On the mend and a brush with A&E

[Sadie-runs]

Hello everyone, it’s me. 😀

So, my plan to join ju-ju’s 10k programme were rudely halted by tight calves and a minor calf strain. Went for a sports massage last Friday (we have a guy that comes into our office a couple of times a month), and he had a good feel of me legs. However, because he said he couldn’t feel any muscle damage (can you even feel that?!), he said he didn’t want to massage it in case it was a DVT and he dislodged a clot?! Excuse my French, but WTF?! He suggested I went to A&E immediately. Now, in my heart of hearts, I knew this wasn’t a DVT, and was thinking he was the clot, but when someone puts an idea in your head...so off I trotted. Lucky for me I work very close to the wonderful A&E at St Thomas’ Hospital. I was seen pretty quickly and the doctor was unfazed and said, nope, definitely not a DVT. Likely a very mild strain. I felt silly.

So, long story longer, no running for a week, just Pilates and swimming. Went for a test run this morning (which was so glorious I was singing along to my playlist) and managed a slow steady 5k on a new route (also checking out where my local park run starts).

I think I will do a couple more easy paced 5ks this week to see how my calves hold up - and jump in to the plan next week. Cannot wait to join you all!

Happy weekend everyone!

Sadie-runs x

[mrrun Graduate10]

Thankfully he didn't call for an air ambulance.

Try stretching, l do mine twice daily to keep the Achilles in check . Ease yourself in through light trot and then back to 10K target. You'll get there in no time!

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

Yup, that would have been embarrassing... He was just covering himself I suppose, but I was gutted to miss out on the much-needed massage!

What stretches would you recommend, mrrun? I have started eccentric heel drops on my stairs. The whole sorry tale began with me starting to tackle hills, poor wee calves obviously not strong enough yet - hence tightness followed by a little strain. So, building in calf strengthening exercises too now. Pretty soon my whole life is going to be dedicated to my body and running, no time for work, my relationship etc 😂

[mrrun Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

My physio recommended some based on my past injuries and general tightness around the Achilles so those may not work for you. I'm sure you can find lots of examples, the majority are simple!

[Fishypieface Graduate10]

What a clot indeed!! And what a faff for you and unnecessary worry... the world we live in today!! Glad you are all ok though and back at it I love a heel dip for tight, hurty calves and a roller's good too. xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Fishypieface]

It was a faff, and I kinda knew it was unnecessary - I mean, I presented to him as a runner with tight calves, so pretty obvious it was a strain! But, he had to cover himself. If he had gone ahead with a massage and it was a clot, and he dislodged it, it could travel to lungs or heart and killed me!

Yep, heel dips and rolling like a mad fool now. So far so good. But I am so paranoid about injuries now I won’t feel out of the woods until I get a couple more runs under me belt!

How’s your arsecheekitis, Fishy? Still giving it large at the gym? 😘 xx

[APScotland Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Better safe than sorry! I went to my GP 3 times in early 2014 with a sore calf, which kept swelling up and causing pain at night when not doing anything. I think that's the key - if the pain is there when you're lying still in bed it's probably not a muscle tear. Off to A&E - blood tests said clot, scan said not. Eventually had a TIA, took aspirin for 2 months, then bam! Ambulance to hospital with clot in lung. I was relatively fit, 3x per week in gym, walking 30 mins most days, but turned out I had other more serious health issues, happily resolved by surgery as soon as they thought my blood was sufficiently thin to go ahead. No clot / calf issues since, and now I'm running 3x per week and heading for 10k hopefully by end of May. Definitely finding stretching more important as the distance increases! Good luck with your running Sadie-runs

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to APScotland]

Oh, what a story, AP! That all sounds very scary, poor you. I am so glad it all got sorted for you. Yep, always good to get these things checked, even if you are sceptical as I was. To be honest, I was not in much pain at all, and only for the day after my run. I was still relieved getting the all clear though!

Happy running to you! x

[Fishypieface Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

Don't want to risk anything like nasty like that, better safe than sorry. Still giving large (in more ways than one!) at the gym, out for a jogette this morning but only managed 3k and now I'm limping about the place. So, reluctantly going to find a sports physio who runs... I can't bear being on the IC anymore!!

