in sports injuries. Important - make sure it's a chartered physiotherapist, not a chiropracter, or anything else.
If you just end up with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan, it will be money well spent - its expensive up front, but a lot cheaper in the long run.
Wish I could help more - good luck - I'm sure that it can be fixed.
Gavin
If it starts me on the road to recovery then I don't mind paying for it (although I might be able to get it free through work). I will be taking your advice next week, as I can't see that leaving it is going to improve things any time soon.
SY3
Anyway, the best advice that was given to me by my physio was just listen to your body, when it starts to ache... stop!
But in the meantime, you must try and build up more strength and stability for your knee, which can be done by leg extensions/squats in the gym.
At the moment, I am generally doing 3 or 5 mile runs twice a week, the soreness stops me doing any more until it eases.
It's always hard knowing where to start after an injury like that because it's always in the back of your mind that you might do some more damage. If you didn't fracture your pelvis then chances are you're ok as it's a very stable structure but you may have damaged your sacroiliac joints or symphysis pubis joint which could become apparant when you step up your training. I would start off with some light gym work and some swimming to ease back into things but very importantly think about doing some exercises for your core stability (like pilates) as after something like this, your core muscles get very lazy and won't be supporting your back or pelvis properly which might lead to further problems. A session with a physio might be quite helpful for you - they would be able to assess your pelvis and the joints around it to determine if there are any obvious problems and give you some advice about core stability exercises. Once you have upped your fitness levels a bit you could start run/walk progressing to running.
Hope this helps and that you're out on the road again soon!
Earlier this year I had fairly serious knee ligament damage. At the time I didn't think I would walk properly again never mind run. This was after a return to running after 20 odd years, I really thought that I had damaged my knee beyond repair.
A course of treatment with a physio sorted me out. Basically I was given exercises to do that strengthened the muscles surrounding the knee, and that with gentle jogging/running sorted me out. I would also vouch for the Glucosamine supplements, along with Cod Liver Oil. They were recommended by the physio. I can truthfully say that the pain in my knee has gone.
I started running again in August, managed the FLC 5K fairly easily last month, and am now looking to do a 10K next month, and a 10 miler in December.
Best of luck to you.