Good luck on the road to 10k, you'll do wonderfully xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Fishypieface]

Oh Fishy, please do go see a sports physio, I am sure this is something easily fixable with some treatment (is it piriformis syndrome?) I do know how you feel; every time I get a niggle or injury (to date, ahem, piriformis syndrome, pulled hamstring and calf strain ahem), I try and wait it out rather than go see someone – not a great tactic. But still, great work on going to the gym, that is impressive! xxx

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Great news that you're back out there - and no DVT either, bonus

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda. Yes, that was a relief! And I was so happy to be running again - so far so good, no calf pain! x

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Morning Sadie...what a relief that it wasn’t anything more serious but what on Earth was he doing planting that seed in the first place???!!! I’d have been scared to death!! Swimming & Pilates are a very good alternative & your lovely 5k run sounds just the tonic...happy Saturday xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

Yes, he did rather put the wind up me! Just protecting himself I guess. I felt a bit silly at A&E, but the staff were lovely. Gawd bless the NHS!

Oh this morning’s run! It was so joyful. And I found a lovely new route right on my doorstep. Hope all is well with you, lovely MC. 😘😘

[Hidden]

Ouch, poor you. Better safe than sorry though. I bashed my leg on the corner of the coffee table many years ago and had flebitis. My leg swelled up and I had to keep an eye on it. Anyway, in your case it wasnt, so phew! Xxxx

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Ouch? Never heard of that Hidden ☹️

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

I hit it on the corner at just the right angle to damage the vein. It’s quite common I think. X

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Flick. And yikes! Flebitis? That sounds nasty, you poor love. I was very “phew!” once the nice doc checked me over. xxx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Your sports massage guy is correct - muscle damage can be felt. I had a nasty grade 2 calf tear a couple of years ago and my physio was able to assess it manually (it was scanned at a later date and took a while to repair). I was out of running for 10 weeks plus and then had to go right back to the beginning of the c to 5k programme! Luckily this is now a very distant memory and I have had no further problems with it. It is good advise to rest a strain well, as sometimes these can develop into tears if you push it too hard too soon. Incidentally, my physio did work on my leg (quite hard - ouch!) even on that first visit. Sounds like you are well on the mend!🙂

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

So, he couldn’t feel anything in my leg as it was a strain rather than a tear? It was pretty mild, but like a runner I fretting about it something rotten! I was worried I would make it worse so did stop running instantly. A weeks rest seems to have sorted it, and am now rolling and gently stretching. My run this morning was very slow and gentle!

Your calf tear story made my eyes water, Sandra! 🙁 Poor you! 10 weeks! But great that you did C25K again - committed runner! xxx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

That's what it sounds like to me Sadie. A sprain is where the muscle has been overstretched as I understand it, although I think there can be a very slight tear in some cases. When mine tore it felt like someone had chucked a stone at the back of my leg and there was a really 'twang' feeling!! This was followed by the pain and later bruising. I think your chap was being sensible.

Yep, Couch 2 5k completed and my first half marathon last year🙂. I may not be as young as I once was, and injuries take a little longer to repair, but one thing I can still do is run!!🙂

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

That makes sense now...I bet I overstretched it; was a bit overzealous with my stretching because of tight calves from hill running - doh!

You’ve done a half marathon too? Respect to you! 👏💪👏 I cannot even imagine running that far. Just hoping to get to 10k at some point this year. xxx

[Sandraj39 Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

..never say never! It's very addictive this running business! x

[Hidden]

Hi Sadie, I just had to follow this group in order to reply to you, so I hope I've not just inadvertently signed up for 10k before I'm ready lol

You never do things by halves do you? You have such an exciting life!! And you know what, I have so much respect for that, as someone who is still to a certain extent recovering from depression, I know how difficult it can be to do things with any sort of enthusiasm. You are awesome as always, keep going girl! x

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear, that's it. You are now committed to doing ju-ju's 10k plan with me. LOL!

In truth I live a quiet life; but save all my adventures for the road and the park! I have seen such positive results in my mental health since running, which spurs me on. I am a veritable Mary Poppins these days! I still have my moments, but when that happens I don the running shoes and hit the pavements and the parks. I may be afflicted by depression now and again, but I am plucky! I actually never knew how plucky I could be until I started running.

Thank you for your kind words. You are awesome too; I feel so lucky that we "did" C25K at the same time, you have been nothing but kind and supportive to me. Let's both do a park run around the same time and share our experiences of it!

Sadie x

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Oh my gosh.... scary... when I had the muscle tear in my calf a while back, somebody said DVT to me... fortunate to have a sensible husband who quelled the panic and the cute Sports Physiotherapist who checked me out

Glad you are back out and keeping it slow and steady too

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Flossie dear. I truly didn’t expect it! Silly really. But I am queen of the minor injury now, and know the drill. .. part of the reason I stopped running the minute I had a twinge is I remembered your calf woes! So, you help me when you don’t even know you are helping me. 😀 DVT are three letters of the alphabet you never want to hear! x